Payroll Specialist

The Kinkaid School•Houston, TX

14h

About The Position

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for the development and administration of full-cycle payroll procedures for the School. Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Payroll Specialist oversees the end-to-end activities related to payroll, including: systems and procedural management; pay-cycle processing and reconciliation; record-keeping and audit; and support for up to 500 employees. The Payroll Specialist exercises independent judgment and discretion in planning and carrying out the details of work procedures, methods, and the associated training and communication related to all aspects of the payroll function for the School.

Requirements

Bachelors degree preferred, or equivalent years of direct experience
4-6 years direct payroll experience processing payroll for 400+ employees
Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
Knowledge of laws and regulations pertaining to payroll function
Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines
Ability to maintain payroll information with absolute confidentiality
Proficiency in use of Microsoft and/or Google Workplace applications such as Excel, Word, docs, sheets
Experience with Paycom or a similar payroll processing system

Nice To Haves

CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) Certification granted by APA strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Establish, monitor, and maintain full-cycle payroll procedures to support accurate and compliant processing, payment, and posting of employee earnings, deductions, withholdings, and associated remittances
Distribute and manage pay date processing schedules for both semi-monthly and monthly pay cycles
Manage the preparation, review process, posting, and reconciliation of semi-monthly and monthly payroll schedules, including audit and document retention of timekeeping records in accordance with established procedures and in compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations, such as IRS and FLSA rules and regulations
Submit timely remittances including but not limited to: 403B; 457; HSA; and section 125 deductions
Serve as the payroll system administrator and identify solutions to enhance the usability internal-controls, and features that support continuous improvement of the system and associated procedures
Conduct routine audits to test internal-control procedures that maintain the integrity of data migration through payroll, including: new hire generation, assignment terms, leave status, and terminations; changes in rates for earnings, benefits, and deductions; withholdings, and remittances
Reconcile monthly HSA and retirement benefits plan deductions, research discrepancies in reconciliations, and submit reports and/or applicable supporting documentation for invoice processing
Process accurate and timely wage garnishments and facilitate communication and setup between the payroll vendor, garnishing agency, and employee
Serve as the main point of contact to support employees and supervisors and communicate updates, provide training, guidance, answer questions, trouble-shoot errors, and help with how to complete tasks as it relates to payroll procedures, processes, or transactional details
Coordinate and assist with the annual preliminary payroll, payroll, retirement plan, and workers compensation audits
Oversee the review, setup, and accuracy of year-end processes, including: W2 creation, reconciliation, and timely distribution; YTD accumulator limits and reset; and deduction rate table updates
Reconcile payroll related general ledger accounts and prepare payroll posting reports before due date
Coordinate the administration of the School’s retirement savings plan(s) in accordance with the applicable plan document, including but not limited to eligibility and onboarding new participants, deferral effective date processing, record-keeping, compliance, and plan testing
Participate in professional development, attend training, and complete self-directed learning to stay competent in regulatory and compliance updates impacting payroll and benefits processing
Maintain employee confidence and protect the integrity of payroll operations with a demonstrated commitment to delivering a reliable, accurate, and confidential experience