Staff Accountant 1 - Entry Level

Louisiana State University

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is a non-supervisory, unclassified position in the Payroll section of the Office of Accounting Services. The primary purpose of this position is processing personnel forms for graduate assistants, faculty, and professional staff for the Baton Rouge paid campuses—LSU A&M in Baton Rouge, LSU Agricultural Center, and Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and LSU in Eunice, Alexandria, and Shreveport. This position requires a basic knowledge of the following LSU computer Workday systems: HCM, Payroll, and FIN. 30% Payroll Processing and Reporting Processes monthly payroll for teaching and research graduate assistants, as well as academic and professional employees across multiple campuses. Performs retroactive payroll calculations to correct prior-period payroll adjustments. Initiates payroll cycles, resolves payroll processing errors, reviews audit reports, balances payroll records, and generates payroll reports for distribution. 25% Manual Payroll Calculations and Terminations Calculates gross pay and related deductions for personnel actions that are not processed through the retro pay cycle, including partial payments with no transactions in the database when payrolls are processed. Verifies termination leave calculations for academic and professional employees and calculates net overpayments resulting from late terminations. Reviews and releases all late GA termination transactions, prepares bank request sheets to recover overpayments, and prepares journal entries and correspondence to establish receivables for repayment. 20% Payroll Support, Compliance, and Employee Assistance Communicates with LSU Human Resources offices, the Graduate School, departments, and employees regarding payroll transactions and activities. Reviews personnel and tax-related forms for nonresident employees to ensure compliance with IRS regulations and federal tax treaty requirements. Maintains working knowledge of employment and tax laws and LSU policies. Participates in seminars and provides guidance to departments on payroll procedures and applicable Workday processes and testing. 10% Fringe Benefits and Tax Reporting Assists with ensuring taxable and nontaxable fringe benefits are accurately loaded into Workday as income and additional pay components. Verifies that fringe benefits are properly included in employee income and that the appropriate amounts are reported on Form W-2 in accordance with IRS regulations. Updates fringe benefit spreadsheets and performs monthly reconciliations to Workday system reports. Maintains working knowledge of IRS regulations related to taxable and nontaxable fringe benefits and applicable FASOP AS-12 requirements. 15% Summer School Support and Special Project Assists with summer budget loads, balancing activities, and the balancing of EIB loads associated with summer research payments. Performs other duties and special projects as assigned by Payroll and Accounting Services management, as applicable.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field; 24 hours of college accounting courses
Proficient with computers and advanced MS Office skills
10-key by touch with a high degree of speed and accuracy
Experience applying standard accounting principles
Proven verbal and written communication skills
Multitasking capabilities
Physical ability and hand-eye coordination necessary to use a computer terminal, calculator, copier, telephone, and other office equipment
Ability to sit in the same position for extended periods (3.5 to 4 hours) at a time using continuous hand motions when using a calculator or entering data in the computer system
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively through telephone and direct contact with individuals
Must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain that valid work authorization throughout employment.

Nice To Haves

Basic knowledge of LSU computer Workday systems: HCM, Payroll, and FIN.

Responsibilities

Processes monthly payroll for teaching and research graduate assistants, as well as academic and professional employees across multiple campuses.
Performs retroactive payroll calculations to correct prior-period payroll adjustments.
Initiates payroll cycles, resolves payroll processing errors, reviews audit reports, balances payroll records, and generates payroll reports for distribution.
Calculates gross pay and related deductions for personnel actions that are not processed through the retro pay cycle, including partial payments with no transactions in the database when payrolls are processed.
Verifies termination leave calculations for academic and professional employees and calculates net overpayments resulting from late terminations.
Reviews and releases all late GA termination transactions, prepares bank request sheets to recover overpayments, and prepares journal entries and correspondence to establish receivables for repayment.
Communicates with LSU Human Resources offices, the Graduate School, departments, and employees regarding payroll transactions and activities.
Reviews personnel and tax-related forms for nonresident employees to ensure compliance with IRS regulations and federal tax treaty requirements.
Maintains working knowledge of employment and tax laws and LSU policies.
Participates in seminars and provides guidance to departments on payroll procedures and applicable Workday processes and testing.
Assists with ensuring taxable and nontaxable fringe benefits are accurately loaded into Workday as income and additional pay components.
Verifies that fringe benefits are properly included in employee income and that the appropriate amounts are reported on Form W-2 in accordance with IRS regulations.
Updates fringe benefit spreadsheets and performs monthly reconciliations to Workday system reports.
Maintains working knowledge of IRS regulations related to taxable and nontaxable fringe benefits and applicable FASOP AS-12 requirements.
Assists with summer budget loads, balancing activities, and the balancing of EIB loads associated with summer research payments.
Performs other duties and special projects as assigned by Payroll and Accounting Services management, as applicable.