Senior Payroll Specialist

$70,720 - $80,080/Yr

American University - Washington, DC

Full-time - Mid Level

Washington, DC

Educational Services

About the position

The Senior Payroll Specialist at American University plays a crucial role in supporting the Payroll Office by conducting audits and analyses for the production of biweekly and monthly payrolls. This position involves processing termination payouts, overtime calculations, and preparing Workday Enterprise Interface Builder (EIB) files. The specialist will ensure compliance with federal and state regulations while maintaining confidentiality and meeting critical deadlines. This role also includes providing backup support for other payroll staff and requires interaction with various departments across the university.

Responsibilities

• Perform auditing steps in the production of assigned biweekly and monthly payrolls.
• Review new hires, job changes, address changes, terminations, retro pay events, and bonus payments to identify and resolve issues before payroll processing.
• Research and resolve problems concerning employee earnings and deductions.
• Calculate and analyze various wage and benefit payments, including separation payouts and multi-job overtime.
• Respond to customer inquiries via ServiceNow, email, phone, or in person.
• Prepare payroll analysis sheets for customers and monitor inquiries from the ServiceNow case queue.
• Process EAP loan requests and other monthly reports as required.
• Provide backup for the Payroll Operations Manager and run key payroll processes.
• Troubleshoot complex Workday problems with the Payroll Operations Manager and Workday Technical Analyst.
• Test configuration changes with the Workday Technical Analyst and IT Product Manager.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in business administration, accounting, or a relevant field.
• 2-4 years of relevant experience, with at least 2 years in a related role.
• Proficiency in Excel, including formulas and lookups.
• Demonstrated experience using an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or automated payroll system.
• Familiarity with payroll processing for biweekly and monthly payrolls.
• Strong critical and analytical thinking skills, along with effective oral and written communication.

Nice-to-haves

• Accounting background.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for payroll, benefit, and audit purposes.
• Familiarity with word processing and spreadsheet software.

Benefits

• 200% matching retirement plan
• Tuition benefits for full-time staff and their families
• Leadership development certificates
• Recognition as a fit-friendly worksite by the American Heart Association