Payroll Specialist

Colorado Mesa University•Grand Junction, CO

18h•Onsite

About The Position

At CMU, every position is considered vital, contributing significantly to the university's mission of providing affordable and accessible education and fostering meaningful partnerships. The Payroll Specialist reports to the Payroll Manager and is responsible for supporting the accurate and timely processing of the university’s semi-monthly payroll for administrative, faculty, and student employees. This role is critical for ensuring payroll accuracy, compliance, and customer service across the institution. While it does not have direct LMA responsibility, the specialist is accountable for executing key payroll functions, supporting continuous improvement initiatives, and serving as a primary resource for payroll-related inquiries, especially concerning student employment. The execution of payroll at CMU requires strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and collaboration across departments.

Requirements

Working knowledge of payroll processing and compliance requirements
Strong attention to detail and ability to audit and reconcile data
Ability to analyze payroll discrepancies and determine corrective actions
Ability to learn and utilize ERP system - Workday
Strong Excel and data analysis skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Strong communication and customer service skills
Ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive employee data
Demonstrated emotional intelligence and collaborative working style
Ability to provide training and guidance to campus
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field OR Associate’s degree with 4+ years of complex payroll experience
Proven experience relating to the position duties
Proven ability to multi- task with critical deadlines with minimal or no direction
Proficiency in Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, and knowledge in configuring and updating webpages
Experience working with Workday, or similar payroll and HR systems

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education payroll
Experience supporting multi-state payroll and compliance

Responsibilities

Support accurate and timely payroll processing in compliance with laws, regulations, and university policies
Monitor payroll activity, identify discrepancies, and resolve issues proactively
Reconcile payroll-related reports, including vendor payments and benefit deductions
Coordinate with Human Resources to ensure accurate onboarding and benefit data entry
Maintain and audit payroll records, ensuring confidentiality and compliance
Support student payroll operations, including onboarding, timesheet audits, and work-study coordination
Serve as a primary point of contact for student employees and supervisors
Assist with redistribution of payroll expenses across funding sources (financial aid, grants, etc.)
Develop and maintain payroll procedures, manuals, and training materials
Provide communication and training to supervisors and campus partners
Conduct research on payroll laws and regulations to ensure compliance
Support special projects to improve payroll efficiency and effectiveness
Maintain confidential employee records to include benefit enrollment forms, W4 and I-9 forms, retirement selection forms, and direct deposit forms
Write and update procedural manuals for efficient payroll processing
Provide technology support to the employees and HR department on Workday payroll functions
In collaboration with the Benefits Specialists, streamline and enhance new employee onboarding process to incorporate a combination of online and in-person and electronic tools, to ensure robust and successful employee recruitment and retention
Other duties as assigned