Category:: Staff
Subscribe::
Department:: Controller's Office
Locations:: Seattle, WA
Posted:: Feb 18, 2022
Closes:: Open Until Filled
Type:: Exempt
Ref. No.:: 150836
Position ID:: 143062

About Seattle Pacific University:

Founded in 1891, Seattle Pacific University has a long and distinguished history in Christian higher education. Located just minutes from downtown Seattle, SPU seeks to be a premier Christian University fully committed to engaging the culture and changing the world by graduating people of competence and character, becoming people of wisdom, and modeling grace-filled community. Seattle Pacific University seeks applicants committed to its Christian mission.

Diversity Statement

As part of our mission of cultural engagement, SPU is committed to building an excellent and diverse staff and faculty. Diversity is an ethos that is inseparable from our Christian faith. At SPU, we recognize diversity as a basic feature of God's creation and a core theme of the gospel. At the heart of our mission-centered commitment to becoming a more diverse community is a desire to represent the breadth of God's kingdom more fully.

We strive to become a workplace of choice and to recruit, develop, and retain faculty and staff who can embrace, value, and engage differences with humility and care. We invite you to join us on our journey by starting a career at SPU! Learn more about SPU's commitment to diversity and opportunities for our employees to deepen their capacity to serve our increasingly diverse student body.

Seattle Pacific University provides reasonable accommodation to applicants. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the application or hiring process please contact the Human Resources Department at (206)281-2809, or email hr@spu.edu. Notification must be given at least five (5) working days before the accommodation is needed.

General Summary: This position serves as supervisor for the Payroll Department. This position is responsible for supervising all payroll functions, processing and producing all payroll information, and working closely with campus departments to assure compliance with internal and external policies and procedures.

Job Description:

Responsible for all aspects of payroll administration, including the development, direction, implementation, and ongoing maintenance and function of the University's payroll operations.

• Supervises staff in the Payroll area.
  • Interviews, hires, trains, communicates expectations, reviews work, provides feedback and completes evaluations.
  • Provides direction to payroll staff and student workers regarding policies and procedures, and regulatory or restriction requirements. Assists staff as needed to resolve issues.
• Provides leadership with respect to the University's payroll system and is considered a system expert, including systems upgrades and/or replacement. Provides necessary training to other users of the payroll system as needed.
• Proactively develop, implement and enforce strong internal controls over the University payroll systems.
• Analyze and audit payroll, resolving payroll discrepancies through research and analysis.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge on changing payroll developments and payroll tax laws as it relates to the education environment. Implements policies and procedures related to the University payroll and provides interpretation and direction as needed.
• Maintains Payroll Department operational documents including policies, procedures, and operational work flow diagrams. Recommends improvements to current procedures and policies.
• Provides excellent customer service to all individuals with whom contact is made and training to campus departments regarding Payroll Department policies and procedures on an ongoing basis. Research and respond to payroll related inquiries.

Ensure all payroll and benefit related journal entries are posted to the General Ledger (GL) accurately and timely. Includes, but not limited to:

• Review payroll related GL accounts for accuracy and reasonableness. Reconciliation of other payroll general ledger accounts as assigned.
• Prepare schedules/reports as assigned that are needed for the annual financial statement audit and tax returns.
• Completes all payroll-related government and agency reporting. Includes all federal and state payroll reporting, from quarterly Form 941s to annual payroll Form W-2 tax forms preparation, regular tax deposit payments, garnishment reports, and verification of employment.

Perform University's payroll functions accurately and in a manner that is consistent with the University policies and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Payroll functions include, but not limited to:

• Manages faculty and staff payroll processes. Includes preparing information for entry into the system, entering and reviewing compensation details and deductions for completeness and accuracy, reviewing timesheets for appropriateness, and printing checks and advices of deposit.
• Responsible for entering and auditing payroll benefits/deductions, reviewing and auditing enrollment benefits/deductions processed by Human Resources.
• In conjunction with the Controller, Assistant Controller and/or Budget and Finance Manager, perform operational analysis, university-wide financial analysis, and tax treatment research.
• Provides backup to other Payroll Department staff during busy workload periods, vacations and illnesses.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business or related field. Relevant work experience may be substituted for education.
• Five or more years work experience with proven ability to process payroll efficiently and effectively in a high volume environment, including work with tax reporting and compliance.
• Two or more years of supervisory experience.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP).
• Ability to work independently.
• Basic understanding of accounting and finance. Demonstrated ability to interpret policies and regulations.
• Good organizational and communication (written and verbal) skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external constituencies.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, and Outlook. Experience using Personal Computer (PC) and mainframe computer applications.
• Advanced Excel and Access skills, SQL exposure, and experience with Banner ERP, a plus.

Additional Information:

Position will remain open until filled. Currently hybrid remote schedule available, employee must reside in WA state.

Salary: From $66,500 annually, DOE

This is a full time position with excellent benefits. SPU pays the employee premium for medical, dental, and vision insurance. SPU makes contributions to an employee HSA account and to a retirement account after one year of eligibility in the plan. Tuition discount program available for the employee and qualified immediate family members.

Application Instructions:

Please submit a cover letter and resume along with the online application.

Please note: All SPU employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to submit documentary proof of vaccination unless an exception applies. For more information, see SPU's Vaccination Requirements FAQs webpage.