Sr Payroll Analyst

Excelsior•Albany, NY

3d•$65,000 - $75,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sr. Payroll Analyst is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of the University’s biweekly payroll, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This role maintains payroll and confidential personnel records, supports process improvements, and serves as a key resource for employees and cross-functional departments. The Sr. Payroll Analyst collaborates with HR and other departments to optimize payroll functions while ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and excellent service delivery. This is a full-time hybrid role with a minimum of two required days at Excelsior’s home office of 7 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY, with the remainder of the days worked from home.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, HR, Accounting, or a related field.
Significant experience as a primary payroll processor, demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of payroll processing principles and practices.
In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations.
Ability to make sound decisions and balance working independently and in a team.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive information discreetly.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to adjust and embrace change.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Experience with payroll software, with preference for UKG.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced skills in Microsoft Excel.

Nice To Haves

UKG Experience
Process Improvement mindset

Responsibilities

Process day-to-day payroll updates, including, but not limited to, new deductions, deduction changes, salary adjustments, etc. in preparation for the biweekly payroll for all employees.
Maintain accurate and detailed tracking of all ongoing payroll items, ensuring that items with varying or overlapping end dates are monitored and processed accordingly.
Ensure adherence to all applicable federal, state, and local regulations for all employment classifications, including exempt, non-exempt, and temporary/per-diem employees.
Review and approve employee-initiated changes submitted through HRIS self-service workflows.
Review, follow up on, and audit biweekly timesheets prior to the transfer of data from the timekeeping module to the payroll module; audit transferred data for accuracy.
Work collaboratively with other departments to ensure payments generated by the faculty management system are received and processed accurately; follow up on discrepancies and make manual adjustments as needed.
Conduct regular audits of payroll data, before, during and after payroll processing, to ensure accuracy, compliance, and proper documentation, applying strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
Proactively identify errors, discrepancies, or process gaps, communicate findings to relevant stakeholders, and actively participate in developing and implementing effective solutions.
Execute end-to-end payroll processing on the scheduled payroll completion day. Ensuring all day-to-day updates are accounted for and making manual adjustments as needed.
Review and import payment data from other systems and verify the final payroll with the payroll and benefits team to ensure accuracy before transmission.
Transmit payroll and collaborate with the Finance team to confirm that all payments are successfully processed and disbursed by the University’s bank.
Prepare and distribute post-payroll reporting to support other cross-functional departments.
Work in conjunction with the HRIS Coordinator to maintain the HRIS system in various areas, including but not limited to: Processing new hires by transferring data from the onboarding module into the payroll system. Verifying that all information is accurate and complete; following up with appropriate parties to resolve discrepancies and updating the system as needed. Ensuring the correct work location is recorded to determine appropriate state tax withholding requirements. Confirming that required documentation is properly filed and accessible within the employee’s electronic personnel record. Processing employee terminations by reviewing offboarding documentation, determining the appropriate termination reason, and ensuring compliance with all applicable state regulations. Maintaining reporting structures, job codes, unit changes, and related data elements.
Assist in developing, implementing and adhering to cross-training initiatives that promote office cohesion and provide reliable backup coverage for essential functions within the HR unit.
Assist in developing, updating, and implementing payroll policies and procedures to align with organizational goals and industry best practices.
Remain current on federal, state, and local payroll regulations, assessing the impact of legislative changes and recommending process or system adjustments as needed.
Collaborate on payroll-related projects, contributing project management, planning, and problem-solving skills to drive efficiency and continuous improvement.
Serve as a primary point of contact for employee payroll inquiries, delivering timely, accurate, and customer-focused support.
Support a collaborative and service-oriented work environment, leveraging strong interpersonal skills to partner effectively with HR colleagues and departments across the university.