Senior Accountant - Payroll & Benefits Administration

Senior Accountant – Payroll & Benefits Administration

Overview• Reporting to the Controller, the Senior Accountant – Payroll & Benefits Administration is a key leader• within the Business and Finance Team and serves as a collaborative partner in achieving institutional• goals and objectives. This role is responsible for overseeing payroll operations, administering employee• benefit programs, and ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting and compliance. The• Senior Accountant demonstrates a strong commitment to service excellence while ensuring effective• administrative and financial support for students, faculty, and staff across campus.

Job dutiesThe Senior Accountant must perform the following duties and responsibilities:

Payroll Processing• Process multiple payrolls to ensure accuracy and compliance• Ensure complete and accurate payroll records and files are maintained• Ensure timely submission of payroll tax deposits and retirement contributions• Coordinate payroll reporting for Human Resources, grants, and external agencies• Maintain payroll deduction schedules and ensure accuracy of withholdings• Serve as primary contact with payroll vendors• Ensure proper reconciliation of all payroll-related transactions

Benefits & Retirement Plan Administration• Maintain financial components of all employee benefit plans• Monitor college-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 403(b), 457(b), 457(f)), including complianceand contribution oversight and reconciliation• Ensure compliance with ERISA, IRS regulations, and plan documents• Support the HR Specialist with reconciliations for benefits enrollment audits and serve as the point of contact for all financial responsibilities related to employee benefit plans post enrollment• Perform benefit reconciliations and ensure timely payments to carriers

Financial Reconciliation• Perform bank reconciliations and resolve discrepancies• Prepare and maintain general ledger account schedules• Ensure all accounting practices align with GAAP, federal regulations, state requirements, andaccreditation standards• Maintain audit-ready documentation and strong internal controls

Other Duties• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications and KnowledgeThe Senior Accountant must display the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:• Minimum of five (5) years of direct experience in payroll processing and payroll administration,including tax filings and compliance• Minimum of five (5) years of experience administering employee benefits programs andretirement plans (e.g., 403(b), 457)• Minimum of five (5) years of general ledger accounting experience• MBA or CPA preferred but not required.• Proficiency with accounting systems and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel required)• Extensive experience in multi-cycle payroll environments (e.g., bi-weekly, monthly) and benefitsadministration within higher education, nonprofit, or similarly complex organizations• Communicate effectively (verbal and written) with all management levels within the Institution aswell as key individuals in other organizations/agencies to provide maximum support to students,faculty, and others being served by the Institution.• Knowledge of accounting, budgeting, general business programs, policies, and procedures isrequired to ensure effective/efficient use and distribution of financial and other resources.• Knowledge, understanding, and business application of Generally Accepted AccountingPrinciples (GAAP).• Ability to respond effectively to numerous and varied situations, analyze issues, and respondquickly and correctly to resolve problems and support the needs of students, faculty, staff, andothers on the Institution.• The Senior Accountant must be a "team player" with the desire to promote the entire Institutionand all its programs through energetic and effective coordination with applicable Institutiondepartments and appropriate external organizations and agencies.• Excellent listening skills and trained abilities to adapt to a dynamic environment and progressiveorganization.

Service Excellence• The Senior Accountant will work collaboratively with other administrators and department heads.• The Senior Accountant will create and maintain a customer service culture, program, orientation,and focus on assigned areas.• Other duties as assigned by the Controller.

Job TypeFull-time 40 hours per week position minimum. Working hours will occasionally include evenings andweekends during peak periods, including monthly closeouts, registration, and audit season.