Payroll Coordinator

About the role

This position leads and oversees the accurate and timely processing of semi-monthly payroll for all employees in a fast-paced educational environment. The Payroll Coordinator reviews and approves payroll entries, ensures compliance with all applicable regulations, supports and guides payroll team members, and collaborates closely with HR and Finance to resolve issues and improve processes. The role also manages payroll reporting, assists with audits and year-end activities, and contributes to the ongoing enhancement of payroll systems and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the processing of semi-monthly payroll for all employees, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
• Review and approve payroll entries to confirm they meet internal standards, company policies, and federal, state, and local legal requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll-related questions, providing training, guidance, and feedback to payroll team members.
• Collaborate closely with HR and Finance departments to research, resolve, and prevent payroll discrepancies and issues.
• Perform payroll reconciliations, ensuring that payroll records align with accounting and financial reporting requirements.
• Generate, analyze, and distribute payroll reports for leadership and other stakeholders, providing clear and accurate information as needed.
• Oversee updates and improvements to payroll systems, including participating in system testing, validation, and implementation.
• Support payroll accounting activities, including the accurate handling of deductions and other payroll-related transactions.
• Assist with internal and external audits by preparing documentation, reports, and reconciliations related to payroll.
• Contribute to year-end reporting activities, including reconciliations and preparation of required payroll documents.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and safeguard sensitive payroll and employee information at all times.
• Continuously identify opportunities to streamline payroll processes and enhance efficiency and accuracy.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of payroll experience, including at least 1 year in a supervisory or lead capacity.
• Demonstrated experience with payroll processing and reconciliation for a multi-employee environment.
• Hands-on experience with payroll software and any ERP or payroll system.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, with strong skills in Microsoft Excel for reporting and analysis.
• Solid understanding of payroll accounting, including deductions and related financial entries.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities applied to payroll data and issues.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced setting.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills for effective collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations, and the ability to apply them in daily work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Experience with any ERP or payroll software; familiarity with Colleague or similar Ellucian systems is a plus.
• Experience working with payroll reporting and data analysis to support leadership decision-making.
• Background in an educational or similarly structured institution is beneficial.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in all payroll-related tasks.
• Ability to adapt to system updates and process changes, contributing ideas for continuous improvement.

Work Environment

This role is fully on-site, with work performed in the office five days per week. The position operates within an educational institution in Howard County and follows a 37.5-hour work week.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $51,000.00 - $67,000.00 per year.

Benefits

• 4 weeks accrued vacation.
• Week between Christmas and New Year’s closed.
• Spring break.
• 4 personal days.