Payroll Clerk

Classification: Hourly Non-Exempt
Division: Financial Affairs
Department: Business Office
Reports To: Director of Accounting
Position Level: Entry-level

Primary Function: The Payroll Clerk supports accurate, timely, and confidential payroll processing. The position performs recurring payroll transactions, reviews payroll information for completeness and accuracy, maintains payroll records, assists with reconciliations and remittances, and responds to routine payroll questions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with preparation and processing of regular, supplemental, and other payrolls in accordance with established schedules, policies, and applicable requirements.
• Review time, pay, deduction, and payroll-related information for completeness and accuracy; research discrepancies and route exceptions for resolution.
• Enter or process authorized payroll transactions and maintain supporting documentation and audit trails.
• Assist with payroll reconciliations, payroll registers, payroll-related journal entries, and other post-payroll activities.
• Support processing and reconciliation of taxes, retirement contributions, benefit deductions, garnishments, and other authorized payroll deductions.
• Coordinate with Human Resources and departmental personnel regarding authorized hires, terminations, compensation changes, benefits elections, leave status, and other personnel actions that affect payroll.
• Maintain payroll records in accordance with university record retention practices and confidentiality requirements.
• Assist with year-end payroll activities, audits, reporting, W-2 preparation and distribution processes, and requests for payroll documentation.
• Use university payroll, HRIS, and financial systems accurately; support system testing, process documentation, and transition activities.
• Maintain confidentiality of employee, payroll, tax, banking, and other sensitive information.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Strong attention to detail, numerical accuracy, organization, and follow-through.
• Ability to meet recurring payroll deadlines and manage multiple priorities.
• Professional written and verbal communication and customer-service skills.
• Ability to identify discrepancies, research routine issues, and escalate exceptions appropriately.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Prior experience assisting with payroll processing, payroll administration, or a closely related function.
• Experience using payroll, accounting, or other related systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work accurately with detailed and confidential information.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee will be required to do the following:

• Be ambulatory around campus and in buildings.
• Required to regularly sit and stand.
• Frequently use wrists, hands, and/or fingers to make small repetitive movements such as typing, distributing mail, and picking up small objects.
• Ability to talk frequently to convey detailed and/or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Be able to hear average or normal conversations and receive verbal information.
• Occasionally lift packages and/or move heavy objects, 25 lbs.

Disclaimer:

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by immediate supervisor and/or other management as required. LCU reserves the right to revise or change job duties, required skills or qualifications as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.