HR Payroll Specialist

Union Bank & Trust Career•Lincoln, NE

15h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Payroll Specialist ensures accurate and timely payroll processing for associates across the organization. The role administers payroll earnings, tax withholdings, deductions, liens, garnishments, direct deposits, and time-off accruals while maintaining compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements. It also maintains the HCM payroll module, responds to payroll and timekeeping inquiries, prepares recurring reports, reconciles bank accounts, and supports year-end and W-2 processing. The position provides information for regulatory, audit, and employment-verification requests and uses reporting and analytic tools to verify payroll data in coordination with HR staff. The employee must follow bank policies, laws, regulations, controls, and compliance-training requirements, and report compliance issues as directed. Regular and reliable attendance is an essential function; other job-related duties or special projects may be assigned. The work is indoors and not exposed to outdoor elements or hazards. The role may require evening, weekend, or holiday work and includes some sedentary work and lifting or carrying up to 20 pounds. A hybrid arrangement may be available under the organization’s hybrid guidelines after onboarding is completed.

Requirements

Minimum of 3 years of payroll and/or accounting experience.
Proven understanding of tax regulations.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel, and experience working with other financial software.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and/or holidays as needed.
Ability to perform some sedentary work and lift and/or carry up to 20 pounds.
Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality, communicate effectively verbally and in writing, organize work, take initiative, solve problems analytically, meet deadlines, and remain composed under pressure.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in business administration or accounting, or comparable work experience.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
Previous multi-state tax reporting and filing experience.
Proven understanding of general accounting principles.

Responsibilities

Process payroll for Union Bank and affiliated companies, including earnings, tax withholdings, deductions, liens, garnishments, and direct deposits.
Maintain the HCM payroll module by processing new-hire records, status changes, self-service transactions, and separations.
Maintain time-off accruals, including additional FTO for on-site-required staff, United Way campaign, community involvement, floating holiday, excellence days, and automatic accrual notifications.
Serve as the primary contact for payroll issues and inquiries about time entry and approval, accrual balances, time-off requests, scheduling, and reporting.
Troubleshoot and escalate HCM support issues and follow them through to resolution.
Produce required biweekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, including 401(k), gross-to-net, gross monthly, overtime, time transfer, and United Way reports.
Balance and reconcile multiple bank accounts to the general ledger and reconcile monthly departmental gift card purchases for associate recognition.
Participate in year-end payroll and W-2 processing, including balancing, production, and distribution of W-2s and annual reconciliations for all bank entities.
Provide information for requests from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, FDIC, Unemployment Office, internal and external audits, and internal and external employment verifications.
Maintain payroll and tax knowledge to remain current with trends and regulatory changes.
Ensure payroll compliance with applicable federal, state, and local agencies and regulations, including FLSA, IRS, SSA, and DOL requirements.
Participate in continuing education on payroll and timekeeping functions and system updates.
Use reporting and analytic tools to test and verify payroll data, coordinating with appropriate HR staff to make corrections and adjustments.
Adhere to applicable bank policies, laws, regulations, internal processes, and controls; complete compliance training and report compliance issues or violations according to bank policies.
Maintain regular and reliable attendance and perform other assigned job-related duties or special projects.