The Finance Associate at Aspire Living & Learning plays a vital role on the finance team processing payroll and following financial management best practices. This is a remote position. 

Key Responsibilities:

GENERAL AREAS

• Accurately and efficiently performs a wide variety of finance duties
• Ensures the accurate and timely entry of financial transactions
• Gathers, tracks and analyzes financial data
• Maintains supporting files and schedules for financial data
• Prepares account reconciliations
• Prepares and maintains documentation of procedures and policies
• Assists with the preparation, maintenance and review of files and supporting documentation for various audits
• Works closely with finance and other personnel throughout the organization’s various state offices
• Participates in efficiency planning and implementation
• Performs research on various accounting topics upon request, presents findings and makes recommendations
• Other duties and projects as assigned

FOCUS AREAS

• Payroll
  • Processes payroll according to established policies and procedures
  • Serves as backup for other payroll staff
  • Ensures the accurate and timely processing and reporting of state-level payroll activity, which occurs on a bi-weekly cycle with frequent additional offcycle processing as needed
  • Works closely with Finance Directors, benefits and other personnel to coordinate payroll processing, including the maintenance of proper payroll records, analysis, reconciliations and supporting documentation
  • Maintains a working knowledge of the payroll system used throughout the organization (includes areas such as timesheets, direct deposit configurations, additional compensation records, earnings and deductions codes, cost center coding, employee allocations, time off accruals, etc.)
  • Extracts and analyzes payroll data using various reporting tools to satisfy payroll reporting requirements, both internal and external (includes reports such as payroll code activity, hours activity, etc.)
  • Completes various payroll processing steps such as: ensures timesheets are approved and accurate, analyzes timesheets for erroneous data, enters additional compensation payments and taxable benefits, enters wage garnishments, reviews time off utilization, ensures pay accuracy for nonroutine employee events (terminations, leaves of absence, new hires, rate changes, changes of status, etc.), generates direct deposit files, prints checks, etc.
  • Responds to verification of employment requests, provides timesheet training to employees and supervisors and resolves employee direct deposit payment issues
  • Assists with the collection of various supporting financial documents to satisfy internal and external audit requirements

Qualifications:

• A solid understanding of financial management; demonstrated competency of Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word skills; demonstrated competency of payroll processing systems.
• Detail oriented; strong analytical, organization and time management skills; strong verbal and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills; ability to work as a team member; ability to prioritize and work independently.
• Thinking analytically; analyzing and interpreting data; organizing and coordinating; problem solving; communicating verbally; creating written communication; effectively manage stress levels and emotional responses within the work environment; maintain positive and productive working relationships; training as required.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in a finance role required, payroll-specific experience preferred. Experience with Payroll software, UKG preferred.
• Minimum of an Associate’s degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics required, Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Working Conditions:

• This position operates in a professional office environment.
• Some infrequent day and/or overnight travel possible.
• Some holiday work required to meet scheduled payday processing deadlines.
• These physical and mental demands are representative of the physical and mental requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the finance position. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable qualified people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of this position.
• Lift/carry up to 10 pounds; speaking; standing; sitting for long periods of time; reaching; bending; walking; reaching with arms and hands, balancing; using fingers to handle or feel. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
• This position requires the routine use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers, fax machines, audio/visual equipment, etc.