Job location: Winston Salem, NC

Employment Type: Full-time
Posted data: 2019-05-16
Req: R0001680
Please note:

• Additional documentation must be added at the bottom of the third screen under the "My Experience."
• Internal candidates must apply via the internal career portal. Do not proceed with your application from this website.
• DO NOT complete the application without the required attachments as you will be unable to edit your application.

Job Description Summary

Assists the Payroll Director in developing and executing strategic priorities for the Payroll Department. Utilizes research on industry best practices and historical payroll data to improve operational efficiency and customer service. Ensures that all Payroll policies and procedures are up-to-date and comply with local, state, and federal regulations. Provides high quality information to the campus community on a regular basis. Provides management oversight for Payroll Specialists, ensuring day-to-day activities of the Payroll Office are conducted in a timely and accurate manner. Reconciles Payroll General Ledger accounts and monitors activity to ensure accounting for transactions is accurate and timely. Acts as the department Director in the absence of the Payroll Director.

Job Description

Essential Functions:

• Acts as the back-up for all duties and responsibilities of the Payroll Director. Expertly performs these duties and responsibilities in the absence of the Payroll Director.
• Works with Payroll Director to develop a strategic vision for the Payroll Department. Identifies specific improvements needed and presents recommendations to management to address.
• Works with Payroll Analyst to interpret historical data and develop strategies to improve operational performance metrics and campus compliance with policies, procedures, and applicable deadlines.
• Maintains and monitors Payroll metrics, providing written explanation of trends and/or discrepancies.
• Responsible for delivering high quality information to the campus community on a regular basis through in-person presentations, developing and conducting training sessions, attending department meetings, and sending professional written communications.
• Ensures accuracy of payroll data by ensuring proper balancing and reconciliation of all payroll data, resolves discrepancies in a timely manner, and reviews the accuracy of Payroll related general ledger information.
• Reviews and approves monthly account reconciliations, completes the escheat process, creates journal entries and resolves any identified discrepancies. Independently completes reconciliations as requested by the Payroll Director.
• Ensures payroll policies, procedures, and processing are in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations as well as University policies and procedures.
• Manages the daily functions in the payroll office for the Payroll Specialist positions, which includes work allocation, training, and problem resolution. Assists Payroll Specialists with understanding and completing complex processing issues.
• Researches and partners with General Accounting to ensure internal control best practices are in place and that segregation of duties are continually maintained within the payroll process.
• Ensures backups for major processes are in place, are properly trained, and that all Payroll documentation is properly maintained.
• Reconciles quarterly and annual reports from ADP to Workday throughout the year to ensure accuracy of the W-2’s.
• Reviews and reconciles quarterly and annual tax returns filed by ADP and files any returns ADP does not process.
• Responsible for testing all integrations as well as the weekly and semiannual updates to the Workday payroll system. Acts as department liaison for Finance Systems on developing and executing a testing plan.
• Acts as Payroll Department liaison for fiscal year end process, and year end audits.  Audits include communications for annual external audit, 403(b) audit, internal audit, and Federal/State/Local audit as they arise.
• Works closely with Human Resources to monitor data quality in the Workday ERP system.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree and two years of related experience.
• Knowledge of relevant regulations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, the internet, and other relevant software.
• Ability to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner.
• Ability to present and display professional demeanor at all times.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and time management skills. 
• Ability to organize workflow and coordinate activities.
• Ability to maintain effective customer relations.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Master’s degree.

Accountabilities:

• Responsible for own work.
• Manages staff and/or student workers.
• Budgetary responsibilities, if applicable.  

** Cover letter required for all positions and optional for facilities, campus services, and hospitality positions unless otherwise specified.

Additional Job Description

Time Type Requirement

Full timeNote to Applicant:This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce, and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.