At Barnes & Noble Education (“BNED”) we are dedicated to making tomorrow a better, more inclusive, and smarter world by servicing all who work in education. As a leading solutions provider for the education industry, we are committed to driving affordability, accessibility, and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide by ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Together, our teams work to elevate lives through education.

As a key member of the HR and Payroll team, the Payroll Analyst ensures employees are paid accurately and on time while maintaining compliance with complex federal, state, and local regulations. This role safeguards payroll integrity, supports critical processes like new store openings and year-end close, and partners across departments to address payroll-related issues. The Payroll Analyst also plays a vital part in continuous process improvement, system enhancements, and maintaining positive relationships with employees, HR partners, tax agencies, and external vendors.

• Ensure accuracy of employee payroll tax withholding and W-2s.

• Partner with payroll vendor to establish tax accounts for new locations, validate proper tax setup for new stores, and resolve tax issues.

• Review quarterly tax filings and reconcile payroll tax deposits to ensure compliance.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for federal, state, and local tax agencies and manage related correspondence.

• Coordinate and validate garnishment processing, stock vesting (including PSU, RSU, and Phantom stock), and taxable fringe benefits.

• Process general ledger (GL) files and provide payroll data to Finance, supporting reconciliations and escheatment.

• Support payroll auditing efforts and research new pay types for accurate tax setup.

• Provide guidance on employee-level taxation, including for non-resident aliens.

• Assist with employee and manager inquiries related to taxation, garnishments, W-2s, PTO, and final pay.

• Contribute to HRIS/Payroll process improvements, automation opportunities, and team training initiatives.

• Support compliance reporting for state and local agencies.

• Utilize case management tools to track, manage, and resolve payroll-related issues.

• Maintain strong working relationships with internal HR partners, Finance, and external payroll vendors.

• Adhere to company policies, ethical standards, and applicable laws.

• Perform additional responsibilities and special projects as required, including year-end processes.

• 3+ years of experience in payroll and/or payroll tax (required).
• Experience with payroll tax filings, W-2 processing, vendor tax reporting, and direct interaction with tax agencies.
• Knowledge of payroll compliance, multi-state taxation, and setting up tax accounts for new locations.
• Skilled in managing garnishments, stock vesting, taxable fringe benefits, and reconciling payroll data and GL files.
• Intermediate Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, conditional formulas, etc.) and ability to analyze and reconcile payroll data.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Effective communicator with all levels of staff and external partners.

NOTE:

• Must be able to work a full-time schedule with flexibility for occasional extended hours during peak periods (e.g., quarter-end, year-end, or W-2 processing).
• This role will be based out of our New Jersey office and will require regular in-office presence. Our current office is in Basking Ridge, NJ, with plans to relocate to another location within northern New Jersey.

We believe your success is our success, and we’re committed to supporting you in every aspect of life. At BNED, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to promote physical, mental, and financial well-being. Our full-time employees receive access to medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) plan; life and disability insurance; commuter benefits; paid time off and holidays; and a broad range of additional benefits.

The hiring range for this position is $70,000–$80,000 per year. This range represents the base salary only, in good faith at the time of posting, and the position is not eligible for bonus compensation. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.

At Barnes & Noble Education we empower everyone. Our mission is to support students, faculty, and schools, serving as a catalyst to meet the evolving needs of the education system and a new generation of students. That starts with fostering an environment for our employees where diversity and individuality is celebrated.

Barnes & Noble Education is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. In the spirit of inclusivity, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, ability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, protected veteran status, race, religion or sexual orientation.