Senior Payroll Specialist

About the Role

Reporting to the Payroll Manager, the Senior Payroll Specialist performs a wide variety of payroll and timekeeping processing, reporting, validation, and customer support activities to ensure all audits, payments, and payroll processes are accurate and timely in accordance with Payroll policies and procedures. This role partners with key stakeholders to troubleshoot and resolve discrepancies and provides technical support to resolve complex payroll issues. This is a full-time, exempt position paid on a salary basis.

Responsibilities

• Process and validate accuracy of payroll and/or timekeeping system updates such as employee schedules, pay rules, password resets, pay codes, timesheet data, pension, garnishments, transit, union, and other general deductions using CPS and vendor systems.
• Research issues in HR systems to ensure data accurately transfers between systems and perform corrections as required.
• Provide tier III support to employees, schools, and departments for payroll and/or timekeeping questions and issues.
• Participate in system upgrades and implementations for process improvements.
• Serve as a backup to the Payroll Manager or team lead, as needed.
• Partner with stakeholders to research and resolve payroll and/or timekeeping discrepancies, resolve exceptions, and ensure accurate and complete payroll records.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum of five (5) years of professional payroll experience in large complex payroll systems as a payroll specialist, payroll administrator, or equivalent.
• Experience in a large government organization strongly preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent, required.
• Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferred.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP), preferred.

Skills

• Strong working knowledge of payroll wage and hour laws, tax regulations, and payroll operations.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll system functionality and the ability to effectively utilize ERP applications (e.g., PeopleSoft, Oracle, Kronos).
• Advanced spreadsheet skills (VLOOKUP, Pivots, functions, etc.).
• Strong communication skills with the ability to accurately understand and communicate payroll wage and tax information, payroll policies and procedures, and payroll system functionality to all levels of employees.
• Ability to maintain a thorough understanding of the payroll cycle.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to plan, organize, and prioritize tasks and schedules to meet critical deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• High levels of integrity, honesty, credibility, and the courage to make difficult yet necessary decisions.
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps.
• Ability to provide superior customer service through all types of interactions by maintaining a positive, friendly, professional, and patient attitude at all times.

Benefits

Health & Wellness

• Comprehensive health coverage options for employees and their eligible dependents, including medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, behavioral health, and EAP.
• Employee Wellness Program.

Financial Security

• Basic Life Insurance.
• Life and Disability Insurance.
• Pension Plans.
• Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b)).
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• Spot Pet Insurance.

Work-Life Balance

• Paid Leave.
• Sick Leave.
• Vacation Days.
• Parental Leaves.
• Short-Term Disability.
• Religious Holidays.

Reference the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.

Pay

Estimated Annual Salary Range: $54,395.00

Conditions of Employment

• Establish and maintain Chicago residency within six months of hire date and throughout employment with the district (excludes temporary/part-time positions).
• All CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.

Primary Location: Southwest Side - 501 W 35th St (Bridgeport).