Business and Finance - Payroll Accountant

Title: Payroll Accountant

Department: Finance and Business

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Organizational Relationship: Reports to the Payroll Manager

Work Location: Staten Island, New York (On-Site)

Salary Range: $40,000-$50,000 per year (depending on work & systems experience)

Job Purpose: The Finance and Business Office is responsible for safeguarding the integrity of the College’s fiscal operations. The Office delivers timely and accurate financial information to key stakeholders, protects the College’s tangible and intangible assets, and ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local tax regulations.

Reporting directly to the Payroll Manager, the Payroll Accountant supports the management, processing, and control of the College’s payroll and related financial operations. This on-site position is based at the College’s Staten Island, New York campus and plays a key role in ensuring that all College employees are paid accurately and on time.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential Functions

• Support the Payroll Manager in the preparation, review, and processing of all College payrolls.
• Manage the payroll email inbox and phone line, maintaining a log of inquiries and issues and escalating them to the Payroll Manager or routing them to the appropriate Finance team member.
• Administer student timecards, ensuring student employees are supported and paid accurately and on time.
• Review weekly timecards and perform rotating sample testing to verify accuracy and policy compliance.
• Support internal and external payroll audits, including insurance, union, and year-end audits, by gathering data and supporting documentation from Oracle and responding promptly to auditor requests.
• Ensure accurate calculation, withholding, and remittance of federal, New York State, and local payroll taxes; research and help resolve tax notices and discrepancies.
• Prepare weekly and monthly union reports and process the corresponding remittances for four (4) collective bargaining units.
• Assist the Payroll Manager with monthly, quarterly, and annual deliverables, including payroll tax reconciliations, payroll balance reports, quarterly tax filings, and W-2 preparation.
• Compile compensation files for the Payroll Manager’s review and upload into Oracle.
• Partner with College departments to support accurate and timely timecard management for their employees.
• Generate Oracle reports and perform data audits to ensure the integrity and accuracy of payroll information.
• Prepare weekly and monthly payroll journal entries for union remittances and other payroll transactions.
• Monitor Oracle for uncosted positions and collaborate with the Payroll Manager and Assistant Controller to ensure all positions are accurately costed.
• Build and maintain Excel-based reconciliations, analyses, and reports to support payroll accuracy and the month-end close.

Non-Essential Functions

• Assist with departmental projects and additional assignments as requested.
• Serve as a point of contact for College administrators, employees, and outside agencies (in person, by phone, and by email), providing clear and professional responses to payroll and general financial inquiries.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance and a minimum of three (3) years of relevant payroll or accounting experience
• Experience in a higher education or non-profit finance environment is highly desirable

Certifications:

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC), a plus

Desired Work Traits:

• Solid working knowledge of payroll tax regulations, including federal, New York State, and local withholding, reporting, and filing requirements
• Demonstrated experience supporting payroll audits, including preparing reconciliations and supporting documentation and responding to auditor inquiries
• Exceptional attention to detail, with strong organizational and analytical skills
• Self-motivated, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Proven ability to complete work accurately and on schedule

Computer Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and data reconciliation), along with strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• Experience with Oracle, a plus

Communication/Interpersonal Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain payroll matters clearly and to build effective working relationships with campus departments, employees, and outside organizations
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism

Location Requirement:

• This is an on-site position at the College’s Staten Island, New York campus; candidates must live within a reasonable commuting distance of Staten Island

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Management reserves the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.