Payroll Analyst

As a Senior Payroll Analyst supporting John Hancock within our U.S. Payroll team you will take ownership of delivering high-volume multi-state multi-EIN payroll with precision agility and strong analytical oversight. You will navigate one of the most complex payroll environments in the companyspanning equity programs deferred compensation executive payroll multi-jurisdiction taxation and large-scale reconciliations. This role also plays a key part in modernizing payroll through AI-enabled analysis automation opportunities and digital optimization. Youll develop deep technical expertise solve high-impact challenges and help shape payroll operations that are more accurate efficient and insight-driven.

Position Responsibilities:

• Independently process and audit biweekly and weekly U.S. payrolls across 50 states multiple legal entities and six federal EINs ensuring accuracy timeliness and compliance.

• Review and validate all payroll changes including new hires terminations (voluntary/involuntary) promotions transfers incentive pay overtime LOAs (STD LTD paid/unpaid) garnishments overpayments and recovery transactions.

• Execute payroll transactions for RSUs DSUs GSOPs other equity compensation programs deferred compensation retirement plans (401k pension) Board of Director and executive payrolls.

• Perform gross-to-net calculations reconcile net pay taxes and third party remittances ensuring complete accuracy.

• Create and process off-cycle payrolls on demand checks EFT adjustments and other special payments as required.

• Support payroll operations in Workday integrated with enterprise payroll systems such as ADP GlobalView SAP or Ceridian including performing manual corrections when integration errors occur.

• Monitor troubleshoot and resolve inbound payroll interfaces including PECI and other third party vendor file feeds.

• Prepare and upload batch files and conduct large volume data audits to ensure data integrity across systems.

• Build and analyze custom reports reconciliations and large-file analytics to identify anomalies validate data completeness and uncover emerging trends.

• Perform reasonableness checks across payroll results to ensure compliance with federal state and local regulations.

• Support internal and external audits ensuring complete documentation walkthrough support and control adherence.

• Contribute to year end processes including W-2 W-2c amended filings and reconcile year end data for compliance accuracy.

• Research and implement legislative changes impacting payroll at the federal or state level.

• Respond to track and resolve payroll tax notices from the IRS and state agencies.

• Maintain and update payroll SOPs ensuring they reflect current practices controls and regulatory expectations.

• Independently analyze and resolve complex or escalated payroll issues using strong judgment critical thinking and compliance awareness.

• Partner across the Payroll team to validate analysis stress test decisions and ensure accurate outcomes for non standard or sensitive scenarios.

• Use AI tools to accelerate root cause analysis enhance reconciliations improve documentation streamline research and strengthen overall payroll review accuracy.

• Champion continuous improvement identifying automation opportunities control enhancements and technology enabled ways to simplify and modernize payroll delivery.

Required Qualifications:

• 46 years of end to end U.S. payroll experience in a high volume multi state environment.

• Strong proficiency in multi-state taxation wage laws complex jurisdictions and high volume compliance.

• Experience with Workday and enterprise payroll systems such as ADP GlobalView or SAP.

• Demonstrated ability to independently research analyze troubleshoot and resolve complex payroll issues.

• Advanced Excel skills including pivot tables lookups formulas and working with large datasets.

• Strong analytical critical thinking and problem solving capabilities with high attention to detail.

• Ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively across the team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or working toward certification.

• Experience supporting equity compensation deferred compensation or executive payroll.

• Exposure to payroll automation tools AI assisted workflows or intelligent data analysis platforms.

• Experience in financial services or another highly regulated industry.

• Experience processing Canada payroll.

When you join our team:

• Well empower you to learn and grow the career you want.

• Well recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well being and inclusion are more than just words.

• As part of our global team well support you in shaping the future you want to see.

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About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us visit is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment retention advancement and compensation and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race ancestry place of origin colour ethnic origin citizenship religion or religious beliefs creed sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions) sexual orientation genetic characteristics veteran status gender identity gender expression age marital status family status disability or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process contact .

Referenced Salary Location

Salary range is expected to be between

If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location please contact for the salary range for your location. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge skills qualifications experience and education/training. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance.

Manulife/John Hancock offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits including health dental mental health vision short- and long-term disability life and AD&D insurance coverage adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension/401(k) savings plans and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in the U.S. includes up to 11 paid holidays 3 personal days 150 hours of vacation and 40 hours of sick time (or more where required by law) each year and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence.

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