Senior Accountant

Description

Play a critical role in payroll, tax compliance, and financial reporting excellence

We’re Sonoran Desert Institute and we are seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to join our team

Our story:

Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI) has been changing lives since 2000. As a DEAC accredited school, our mission is to provide students with current, industry-driven, quality education, delivered through online distance education and practical applications. SDI is an employee-owned company creating a culture with an ownership mentality at the foundation. We believe in rewarding our employees through the success of the institution.

We’re proud to be recognized by the Great Place to Work Institute as a Great Place to Work for both 2023 and 2024 — and we’re just getting started. Come be a part of our dynamic organization where you will have the ability to impact the lives of others as they pursue their educational journey with us.

The Senior Accountant must be detail-oriented and highly experienced with deep expertise in payroll accounting and tax compliance. The Senior Accountant is responsible for managing complex payroll processes, ensuring accurate tax reporting, and supporting month-end close and financial reporting activities.

• Oversee bi-weekly multi-state, multi-entity payroll processing for salaried, hourly, and academic employees (faculty, adjuncts, and staff)
• Ensure accurate recording of payroll, tax, benefits, bonuses, and related accruals
• Reconcile payroll accounts, benefits, and payroll liabilities on a per pay period basis
• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll questions, external partners, and internal HR and accounting teams
• Maintain and improve payroll controls, processes, and documentation

• Manage federal, state, and local payroll tax compliance, accounts, filings, and payments
• Review quarterly and annual payroll tax filings (e.g., 941, 940, W-2, W-3)
• Support sales and use tax, property tax, and other indirect tax filings as applicable
• Coordinate with external tax advisors on income tax provisions, audits, and notices
• Monitor changes in tax laws and ensure ongoing compliance

• Participate in month-end and year-end close, including journal entries, reconciliations, and variance analysis
• Prepare and review balance sheet account reconciliations
• Support financial statement preparation and audit requests
• Assist with internal and external audits, including payroll and tax-related items

• Identify opportunities to automate and streamline payroll and tax processes
• Strengthen internal controls and ensure compliance with company policies and institutional guidelines
• Mentor junior accounting staff and provide technical guidance as needed
• Partner cross-functionally with HR, Division, and Finance leadership

• Highly competitive compensation
• Award winning culture
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Comprehensive benefits package with 100% company-paid medical option for employee
• 401(k) with generous company match

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Pet Insurance
• Company-paid Life insurance
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, and Volunteer time off!)
• 14 Paid holidays
• Referral program
• Education Tuition Benefit program
• Career development opportunities with a growing company
• And perhaps most importantly, a team who is dedicated to your success!

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
• 5 years or more of progressive accounting experience, with significant payroll and tax responsibility
• Strong knowledge of and proven experience with payroll accounting, payroll taxes, and multi-state compliance
• Ability to accurately and efficiently reconcile large data sets and multiple resources
• Ability to research tax regulation and work with external partners to ensure institution compliance
• Experience with payroll systems (e.g. Paylocity, ADP, Workday, Paychex, Gusto)
• Intimately familiar with US GAAP
• Strong attention to detail and able to manage deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Has worked in a remote environment and comes with strong correlating work habits
• Has clear…