Payroll Accountant

Professional/Administrative

Payroll Accountant

Full Time

Finance and Administration

Accounting & Control

On-Site (Hamilton, NY) – expected to work fully at the designated campus/office location.

$60,000 to $68,000

Experience with Microsoft Office applications, specifically utilizing Excel to analyze data, maintain records, and build functional spreadsheets.Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a focus on precision, clarity, and error-free recordkeeping.Ability to engage professionally and respectfully with a broad, diverse higher education community, including faculty, staff, and students.Proven capability to handle sensitive payroll and personnel information while maintaining strict confidentiality protocols.Direct experience calculating complex payroll components, resolving missing documentation, and clearly explaining payroll breakdowns to employees.

A bachelor’s degree is preferred.

When extending an offer, Colgate University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations.

Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Colgate University offers a competitive benefits package, with most benefits effective on the date of hire. Highlights include: medical, dental, vision, retirement contributions, paid time off, paid family leave, health & wellness, continuing education and professional development. We also offer unique perks, such as free parking, gym discounts, bookstore savings, athletic tickets, and access to cultural and recreational facilities. Explore the full benefits package on our Benefits page.

The Payroll Accountant is responsible for:

• Providing operational support for all steps required for delivering of timely, reliable and accurate payroll to University employees and student workers.
• Ensuring compliance and timely remittance of payroll, payroll tax and fringe benefits.
• Ensuring reconciliation of payroll related vendor accounts.
• Serving as a point of contact, providing as back-up to the Payroll Manager.
• Providing quality customer service to employee and student worker inquiries in a timely, professional manner with follow-up communication as necessary.
• Validating financial reports and data integrity to ensure error-free analysis and compliance.
• Reviewing, processing, approving, or rejecting financial transactions in alignment with university policies and systems.
• Executing timely, complete general ledger entries and performing routine ledger reconciliations.
• Processing payroll accurately and consistently, ensuring correct withholdings, deductions, and tax withholdings.
• Reconciling payroll files and generating accurate deliverables for taxes, garnishments, and fringe benefits.
• Delivering measurable results, owning operational decisions and outcomes, and incorporating feedback for continuous performance improvement.
• Communicating clearly across diverse audiences, collaborating on key information, and maintaining strict confidentiality for private data.
• Resolving operational challenges through prioritized problem-solving, collaborative decision-making, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Maintaining baseline performance and continuity during transitions, organizational initiatives, and evolving university procedures.

2026S064Posting

No

09/21/2026

No

The University recognizes that equal employment opportunity can only be achieved through demonstrated leadership. It is the Policy of the University to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and train employees on the basis of skills and experience, capacity to do the job, and valid job qualifications without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

CAMPUS CRIME REPORTING AND STATISTICS

The Department of Campus Safety will provide upon request a copy of Colgate’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education for the previous three years concerning reported: 1. crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Colgate University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus and 2. fires that occurred in student housing facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and fire safety, such as policies concerning sexual assault, life safety systems, and other related matters. You may access the report from the Clery Compliance web page at: https://www.colgate.edu/about/offices-centers-institutes/dean-college/campus-safety-staff/clery-compliance. Printed copies of this report may be obtained upon request from the Department of Campus Safety via e-mail at cusafety@colgate.edu.