Job Description

Job Summary/Basic Function:
We are seeking a Payroll Accountant to lead our payroll department and ensure the accurate and timely processing of all university payrolls. Reporting to the Director of Compensation and Employee Policy, this role is crucial for maintaining compliance, leading a high-performing team, and delivering excellent customer service to our entire community. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in payroll administration, a keen eye for compliance, and a commitment to continuous process improvement.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree with three years of related experience in payroll, finance, accounting, etc., OR an associate’s degree with five years of related experience OR a high school diploma (or GED) with seven or more years of related experience.
Experience using MS office applications, i.e., Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, SharePoint, PowerPoint, etc.
Extensive experience with state and federal tax regulations related to compensation and payroll.
Must have excellent attention to detail with strong analytical and written and verbal communication skills.
Must be customer service oriented with emphasis on delivering high quality customer service internal and external to the department.
Demonstrates the ability to create a positive work climate.
Experience processing payroll in Banner or other payroll processing applications.
Experience researching and identifying problems and working them through to resolution.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience processing payroll in Ellucian (Banner).
Experience with tax reporting and quarterly tax filings.
Higher education experience.

Essential Functions and percent of time:
Payroll Operations & Team Leadership (50%)
Lead Payroll Cycles: Manage all bi-weekly and monthly payroll processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. This includes serving as a backup for payroll specialists during peak periods or absences.
Team Supervision: Supervise, mentor, and evaluate payroll staff, fostering a positive and productive work environment. This includes approving timesheets and leave requests.
Enhance Customer Service: Serve as the main point of contact for complex payroll inquiries, working to resolve issues effectively and maintaining strong relationships with university employees and departments.
Process Improvement: Continuously analyze current payroll processes to identify and implement improvements that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
System Management: Collaborate on reviewing, testing, and implementing system updates and releases within Banner, our primary payroll software.
Financial Reconciliation: Manage critical financial tasks, including the final sign-off on all payrolls, processing overpayments and repayments, and ensuring all wages and taxes are accurately reconciled with the general ledger.
Communication: Coordinate and manage all payroll-related communications to the university community, including important announcements and updates to payroll calendars.
Essential Functions and percent of time (cont'd):
Compliance & Tax Reporting (45%)
Regulatory Expertise: Proactively monitor and stay informed about changes in federal, state, and local payroll regulations (e.g., tax rates, labor laws) to ensure the university remains in full compliance.
Tax Management: Ensure accurate payroll changes, balance pay types, and manage general ledger payroll withholding accounts. This includes calculating taxable benefits, preparing spreadsheets for tax liabilities, and corresponding with vendors.
Tax Filings & Audits: Prepare and file monthly and quarterly federal tax returns. Run, review, and execute preliminary payroll reports, including bank reconciliations, to ensure proper withholding and reporting as required by law.
Issue Resolution: Work with relevant departments to research and resolve any notices or discrepancies related to taxes, retirement, and other deductions to minimize potential penalties.
Audit Readiness: Ensure payroll records and files are meticulously maintained to support internal and external audits.
Audit Management: Prepare for and participate in all payroll audits, working closely with internal and external audit teams.
Financial Reporting: Assist with quarter-end and year-end financial activities, including labor redistributions and other critical accounting functions.
Stakeholder Inquiries: Respond to inquiries from federal, state, and local agencies as well as individual employees regarding payroll data, including W-2s, child support orders, and other documentation
Non-Essential Functions and percent of time:
Other Duties as Assigned (5%)
Perform other related duties as assigned to support the strategic goals of the department.