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 weekHybrid Individual Contributors: must reside in AZ, unless otherwise cited within this posting, required to be onsite at least once per weekHybrid 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 monthOnsite: daily onsite requirement based on the essential functions of the jobRemote: 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 buildingPlease 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 jobThe 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 QUALIFICATIONSRequired Work Experience3 years of experience in multi-state payroll processing2 years of experience in analysis, auditing, and process improvement1 year of experience with accounting or financial analysisRequired EducationHigh-School Diploma or GEDRequired LicensesN/ARequired CertificationsN/APREFERRED QUALIFICATIONSPreferred Work Experience5 years of experience in multi-state payroll processing2 years of experience with payroll accounting and journal entries2 years of experience with Workday payroll and timekeeping modules in a mid-to-large organization.Preferred EducationAssociates or Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, business, or related field of studyPreferred LicensesN/APreferred CertificationsCertified Payroll ProfessionalESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIESPayroll Processing, Reconciliation & AccountingPerform detailed payroll account reconciliations, including general ledger entries, variance analysis, and timely resolution of discrepanciesPrepare, review, and post payroll-related journal entries in accordance with accounting standardsPartner with Accounting/Finance teams to ensure payroll activity is accurately reflected in the general ledgerSupport month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes related to payrollMaintain audit-ready payroll records and ensure compliance with internal controls and audit requirementsAssist with internal sales processes, data, and calculationsHRIS (Workday) Support & TestingLead 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 defectsCollaborate with HRIS and IT teams to ensure system functionality aligns with payroll requirementsProcess Analysis & ImprovementAnalyze 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 controlsSupport implementation of process improvements, automation initiatives, and system enhancementsMaintain data integrity processes that need improvement. Recommend improvementsSetup and maintain Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs); including working with internal and external auditors on