Associate Payroll Accountant

Summary

Shares responsibility for biweekly and off-cycle payroll processing and other functions within Payroll Services, as assigned. Provides excellent customer service to University students, faculty and staff. Support and work closely to ensure smooth operations within payroll services.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

1. Process payroll through Banner. Includes financial institution transactions, paying taxes (Federal and State), processing involuntary deductions, running edits, creating direct deposits and payroll checks for all Michigan Tech employees. Ensure vendor payments are submitted accurately, in a timely manner.
2. Assist in maintaining payroll compliance with all State and Federal reporting requirements and remittances, including monthly and quarterly filings such as wage withholdings, IRS Form 941, unemployment insurance, employment statistics, MPSERS retirement contributions, and garnishments.
3. Assist in coordinating and executing fiscal and calendar year-end functions, including balancing and issuing of W-2s, 1042-S, and 1095-C ACA filings.
4. Financial reporting, as required.
5. Prioritize and coordinate work assignments to meet payroll deadlines.
6. Respond to employee inquiries and requests regarding payroll matters.
7. Maintain employee confidence and protect payroll operations by keeping information confidential.
8. Manage off-cycle payroll requests.
9. Inform University employees of payroll-related deadlines.
10. Assist with calculations and obligations related to the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement Systems (MPSERS) through the State of Michigan.
11. Maintain standard Banner functions.
12. Resolve payroll discrepancies by collecting and analyzing information.
13. Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with all levels of employees, management and external parties to maximize performance, creativity, problem solving and results.
14. Drive ad hoc continuous improvement initiatives by updating reports, refining processes, and providing administrative training. Implement small, ongoing enhancements to streamline, automate, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the payroll function.
15. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills and practices to everyday work.

Required Experience

* Experience processing payroll or related financial transactions and following required regulations.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

* Associate's degree or relevant specialized training in Accounting, Finance or related field

Desirable Education and/or Experience

* Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.
* Minimum one year of related payroll experience
* Experience using Banner software system.
* Experience in a higher education setting.
* Experience in processing multi-state payroll.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

* Ability to handle sensitive issues regarding payroll compensation matters.
* Demonstrated ability to use judgement when dealing with highly confidential information.
* Excellent interpersonal, customer service and oral/written communication skills.
* Demonstrated ability to independently organize and prioritize work assignments in a complex and fast-paced work environment.
* Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries and work harmoniously with diverse groups of students, faculty and staff.
* Demonstrated ability to expeditiously handle simultaneous requests with accuracy and attention to detail.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the
following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the
department.

Required University Training:
* Employee Safety Overview
* Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
* Annual Data Security Training
* Annual Title IX Training

Background Check:
Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until
the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

1.00

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Rate/Salary

The anticipated minimum salary for this position is $50,000; however, the final salary will depend on experience and qualifications.

Title of Position Supervisor

Payroll Manager

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

For full ensured consideration, applicants should apply no later that 11:55pm on May 22, 2025.

Additional Information

Additional information about Human Resources at Michigan Technological University at www.mtu.edu/hr.