Payroll Analyst - Remote in AZ

Awarded a Healthiest Employer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona aims to fulfill its mission to inspire health and make it easy. AZ Blue offers a variety of health insurance products and services to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and small and large businesses as well as providing information and tools to help individuals make better health decisions. At AZ Blue, we have a hybrid workforce strategy, called Workability, that offers flexibility with how and where employees work. Our positions are classified as hybrid, onsite or remote. While the majority of our employees are hybrid, the following classifications drive our current minimum onsite requirements: Hybrid People Leaders: must reside in AZ, required to be onsite at least twice per week Hybrid Individual Contributors: must reside in AZ, unless otherwise cited within this posting, required to be onsite at least once per week Hybrid 2 (Operational Roles such as but not limited to: Customer Service, Claims Processors, and Correspondence positions): must reside in AZ, unless otherwise cited within this posting, required to be onsite at least once per month Onsite: daily onsite requirement based on the essential functions of the job Remote: not held to onsite requirements, however, leadership can request presence onsite for business reasons including but not limited to staff meetings, one-on-ones, training, and team building Please note that onsite requirements may change in the future, based on business need, and job responsibilities. Most employees should expect onsite requirements and at a minimum of once per week. This position is remote within the state of AZ only.  This remote work opportunity requires residency, and work to be performed, within the State of Arizona. Purpose of the job The detail-oriented and analytical Payroll Analyst with a strong accounting background will support and enhance our payroll operations. This role is responsible for payroll reconciliations, payroll accounting / journal entries, process improvement, compliance with federal and state regulations, and supporting system enhancements and testing in Workday. This role is primarily responsible for payroll accuracy, reconciliation, and accounting integrity within Workday, while also supporting analytics, automation, and emerging AI use cases. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Required Work Experience 3 years of experience in multi-state payroll processing 2 years of experience in analysis, auditing, and process improvement 1 year of experience with accounting or financial analysis Required Education High-School Diploma or GED Required Licenses N/A Required Certifications N/A PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Preferred Work Experience 5 years of experience in multi-state payroll processing 2 years of experience with payroll accounting and journal entries 2 years of experience with Workday payroll and timekeeping modules in a mid-to-large organization. Preferred Education Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, business, or related field of study Preferred Licenses N/A Preferred Certifications Certified Payroll Professional ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Payroll Processing, Reconciliation & Accounting Perform detailed payroll account reconciliations, including general ledger entries, variance analysis, and timely resolution of discrepancies Prepare, review, and post payroll-related journal entries in accordance with accounting standards Partner with Accounting/Finance teams to ensure payroll activity is accurately reflected in the general ledger Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes related to payroll Maintain audit-ready payroll records and ensure compliance with internal controls and audit requirements Assist with internal sales processes, data, and calculations HRIS (Workday) Support & Testing Lead testing for Workday payroll and HRIS releases, including regression testing and user acceptance testing (UAT) Document system design and processes for the training, reference, and education of payroll staff and employees on processes and system functionality. Create, track, and resolve Workday tickets related to payroll issues, enhancements, and system defects Collaborate with HRIS and IT teams to ensure system functionality aligns with payroll requirements Process Analysis & Improvement Analyze current payroll processes, identify inefficiencies, and recommend improvements and innovative solutions while ensuring adherence to internal controls. Evaluate and apply AI‑enabled tools (e.g., Copilot, workflow automation, analytics assistants) to improve payroll reconciliation, audit support, reporting, and operational efficiency. Develop, document, and maintain standard operating procedures and internal controls Support implementation of process improvements, automation initiatives, and system enhancements Maintain data integrity processes that need improvement. Recommend improvements Setup and maintain Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs); including working with internal and external auditors on process workflows and key audit controls Compliance & Legislative Analysis Monitor and interpret federal, state, and local payroll legislation, including wage and hour laws and tax updates Evaluate the impact of regulatory changes on payroll processes and systems Recommend and support implementation of changes to ensure ongoing compliance Partner with HR, Legal, and Finance teams to maintain compliant payroll practices Reporting & Data Analysis Generate, analyze, and interpret payroll reports to ensure accuracy and identify trends or anomalies Maintain/implement custom reports in Workday or other reporting tools to support business needs; audit requests such as 401k, worker’s comp and internal/external audit requests. Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to leadership REQUIRED COMPETENCIES Required Job Skills Strong analytical, problem-solving and project management skills. Ability to apply payroll functional knowledge to data and processes to create and implement improvements Proficient with Workday, specifically payroll and timekeeping Financial acumen, including general accounting principles Advanced computer skills, including Copilot, MS Office Suite Required Professional Competencies Maintain confidentiality and privacy Willingness to dive in and research to come up with creative solutions to fix problems or streamline processes Strong attention to detail Ability to prioritize workload and provide timely follow-up and resolution Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple projects Establish and maintain working relationships in a collaborative team environment Required Leadership Experience and Competencies N/A PREFERRED COMPETENCIES Preferred Job Skills Write and review business requirements, flow specifications or change requests Proficiency with developing reporting or queries from various applications Ability to create agentic AI to streamline processes Preferred Professional Competencies Strong analytical skills to support independent and effective decisions High standard of performance to achieve aggressive goals. Accounting principles Preferred Leadership Experience and Competencies N/A Our Commitment AZ Blue does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected group. Thank you for your interest in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.  For more information on our company, see azblue.com.  If interested in this position, please apply.