Payroll Tax Specialist
Creative Financial Staffing
Denver, CO · Posted November 6, 2026
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Where Denver, CO ranks
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November 2026
- #1Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Mountain West260 jobs · of 15
- #1Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Mountain West793 openings · of 22
- #1Best all-round cities for mid-career professionals in the Mountain West65 / 100 · of 11
- #1Best all-round cities for remote workers in the Mountain West85 / 100 · of 11
- #1Best all-round cities for AI careers in the Mountain West85 / 100 · of 11
- #3Cities with the most hybrid jobs in the Mountain West17% · of 18
Rankings about finance jobs
- Best cities for finance jobs #1 New York (1,932 openings)
- Best cities for finance pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($162k)
- Most requested AI skills in finance jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (4.3%)
- AI tools named most often in finance jobs #1 Claude (0.55%)
- Employers with the most finance jobs #1 Amazon (475 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among payroll and timekeeping clerks is little observed so far. Measured exposure for payroll and timekeeping clerks: 5% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
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About the job
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Payroll Tax Specialist
Location: Denver, CO Work Arrangement: 100% On-Site Pay Rate: $32-$40/hour Employment Type: Contract
About the Role
We are partnering with an established and growing organization seeking an experienced Payroll Tax Specialist for an immediate contract opportunity in Denver.
In this role, you will take ownership of a high-impact multistate payroll tax compliance project focused on resolving outstanding tax notices, restoring access to state tax portals, and ensuring accurate registrations and filings across approximately 35 states. This opportunity is ideal for a detail-oriented payroll professional who enjoys research, problem-solving, and driving complex projects to completion.
Why Join This Opportunity?
Take ownership of a meaningful payroll tax compliance initiative
Gain exposure to payroll tax requirements across approximately 35 states
Partner directly with Finance, Tax, and HR leadership
Play a key role in researching, resolving, and improving existing compliance processes
Make an immediate impact within a growing organization
What You’ll Do
As the Payroll Tax Specialist, you will:
Review state payroll tax accounts and restore access to online tax portals by working directly with state agencies.
Research and resolve outstanding payroll tax notices, registrations, filing discrepancies, and compliance issues.
Analyze historical payroll records, tax filings, and prior payroll provider data to identify and address compliance gaps.
Communicate with state tax authorities regarding outstanding balances, penalties, interest assessments, and other tax matters.
Track and document tax notices, deadlines, balances due, and resolution progress.
Assist with bringing state and local employment tax filings into compliance, including withholding and unemployment insurance requirements.
Coordinate with the organization’s payroll provider to establish third-party administrator access and filing authorizations across applicable states.
Investigate historical payroll tax issues and determine appropriate resolution strategies.
Maintain organized documentation and records that support ongoing payroll tax compliance.
Partner with Finance, Tax, and HR teams to provide project updates and support a smooth transition of responsibilities upon project completion.
What You’ll Bring
Required Qualifications
Previous experience in payroll tax administration, payroll compliance, or multistate payroll processing.
Working knowledge of state payroll tax requirements, including withholding and unemployment insurance regulations.
Experience researching and resolving payroll tax notices, discrepancies, and compliance issues.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate historical records and identify effective solutions.
Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Confidence communicating directly with state tax agencies and navigating complex administrative processes.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, payroll systems, and online tax portals.
Ability to work independently, take initiative, and follow through on outstanding items to resolution.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience managing payroll tax registrations across multiple states.
Familiarity with third-party administrator (TPA) authorizations and payroll tax filing requirements.
Experience with BambooHR or similar payroll platforms.
Experience supporting payroll tax audits, compliance remediation projects, or tax reconciliations.
Background working in a multistate or high-volume payroll environment.
Who Will Be Successful in This Role?
We’re seeking a resourceful and persistent payroll professional who enjoys rolling up their sleeves to solve problems. The ideal candidate is comfortable researching historical issues, communicating with state agencies, navigating complex compliance requirements, and seeing projects through to completion.
You don’t need to know the tax requirements of every state from memory, but you should be confident finding answers, asking the right questions, and managing issues until they are fully resolved.
This position is an excellent fit for someone who enjoys investigative work, values accuracy, and takes pride in bringing organization and compliance to complex payroll tax environments.
Apply Today
If you’re an experienced Payroll Tax Specialist looking for a contract opportunity where you can make an immediate impact, we’d love to hear from you. Bring your payroll tax expertise to a meaningful project and help strengthen a growing organization’s compliance processes.
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