Payroll & Accounts Payable Specialist

Evangelical Covenant Church•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Summary The Payroll & Accounts Payable Specialist is responsible for various accounting, disbursements functions and processes, such as payroll and payables. The position will leverage a strong accounting and finance background towards supporting financial processes, reporting and systems. The role will work collaboratively within the Finance team and mission area colleagues to enhance the stewardship of the ECC’s resources.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business preferred. or significant, relevant professional experience.
Minimum of three to five (3-5) years of experience across core activities of payroll, accounts payable, travel and expense processing, and general ledger journal entries
Strong attention to detail to ensure accurate payroll and accounts payable processing.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Intermediate Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
Ability to evaluate and manage information effectively in an automated payroll and accounts payable system.
Ability and aptitude to identify opportunities for process improvements.
Able to foster and inspire collaboration within the organization, strong presentation and communication skills.
Able to operate with discretion and confidentiality at all times.
Works well under pressure and can design multiple timelines to accomplish a variety of tasks.
Detail-oriented, task-oriented with strong organization, prioritization and time-management skills are essential.
Analyze practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Capacity to respond to and deal with a range of ad hoc queries/requests.
Maintains flexibility in approach and adjusts actions when appropriate.
Excellent management, leadership and people skills to embrace diversity of schedules, backgrounds, formats and contexts.
Uses critical thinking skills, applying logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to address challenges.
Self-starter, with the ability to work interdependently and independently.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification in payroll and/or accounting is a plus
Nonprofit industry background and experience with multi-state payrolls is a plus
Expertise with integrated payroll, accounts payable, , expense management, and general ledger reporting systems preferred.
Working knowledge of DocuWare, or ability to learn quickly.
Accounting system implementations experience to improve and maintain automation of procedures is a plus.
Ability and willingness to learn new programs/applications as necessary to adapt to processes, systems and sub-systems of the finance area.

Responsibilities

Engage in a professional, hospitable, and courteous manner in electronic, phone and in-person communication with constituents.
Process inquiries from ministry constituencies; respond and/or direct to the appropriate person according to need and on a timely basis.
Facilitate payroll processing for domestic and international employees, including clergy employees.
Manage the financial aspects of payroll processing.
Process corresponding journal entries that derive from payroll designations and activities.
Expedite group or individual payroll designations or allowances with accuracy and timeliness.
Resolve payroll discrepancies and reconcile any payroll errors.
In partnership with the Director of Accounting, expedite payroll.
Review and process W-2s and 1099s at year-end for all constituents via automated payroll system.
Review and resolve any multi-state payroll notices, questions or issues as they arise
Collaborate with HR and benefits team members to ensure all data accurately reflects policies and adheres to financial and accounting guidelines, protocols and procedures.
Perform systematic audits of payroll records and review of the accounting cost center details for salary expenses and benefits. Prepare account reconciliations for payroll related accounts.
Assist with gathering accounting documents, running reports, and other annual audit reporting elements as needed.
Manage full cycle of accounts payables and disbursements, through Certify and other designated means.
Maintain vendor database, including validation and requisition of corresponding paperwork.
Process invoices and expense reports after ensuring all documents are accurate and aligned with applicable policies. Ensure that this data is imported correctly into the general ledger.
Reconcile expenses with corporate credit card charges within the expense tracking software. Ensure all disbursements are properly authorized, invoices are paid in a timely manner and expenses are coded correctly and in compliance.
Resolve invoice discrepancies and correspond with vendors, as necessary.
Perform reconciliation of key accounts related to payables.
Formulate accounting and payroll reports, as requested.
Assist with the preparation of month-end journal entries and reconciliations for payroll and accounts payable.
Prior to close, review activity to ensure anticipated activity has been booked and any unanticipated activity is identified and investigated.
During close process, review actuals for consistency and investigate variances.
Other duties as assigned by the Director of Accounting and/or Chief Financial Officer.