Payroll Specialist

Wake County Public Schools - Cary, NC

Full-time

Cary, NC

Educational Services

About the position

The Payroll Specialist at Wake County Public School System is responsible for performing payroll-related duties to ensure timely and accurate compensation for employees in compliance with federal, state, and local laws. This role involves managing payroll processes, maintaining confidential payroll information, and serving as a resource for school and department staff. The position requires effective time management, customer service skills, and the ability to analyze payroll data for accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Identifies needed pay adjustments due to hire and termination dates as well as position changes.
• Reviews the payroll processing calendar daily to ensure deadlines are met; informs team leader of status of payroll processing as it relates to required deadlines.
• Maintains confidential payroll files and information for an assigned set of schools and/or departments.
• Serves as a resource for school and department secretaries.
• Reviews, corrects, and updates employee payroll reports (pre-payroll report, auto decrement, pre-register, and payroll element audit report).
• Analyses all payroll related keying errors for corrections.
• Analyses payroll data and audits payment to identify over/under payments.
• Evaluates future payroll payments for overpayments collection purposes.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local legal requirements for existing and new legislation.
• Communicates complex instructions to school and department secretaries ensuring accurate keying including extended leave, late hires, and terminations payments.
• Performs data entry, verification, and follow-up of Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Contagious Disease leave; makes contact with schools, departments, and Human Resources staff to ensure accurate leave information prior to payroll runs.
• Reviews the compensation services manual on a regular basis to ensure processes and procedures are followed accurately.
• Monitors employee overpayments through receivables to ensure that the overpayment is cleared before final payout.
• Performs miscellaneous payroll duties and assists other Payroll Analysts, as required.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent; AND Two years of experience in payroll related experience; OR Associate degree from a regionally accredited college or university; AND One year of experience in payroll, bookkeeping or accounting.
• Considerable knowledge of Microsoft Office, specifically Word, and Excel; Google Apps; Working knowledge of Oracle, and other similar payroll related software programs.
• Knowledge of general payroll processes including taxation, deductions, bonuses, and compensation schedules.
• Knowledge of general personnel information systems.
• Effective time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience working with Oracle based accounting and payroll systems.
• Previous experience in a school system finance or payroll department.
• Experience in general auditing.

Benefits

• Hybrid Telework workweek
• Occasional evenings and weekends