LEAD PAYROLL SPECIALIST

Millcreek-Township-School-District; West Millcreek (PA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

PSERS pension

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

403b plan

Wellness rewards program

Job summary

Millcreek Township School District is seeking a Lead Payroll Specialist to oversee payroll operations for all district employees in Erie, PA. The role requires strong payroll expertise and leadership within the payroll team to ensure accurate, on-time wage processing and strict compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations.

Ideal candidate will have a bachelor degree in accounting or related field with 3+ years payroll experience (or 10 years) and strong interpersonal skills to

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Accounting or related field (or equivalent).
• Three years payroll experience, or 10 years payroll experience, required.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to create, analyze, and manage payroll functions across all employee groups.

Responsibilities

• Oversee payroll processing for all employees, ensuring timely payments.
• Review and validate payroll transactions including earnings, deductions, and benefits.
• Ensure payroll compliance with wage, hour, tax laws and district policies.
• Maintain accurate payroll records for hires, terminations, and pay adjustments.
• Provide guidance and training to payroll team members.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Payroll data analysis

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor Degree in Accounting or related field

Tools

Payroll software

Job description

Millcreek Township School District MILLCREEK EDU CENTER - Erie, Pennsylvania Open in Google Maps

LEAD PAYROLL SPECIALIST

Millcreek Township School District MILLCREEK EDU CENTER - Erie, Pennsylvania Open in Google Maps

This job is also posted in Millcreek Township School District

Job Details

Job ID: 5892497
Application Deadline: Aug 29, 2026 11:59 PM (Central Standard Time)
Posted: Aug 19, 2026 5:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

When you join Millcreek Township School District, you will become part of a team of over 900 employees focused on providing a world-class education to prepare students to reach their potential as life-long learners and responsible citizens.

Why MTSD?

• Full time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefit package including health, prescription, dental, and vision insurance options tailored to meet your individual needs.
• Affordable premium costs for health and prescription coverage. The district provides dental and vision insurance at no cost to you.
• Invest in peace of mind in retirement with a pension through the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS).
• Enjoy paid time off, including personal, sick, vacation, and bereavement leave, to take care of yourself and your loved ones.
• Advance your career and education with support from our tuition reimbursement program.

Additional benefits include district-paid life insurance, employee assistance program, 403b plans, wellness rewards program, identity theft protection services, discount marketplace, and more.

TITLE: Lead Payroll Specialist APPROVED 02/24/25

1. Bachelor Degree in Accounting or other related profession or equivalent and three years payroll experience, or 10 years payroll experience, required.

2. Ability to create, analyze, manage payroll functions relating to salary and benefit information for all employee groups within the district.

3. Minimum three years experience and training in bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll procedures required.

4. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

5. Demonstrated insight, intelligence, and problem-solving ability.

6. Demonstrated experience in use of technology and manipulation of data.

7. Such alternatives to the above as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

REPORTS TO: Controller

GOALS: The Lead Payroll Specialist is responsible for overseeing payroll operations, ensuring the accurate and timely processing of employee wages, and maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations. This role provides leadership within the payroll team, assists with complex payroll issues, and implements process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy. The ideal candidate will have strong payroll expertise, leadership abilities, and a commitment to maintaining confidentiality and compliance.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee and execute payroll processing for all employees, ensuring timely and accurate payments.
• Review and validate payroll transactions, including earnings, deductions, benefits, and overtime calculations.
• Ensure payroll compliance with applicable wage and hour laws, tax regulations, and organization policies.
• Maintain accurate employee payroll records, including new hires, terminations, and pay adjustments.
• Provide guidance and support to payroll team members, assisting with training and issue resolution.
• Act as the primary point of contact for escalated payroll inquiries and concerns.
• Collaborate with HR and Finance to improve payroll workflows and communication.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax laws, including payroll tax filings and remittances.
• Prepare and distribute annual tax documents such as W-2s and 1099s.
• Work closely with finance teams to reconcile payroll accounts and assist with audits.
• Identify opportunities to enhance payroll efficiency through process automation and best practices.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of payroll software and systems.
• Ensure payroll security and confidentiality by adhering to data protection policies.
• Conduct regular payroll audits to verify accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
• Assist in the reconciliation of payroll-related general ledger accounts.
• Maintain detailed payroll documentation for compliance and auditing purposes.
• Any other duties assigned by the Superintendent or their designee.

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Ability to read, write, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, rations, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES

• Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in specific field.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, and the community.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form.
• Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, talk, and hear.
• The employee will occasionally sit, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Over 25 pounds requires assistance.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee continuously interacts with the public and other staff and occasionally meets multiple demands from several people.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet and work is generally performed indoors.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disability (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding the position and additional duties may be assigned.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Work year and salary in accordance with the Conditions of Employment between the Millcreek Township School District and the Unified Employees.

EVALUATION: Performance will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the Board’s policy on Evaluation of Unified Personnel.

Position Type: Full Time
Salary: $35.03 to $35.03 Per Hour

Job Requirements

Contact Information

• Personnel Office
• 3740 W 26th St
• Erie, Pennsylvania 16506
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]

Map

The content you submit, offer, contribute, attach, post, or display (each a “Submission”) will be viewed by other users of the service who may or may not be accurately representing who they are or who they represent. Do not include any sensitive data in your submissions. Any submission or any use or reliance on any content or materials posted via the service or obtained by you through the use of the service is at your own risk. “Sensitive data” for purposes of this section means social security or other government-issued identification numbers, medical or health information, account security information, individual financial account information, credit/debit/gift or other payment card information, account passwords, individual credit and income information or any other sensitive personal data as defined under applicable laws.