Payroll Administrator

Position Classification Title Accounting Professional, Accountant FLSA Exempt Position Class 89657

Position Overview

Position Summary

Winston-Salem State University is seeking a payroll professional with an accounting background for our Payroll Administrator position.

Join the Ramily!

About the Team and Opportunity:

WSSU's Office of Human Resources delivers professional HR services for SHRA, EHRA non-faculty, institutional administrators, temporary and student employees, and faculty (benefits administration). Our team leads staffing & talent acquisition, classification & compensation, employee relations, training & professional development, performance management, leave and position management, payroll services, unemployment programs, and more. Join us to elevate HR service and help our community thrive!

The Payroll Administrator oversees all payroll operations to ensure that employee payments-including salaries, benefits, taxes, and deductions-are processed accurately and on time.

Responsibilities include:

Payroll Operations Management

* Oversee and process the monthly and bi-weekly payroll cycles, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with all regulations.

* Perform accurate and timely payroll calculations for all employee types and compensation categories.

* Review and validate payroll data transferred from the HR system to Banner Production, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and data integrity.

* Complete direct deposit pre-note validations before each monthly or bi-weekly payroll, to include tax forms and garnishment deductions.

* Manage adjustments, retroactive payments, supplemental pay, and all other payroll-related transactions.

* Prepare and process direct pay requests for university internal and external third-party payroll vendors.

* Investigate and resolve discrepancies between payroll records and accounting records, ensuring proper reconciliation and compliance.

* Maintain payroll records in accordance with University, State, Federal, and UNC System Office guidelines.

Accounting and Financial Coordination

* Prepare and post payroll-related journal entries, including entries for payroll expenses and reconciling items.

* Reconcile payroll clearing funds, over/under funds, and Foundation payroll-related funds, ensuring deposits are completed on a monthly basis.

* Ensure the payroll clearing fund maintains a zero balance at month-end, preventing reconciliation issues for the Controller's Office and the Office of the State Controller.

* Investigate and resolve discrepancies between payroll activity and accounting entries to ensure accurate financial reporting.

* Complete the annual escheatment process for payroll disbursements in compliance with State requirements.

* Coordinate payroll adjustments, cash requests, and other financial transactions with the Controller's Office.

* Ensure accurate and timely submission of all mandated Federal and State payroll reporting.

Reporting and Documentation

* Prepare and maintain payroll reports for internal and external auditing and compliance reviews.

* Maintain and report UNC FIT (Financial Improvement and Transformation) KPIs related to payroll accuracy and timeliness.

* Develop and maintain payroll operational manuals, workflow documentation, and online policy resources.

* Generate and distribute detailed payroll summaries and exception reports after each payroll cycle.

Communication and Collaboration

* Prepare clear, professional communications regarding payroll processes, updates, deadlines, and policy changes.

* Collaborate with Human Resources, Budget, the Controller's Office, and other internal stakeholders to maintain alignment across payroll, compensation, and financial processes.

* Deliver engaging training sessions and process demonstrations, including representing Payroll Services at New Employee Orientation and participating in HR Town Hall meetings to ensure employees receive clear, informative guidance on payroll procedures.

* Maintain effective working relationships with the UNC System Office and other internal partners to ensure smooth and compliant payroll operations.

* Utilize organizational skills and attention to details, strong analytical skills and problem solving skills to ensure accurate information is transcribe and shared with employees and administrators.

* Manage payroll-related communication of all testing outcomes to the Office of Information Technology, Shared Service Center and UNC System Office.

Policy and Process Improvement

* Evaluate payroll operations regularly and identify process improvements, technology enhancements, and compliance needs.

* Develop, revise, and enforce payroll policies and procedures to ensure security, consistency, and accuracy.

* Research and resolve complex payroll issues that require regulatory or policy interpretation.

* Participate in system testing, upgrades, integrations, and implementation efforts; communicate testing outcomes to stakeholders.

The ideal candidate:

* Has a comprehensive knowledge of federal and state payroll…