Payroll Administrator

Join our collegial team of HR and Payroll professionals with a fun, collaborative spirit, who really enjoy working together! We strive for continuous learning to support growth in our careers. We proudly support the Colburn community of staff, faculty, and students to help them thrive in a creative environment. Here you can attend amazing concerts in the middle of your workday and hear musicians rehearsing down the hall from your office!

Position Summary:

Process semi-monthly payroll for staff and student workers and serve as a backup on faculty payroll. Prepare related reports. Reconcile and balance accounts. Work closely with Human Resources team and provide support on Human Resources functions as requested. Must maintain strict confidentiality of all payroll and employee related information.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for payroll integrity: including accurate and timely paychecks and tax filings.
• Review and process timesheets in compliance with policy, wage & hour laws, and other requirements as necessary.
• Perform all duties associated with payroll input, processing, reporting and recordkeeping.
• Process payroll on a semi-monthly basis for up to 4 separate payroll groups (and more as added) including staff, faculty, and students (approximately 475 employees).  
• Manage payroll adjustments and repayment plans.
• Maintain payroll records, files and reports as backup for each payroll.
• Process wage garnishments.
• Prepare and enter semi-monthly payroll journal entries in accounting system and work with Accounting Department on labor allocation.

• Send reminders of deadlines (timesheet submittal/approvals, employee requested changes (i.e. address, taxes, direct deposits)
• Review/audit submitted & approved timesheets
  • Follow up with employees and/or supervisors regarding errors/warnings on timesheets
  • Ensure time off requests are processed.
  • Confirm company holiday and/or floating holidays are addressed in time sheets.
  • Audit/Review timesheets for overtime hours and meal breaks. Follow up with supervisors if needed.
  • Review timesheets of unionized employees to ensure correct reflection of OT/DT/Holidays/Premium Pay in compliance with union contract terms.
  • Audit Payroll for accurate pay deductions and taxes, including compliance with tax treaties for international students.
• Calculation for rate changes starting mid pay period, or an effective date that is retroactive.
• Process off cycle payrolls if needed including final paycheck calculations.
• Union
  • Prepare monthly submittal for union benefits.
  • Process annual pay increases per union contract.
• Honoraria – Confirm the work performed, pay rate, and total hours.
• Back up HR team with data entry and updates related to vacation, sick time, benefits deductions, and payrate changes. 

• 403b (Retirement Plan)
  • Audit & submit employee contributions and employer match to record keeper after every payroll
  • Support annual audit process with outside auditors.
  • Ensure compliance with 403(b) limits and process annual true ups for employer match.

• Respond to all staff and student paycheck inquires.
• Liaison with payroll software company.
• Support HRIS Manager with reconciling group insurance billing and employee insurance deductions on a monthly basis.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current payroll requirements, laws and trends.

Experience, Knowledge, and Training/Education:

• Minimum of 5 years of payroll processing experience.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state payroll regulations, and payroll tax filing.
• Working knowledge of Federal and State wage and hour laws (CA knowledge is required).
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business or related field preferred.
• Experience with payroll interface with retirement plans such as 403(b) or 401k.
• Basic knowledge of accounting and reconciliation of accounts.
• Knowledge of various tax treaties for nonresident aliens.
• Experience in a college or university payroll environment a plus.
• Payroll experience in a non-profit organization a plus.
• Knowledge and experience using payroll software is required, UKG (Ultimate Software) experience is highly preferred.
• Strong computer skills & knowledge including MS Office required.
• Strong Excel skills required.

Skills and Qualities:

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of payroll-related information and to exercise good judgment when communicating pay information
• Must have the ability to work a consistent full-time schedule during regular business hours, and work overtime as needed.
• Proven ability to effectively collaborate with others in a team-based environment.
• Ability to work well under pressure and deliver high-quality work within established deadlines.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal relationship skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• High level of commitment to customer service and follow up
• Demonstrated ability to process rapid data entry with accuracy.

PHYSICAL:

Must be able to see, hear, feel, and use hands to type and grasp objects with fingers. Primarily sedentary with intermittent standing, walking, bending, and stooping; occasional light lifting and carrying of objects weighing 25 pounds or less; light to heavy repetitive use of hands, wrists and forearms while working on a computer.

EMOTIONAL:

Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships involving interactions and communications personally, by phone and in writing with a variety of individuals and/or groups of individuals from diverse backgrounds on a regular, on-going basis; ability to concentrate on detailed tasks for extended periods of time and/or intermittently while attending to other responsibilities; ability to work effectively under pressure on multiple tasks concurrently while meeting established deadlines and changing priorities.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Primarily indoor office environment; frequent contact with and interruptions by individuals in person or by phone.

Compensation and Benefits: Full-time, hourly/non-exempt, 40 hours per work week, Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (plus the required minimum 30-minute meal break). The pay range is $32 to $41 per hour ($66,560 to $85,280 annual) depending on skills, experience, education, knowledge, and ability level. The Colburn School offers excellent benefits including Medical, Dental and Vision insurance plans; Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability and Life Insurance plans; paid sick leave and vacation; 403(b)-retirement plan with a generous employer matching contribution.

 

ABOUT THE COLBURN SCHOOL:
A performing arts institution located in the heart of Los Angeles, the Colburn School trains students from beginners to those about to embark on professional careers. Each year, more than 2,000 students from around the world come to Colburn to benefit from the renowned faculty, exceptional facilities, and focus on excellence that unites the community.

The academic units of the School provide a complete spectrum of music and dance education united by a single philosophy: that all who desire to study music or dance should have access to top-level instruction.

Conservatory of Music - The diploma- and degree-granting Conservatory of Music is distinguished by a unique all-scholarship model, renowned faculty, and outstanding performance opportunities. It prepares the very highest level of collegiate musicians for professional careers.

The Music Academy is a highly selective training program for gifted young pre-collegiate musicians, designed to prepare students for conservatory study and performing careers at the highest levels of achievement. This residential program balances performance, musical instruction, and academics.

The Community School of Performing Arts welcomes students of all ages, from seven months old to adults. It offers over 120 classes each year in orchestral instruments, piano, guitar, voice, jazz, music theory, drama, and ensembles including orchestra, choir, and chamber music.

The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute develops performers of all levels, from the pre-professional ballet program in the Dance Academy to beginners starting in Youth Dance. Students of all levels receive training in ballet, tap, and modern genres as part of a comprehensive dance education.

Center for Innovation and Community Impact was created to empower the musical and dance leaders of tomorrow by nurturing students’ passion and ability to serve their communities, preparing them for sustainable careers, and embracing the development of new ideas. The Colburn School partners with 15 Los Angeles Unified School District schools, 13 of which receive Title I funding, to provide interactive and engaging concerts and instructional sessions to 5,000 students every year. Students are then selected for scholarships to participate in the two week “Summer Encounter” program with additional scholarships awarded for continued training within the Colburn School through high school graduation.

The Colburn School is currently building the Colburn Center, a multi-faceted campus expansion, designed by Frank Gehry. The expansion includes a 1,000-seat in-the-round concert hall, five professional-sized dance studios, a 100-seat studio theater, and gardens that bring fresh air and green spaces to the downtown Los Angeles landscape.