What are the responsibilities and job description for the Payroll Specialist position at State University of New York, Cortland?
The payroll specialist works with faculty and staff, student employees, as well as the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC), Civil Service, and SUNY System Administration to ensure the timely and proper processing of the Research Foundation for SUNY (RF) and SUNY Cortland payroll. There is a high degree of confidentiality and sensitivity needed to successfully carry out the duties and responsibilities.
Watch to learn more about careers at SUNY Cortland: https://vimeo.com/1038936490
Watch to learn more about careers at SUNY Cortland: https://vimeo.com/1038936490
What makes SUNY Cortland a great place to work?
- Our positions provide predictable salary progressions, and many offer permanency.
- Generous benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, various retirement program options, paid family leave and/or parental leaves, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, long term disability and tuition reimbursement.
- SUNY Cortland prioritizes work-life balance and well-being in all forms. The university’s state-of-the-art Student Life Center is free for employees to use, with membership options for families. SUNY Cortland’s Child Care Center welcomes the children of employees and community members, as space allows. Alternate work schedules are available with a supervisor’s approval.
- Professional development opportunities exist through training, continuing education programs, tuition reimbursement and conference travel, based on funding.
- Cortland County and surrounding areas offer easy access to arts, entertainment, outdoor recreation and much more. Experience Cortland dives deep into the region’s offerings
Major Responsibilities
Research Foundation Payroll
- Manage the RF payroll process, including the review and audit of system entry for appointments, new hires, terminations, leaves and accruals; time entry including retroactive pay transactions; direct deposit; employment verifications; updates to status, salary, and FTE; payroll corrections, etc.
- Maintain and update program labor distribution for payroll, including distribution adjustments as needed to appropriate accounts.
- Audit and provide RF payroll reports for the biweekly payroll.
- Audit RF payroll transactions as needed to ensure policies and procedures are followed.
- Communicate all payroll related updates and changes to RF employees and supervisors.
- Collaborate with the payroll assistant to ensure payroll adjustments are processed in a timely manner.
- Provide payroll information that pertains to retirement, years of service, workers’ compensation, disability, FMLA, paid family leave and unemployment to the RF benefits administrator as requested.
- Respond to payroll related questions from RF staff and supervisors.
- Meet with the Research and Sponsored Programs Office personnel to provide related information.
SUNY Cortland Student and Faculty/Staff Payrolls
- Serve as the primary contact for the student assistant payroll
- Process appointments and payroll reports, audit the time and attendance (TAS) timesheet submissions, and communicate payroll related information to student supervisors.
- Process bi-weekly payroll time entries of classified staff and hourly pay basis employees, review time records in TAS for accuracy, calculate and process additional earnings such as overtime or holiday pay; run reports to identify and resolve payroll discrepancies, and ensure employee updates are processed in the New York State (NYS) PayServ system.
- Process commitment entry transactions for summer and winter session payments.
- Maintain and enter direct deposit enrollment forms for student and staff employees.
- Create and maintain federal and NYS tax withholding panels for all employees.
- Work with the payroll assistant to maintain and audit accrual balances/records in TAS.
- Provide backup assistance to the payroll assistant for the College Work Study payroll.
- Update the retirement and savings plans panel in PayServ.
- Complete all written employment verification requests.
- Assist the payroll manager with projected balance of contract and accrual payments and salary adjustment calculations.
SUNY Cortland Faculty/Staff Time and Attendance
- Initiate and maintain professional and faculty leave records in the time and attendance system (TAS).
- Communicate delinquent time records to employees and supervisors.
- Provide TAS training to faculty, staff, and student employees.
- Adjust accrual balances when appropriate, such as for vacation payout at retirement/resignation and for leave donations.
- Work with the Benefits Unit to manage employees’ time records including adjusting and tracking accrual usage during periods of approved leave.
Service
- Participate in campus-wide committees where appropriate for role.
- Attend a minimum of three events on campus per year including one diversity related program, event, or presentation.
Functional and Supervisory Relationships
Reports to the payroll manager; works closely with the payroll assistant and Human Resources Office staff.
Required Qualifications
- Associate’s degree.
- Experience with payroll processing/reporting obtained through academic coursework or professional work experience.
- Experience working with Microsoft Office Outlook, Word, and Excel.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, accounting, or a related field.
- Payroll experience in higher education.
- Familiarity with NYS payroll regulations, policies, and procedures.
About the University
A top public university of approximately 6,600 students located in the geographic center of New York State, SUNY Cortland provides accessible, affordable education to students from across the U.S. body. One of 13 comprehensive universities in the State University of New York system, SUNY Cortland prides itself on its rigorous undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences, education, and professional studies. For more than 150 years, SUNY Cortland has provided unmistakable value for students seeking a well-rounded academic, athletic, and social experience. The University ranks among the top campuses in the nation on Money magazine’s “Best Colleges for Your Money List,” fields a powerhouse Division III athletics program and boasts an impressive network of alumni making a difference in education, business, government, fitness, medicine and many other fields.
EEO Statement
The State University of New York at Cortland is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act (AA/EEO/ADA) employer. The university actively seeks applications from women, veterans, individuals with a disability, members of underrepresented groups or anyone that would enrich the diversity of the university.
Job Close Date
