Senior) - Open Rank

University of Colorado•Colorado Springs, CO

6d•$48,512 - $76,478•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School of Dental Medicine is seeking an Entry, Intermediate, or Senior Payroll Specialist to join its Human Resources team. The position supports accurate payroll, timekeeping, additional payments, and payroll-related leave administration for approximately 450 employees, including university and classified staff, faculty, per-diem faculty, and student employees. Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Payroll Specialist works closely with the unit’s other Payroll Specialist and HR partners across the school and university. The level of independence and complexity varies by professional level. The position does not supervise employees. The position is hybrid. For the first three months, the schedule is four days in the office and one day remote; afterward, it changes to three days in the office and two days remote. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The role supports payroll accuracy and responsive employee service across a diverse academic workforce, collaborating with HR professionals and contributing to timekeeping, leave, onboarding, and payroll-process improvements. The university offers benefits including medical, dental, disability, life, and vision insurance; a retirement plan with employer contributions; paid time off, vacation, sick leave, and holidays; tuition benefits; and a reduced-rate transit pass. The position may be eligible for overtime compensation depending on the professional level.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; a combination of education and related technical, military, or paraprofessional experience may substitute on a year-for-year basis.
Intermediate Professional: One year of professional HR generalist or payroll experience.
Senior Professional: Two years of professional HR generalist or payroll experience.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship; sponsorship or employment authorization will not be provided now or in the future.
Successful completion of a criminal background check and sex offender registry check.
Ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate payroll, timekeeping, leave, and HR policies and procedures and apply sound judgment.
Ability to support financial and accounting information systems.
Ability to identify, research, and resolve routine payroll and timekeeping discrepancies.
Ability to administer time collection, employee funding, and payroll.
Effective written and oral communication, including public speaking.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels.
Knowledge of professional standards, concepts, and practices related to Human Resources.
Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
Ability to take initiative with daily work and collaborate to support positive team performance.

Nice To Haves

Two years of professional experience working in a human resource generalist position.
More than two years of experience in a payroll specialist position.
Experience working with accounting and financial data, including analyzing and identifying variances.
Experience with the University of Colorado Anschutz Human Capital Management (HCM) system.

Responsibilities

Process assigned monthly and bi-weekly payroll activities, including call pay and other additional payments, and support timely, accurate submission of employee time.
Audit timesheets, payroll registers, earnings codes, and leave balances; investigate discrepancies, coordinate corrections, and complete annual leave-sweep reviews.
Maintain employee payroll and timekeeping records in TimeClock+, PeopleSoft HCM, MyLeave, and related systems; perform monthly leave-accrual uploads and support system testing or transitions.
Coordinate payroll impacts of FML, FAMLI, Short-Term Disability, and other leave programs, and advise employees and supervisors on established payroll and timekeeping procedures.
Set up and onboard new employees; explain time entry, leave reporting, earnings codes, direct deposit, W-4 requirements, and other payroll documents.
Coordinate student employee hiring and onboarding, including position postings, applications, offer letters, background checks, I-9 verification, HCM entry, and timekeeping training.
Serve as backup for payroll HR functions and collaborate with HR partners.
At higher professional levels, independently resolve complex issues and recommend process improvements.