Payroll Specialist

the CIA•Hyde Park, NY

7d•$65,000

About The Position

The Payroll Specialist ensures accurate, timely calculation and payment of wages in accordance with local, city, state, and federal laws. The Payroll Specialist works directly with the Payroll Manager to coordinate the day-to-day payroll operations, assists in managing the employee and student payroll functions across the three campuses, and all field offices in multiple states. The Payroll Specialist will review the accuracy of time collection data in multiple time systems ensuring time and pay is properly loaded to the payroll system; and will run and reconcile the employee and student payrolls. This role is also required to perform other accounting related tasks, including GL reconciliation, 403(b) reconciliation, garnishment reconciliation, research and correction of tax and GL fallouts, and all other payroll processing activities.

Requirements

Associate's degree or significant experience in lieu of.
Minimum of three to five (3-5) years of experience with processing full cycle payroll.
Strong analytical, organizational, and time management skills.
Demonstrated knowledge of payroll and accounting practices and procedures.
Knowledge of Federal, State and local employment regulations and tax processing.
Ability to proactively communicate and work effectively with all levels within the Institution.
Manage workload independently and meet deadlines timely and accurately.
Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to convey a positive and professional image in person, on the telephone, and in correspondence.
Demonstrated ability to show a high level of service responsiveness to internal customers and effective partnership with colleagues, as well as the ability to determine when situations require escalation or may be handled independently.
Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills; ability to be adaptable, dependable and handle multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Strong computer experience which must include ability to work effectively with MS Office suite products, i.e. Word and Excel.
Must display a high level of energy and self-motivation.
Must be able to handle details, assume responsibility and maintain confidentiality in all circumstances.
Detail-oriented and thorough.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting/Finance.
Multi-state Payroll experience.
UKG Payroll and/or Kronos Workforce Management timekeeping systems a plus.
Higher Education experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Accurately processes and maintains the bi-weekly student and employee multi-state payrolls and performs in-depth audits to ensure accuracy and compliance of policies and procedures.
Manages the reconciliation of uncashed checks between the payroll and banking systems and notifies recipients monthly to ensure payroll payments are not unclaimed and escheated to the state.
Assists with attendance administration and tracking.
Prepares biweekly, monthly, quarterly and year-end reports, including but not limited to GL processing, Union Dues reporting, Gross to Net Payroll reporting, PTO analysis, and all other earnings, taxes and benefit reporting.
Manages and monitors paid time off policies within the payroll system.
Calculates PTO payouts for terminated employees.
Proactively identifies any payroll discrepancies and resolves issues on a timely basis.
Audits both the employee and student time entry, and ensures time loaded to the payroll system is accurate via reporting analysis.
Stays current on changing Federal and State labor laws, union bargaining agreements and contractual items pertaining to payroll processing and timekeeping, Institute policies and budget allocations and guidelines.
Completes state applications for withholding, unemployment or locality identification numbers as needed.
Partners with the Payroll Manager with implementation, testing and automation of new system related procedures for payroll and time and attendance to ensure the most efficient, accurate and streamlined payroll processes.
Assists in the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures pertaining to payroll and time and attendance.
Processes all garnishment, child support, and tax levy orders.
Ensures the accurate issuance of W-2s and assists with various federal and state regulatory reporting.
Ensures compliance with local, state, and federal wage and hour employment and unemployment law.