Payroll Manager

Converse University • Spartanburg, SC

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Payroll Manager is responsible for the accurate, timely, and confidential administration of payroll for faculty, staff, administrators, adjuncts, and student employees. This position oversees payroll processing and related reporting, maintains payroll and timekeeping records, administers payroll deductions and retirement contributions, and serves as the primary institutional contact for isolved payroll-related matters. The Payroll Manager works closely with Human Resources, the Controller, Information Technology, and other campus departments to ensure compliance with institutional policies and applicable payroll requirements.
In addition to payroll responsibilities, the position performs designated accounting functions, including bank account reconciliations and document retention, and serves as the Perkins Loan Coordinator responsible for student loan administration, collections, and related regulatory requirements. The position requires a high degree of accuracy, confidentiality, organization, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting critical deadlines.

Requirements

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities while meeting critical deadlines in a confidential accounting environment.
• Strong attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy in processing financial and payroll information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with employees, students, supervisors, and members of the public.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain strict confidentiality when handling payroll, personnel, student, and financial information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace products required.
• Ability to interpret institutional policies and apply them accurately to payroll and related processes.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with Human Resources, the Controller, Information Technology, the Registrar, employees, students, and external service providers.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of isolved payroll software preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, finance, human resources, or a related field preferred.
• Previous experience in higher education or a related accounting/payroll environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and process monthly payroll for faculty, staff, administrators, adjuncts, and students for transmission through isolved.
• Review new employee forms and employee data changes submitted by Human Resources.
• Onboard new student employees.
• Calculate partial paychecks for new hires and employees on leave, as well as final paychecks for terminating employees.
• Enter and maintain payroll data in isolved.
• Preview each payroll and verify payroll totals prior to Controller review.
• Prepare and distribute post-payroll reports, including journal vouchers and budget updates.
• Serve as the TIAA administrator by maintaining participant accounts and uploading monthly employee contributions and employer matching contributions.
• Set up, monitor, and prepare monthly payments for payroll withholding items, including garnishments, child support orders, charitable contributions, and internal accounts receivable agreements.
• Monitor employee accruals and timecards for accuracy and work with appropriate departments to resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate employee status information to assist the Information Technology Department with employee tracking, system access, and permissions.
• Monitor outstanding payroll checks and issue replacement checks for stale-dated checks in accordance with institutional procedures.
• Prepare monthly payroll schedules and supporting documentation and submit materials to the Controller for the annual audit.
• Communicate significant payroll updates, deadlines, and anticipated payroll distribution dates to the campus community.
• Maintain an understanding of employee benefits and payroll-related provisions outlined in the Administrative Handbook.
• Collaborate with Human Resources to interpret policy changes and implement updates to payroll and timekeeping systems.
• Serve as the primary contact for isolved regarding payroll-related inquiries, system changes, and system issues.
• Develop and maintain training materials for employees and supervisors regarding timecard procedures and mobile application usage.
• Perform monthly reconciliations of designated bank accounts, including operating account, PAI insurance account, TD Bank credit card receipts account, Flexible Spending Account bank and liability accounts, and Annual Fund, Endowment Transfer, and President's Unrestricted accounts.
• Maintain document storage and retention records in accordance with institutional policies.
• Perform other accounting or administrative duties as assigned or necessary to support the Accounting Office.
• Serve as the primary contact for students and collection agencies regarding Perkins Loan information, payments, deferments, and consolidations.
• Assist students in understanding Loan Disclosure and Terms of Repayment requirements, available deferments, and cancellation privileges.
• Maintain student status reports and notify the loan servicer, ECSI, of applicable changes.
• Monitor student accounts for exit counseling, grace periods, and repayment status; notify the Registrar of missing documentation or default status and initiate account holds as appropriate.
• Review accounts assigned to collection agencies and complete Loan Verification Certificates as needed for loan consolidation.
• Obtain appropriate approval for loans to be litigated when other collection efforts have been unsuccessful.
• Issue payments to collection agencies for monthly collection activity.
• Apply loan payments and payoffs received and monitor loans with small or credit balances.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level