Payroll Accountant

Position Overview

KGS), a research and service division of the University of Kansas, is charged, by statute, with studying and providing information about the state's geologic resources.

The KGS is a line-item in the University’s budget with a current staff of 160 employees, and a $10 million dollar annual state-funded budget that is primarily payroll and multi-million dollars in externally sponsored research funding with significant amounts of those dollars applied to payroll.

The KGS has an in-house hr / payroll database to manage payroll expenditures and payroll account forecasting. Accurate and timely payroll accounting reports are critical so balances are accurate for spending.

This position will work closely with the KGS Human Resources & Payroll Director, and works with confidential information therefore strict confidentiality is required.

A signed confidentiality agreement will be required.

We are searching for an individual who meets or exceeds our required and preferred qualifications and who can work either a part-time schedule (20-35 hours per week) OR a full-time schedule (40 hours per week).

The department will determine the appropriate appointment percentage based on experience and skill level. This position is onsite.

The starting salary range for this position is $45,760 - $52,000 ($ - $ per hour), full-time equivalent, depending on qualifications and experience.

In addition to a competitive salary, KU offers great benefits to employees such as paid vacation, sick leave, ten paid holidays, plus one discretionary day, a retirement program, medical and dental insurance, life and disability insurance, other benefit plan options and State of Kansas discounts offered by various vendors.

KU also offers employees education and professional development opportunities.

Job Description

35% - KGS Database Data Entry :

• Maintain and update on day-to-day basis the in-house KGS HR / Payroll System; ensure integrity of payroll and employer fringe projections for all employees and all state / grant accounts.
• Establish database record for newly hired employees to verify with KU’s database entries.
• Enter funding changes in KGS database as they are provided by supervisor or in writing by the Award Management Services (AMS) Grant Specialists.
• Use database reports and queries to ensure payroll data integrity and track outstanding adjustments.
• Review reports regularly.

30% - Account Reconciliation :

• Perform a biweekly, or by special request, reconciliation of the internal KGS payroll system against KU’s OAC Payroll and Financials reports for each KGS state funded payroll account to verify year-to-date expenditures.
• Research discrepancies and report / discuss them with supervisor.
• Accuracy and timeliness of reconciliation reports is critical for researchers and administrative staff to make expenditure decisions.

25% - Appointment and Payroll Funding Verification :

Pre-KU final payroll calculation :

• Use KGS Active Position Funding Summary verification utility in KGS database to compare KGS and KU appointment details and funding distributions will be processed accurately for every KGS employee each pay period to avoid adjustments or retroactive funding adjustments (RFAs).
• Identify discrepancies and discuss with supervisor prior to making internal corrections.

Post-KU final payroll calculation :

• Use KGS Gross Fringe Match utility in KGS database to compare KGS and KU gross pay, employer fringe, and funding distribution is calculated accurately for each KGS employee on a biweekly basis.
• Identify reason for discrepancies and discuss with supervisor prior to making internal corrections or actively pursuing adjustments to rectify discrepancy as appropriate.

5% - Biweekly Time and Absence Accuracy :

• Send biweekly reminders to KGS employees about time and absence deadlines.
• Follow-up with incomplete or inaccurate timesheets to ensure paychecks and funding are accurate.

5% - Miscellaneous Duties :

Miscellaneous projects as assigned by supervisor.

Position Requirements

• Use sit-stand desk.
• Work onsite.
• Expected to act in a manner that promotes collegial relationships and shows respect towards staff, students, supervisor, and all colleagues within and outside the University of Kansas

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (accounting, business, or related field) and 1 year of related experience OR an associate’s degree and 3 years of related experience or HS diploma and 4 years of related experience.
• Work experience that requires firm deadlines, organization, and prioritization of projects.
• Work experience that requires use of Excel.
• Work experience that requires experience and skill in reconciling accounts.
• Work experience that requires written communication skills.
• Work experience that requires customer service.

Preferred Qualifications

• Work experience with sizable payroll.
• At least one year experience with KU Payroll, OAC, and / or Financials programs.
• Work experience that requires database entry.
• Work experience that requires confidentiality.
• Previous work experience with Microsoft Excel that required you to use advanced skills such as formulas, pivot tables, charts, graphs etc.
• as evidenced in application materials.
• Work experience that requires attention to detail, and reliable proofreading skills.
23 days ago