Payroll Coordinator

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and the state’s flagship university. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff, with enrollment exceeding 41,000 students across 19 schools and colleges.

The Auxiliary Finance department supports the university’s auxiliary services, ensuring efficient financial operations and compliance with institutional and system-wide guidelines.

About the role

The Auxiliary Services Payroll Coordinator assists in overseeing the division’s payroll processes, including payroll reconciliation, absence management, special pay processing, and payroll validation. This role establishes protocols and procedures to ensure timely payroll execution, coordinates with University Central Payroll and Auxiliary Services Human Resources, and supports general ledger posting and reconciliation of payroll-related transactions.

Responsibilities

• Provide assistance with division-wide oversight of all payroll processes, including:
  • Payroll Reconciliation
  • Absence Management
  • Missed Time Punches
  • Special Pay Processing
  • Payroll Validation
  • Emergency Checks
  • Off-Cycle payroll checks
• Audit and report payroll discrepancies and manage exceptions for resolution.
• Work with business unit supervisors and managers to ensure payroll procedures comply with USG Guidelines.
• Coordinate with Auxiliary Services Human Resources to report payroll-related activities, including ad hoc salary changes, time and absence approver changes, absence management, off-cycle payroll, on-demand payroll requests, student ladder pay, and retirements.
• Assist in developing and implementing training curriculum and standard operating procedures for departmental payroll processes.
• Act as a liaison with Central Payroll to communicate division-wide payroll-related issues.
• Serve as division-wide liaison for time clock enrollment and technical support in coordination with Auxiliary IT and Central Payroll.
• Establish and maintain standard operating procedures for processing invalid funding, suspense account resolution, and express direct retros in coordination with Auxiliary Human Resources.
• Assist in general ledger maintenance and combo code setup.
• Handle requests for labor movements, prepare change funding requests, and process Express Direct Retros based on business unit needs.
• Provide assistance with meal plan rebate processing.
• Assist in submitting Payroll Deduction files, providing Taken information, processing GL journals recognizing revenue from Taken deductions, and managing payroll deduction exceptions.
• Audit and report payroll processing discrepancies and manage payroll exceptions; offer solutions for process improvements.
• Compile payroll data and generate reports for external and internal requirements, including NTD reporting, TPS Charter Services, Football Pay, Special Events, and annual taxable fringe benefits reporting.
• Participate in financial and payroll-related reporting and analysis projects; research policies, procedures, and regulations to support Auxiliary Service units.
• Develop recommendations for improvements to current business processes from a financial reporting and payroll perspective.
• Train and guide staff assisting with payroll processing and related transactions.
• Provide guidance to business units on payroll timesheet reporting codes, including absence management, inclement weather, and proper timesheet reporting.
• May supervise Auxiliary Finance Student staff.
• Respond to unit inquiries related to the payroll process in a timely manner.
• Support leadership with various payroll issues.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with human resources and payroll systems.
• Ability to run various payroll data and related queries.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work with a diverse range of constituents.
• Ability to make administrative and procedural decisions on sensitive, confidential issues.
• Analytical skills to define and solve problems, drawing accurate conclusions from complex information.
• Proficiency in standard software applications for data analysis and ability to learn new computer-based data management systems.
• Organizational skills to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Attention to detail.

Schedule

This is a full-time position offering a 40-hour work week, with typical schedules from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.

Benefits

This position is benefits-eligible under the University System of Georgia’s TRS retirement plan.