Payroll Accountant

University of Oregon; Eugene (OR); On-site; USD 33,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Oregon is seeking a Payroll Accountant to maintain accuracy and compliance of payroll, benefits, and retirement accounting. This role performs complex reconciliations and collaborates with Human Resources, vendors, and payroll staff to resolve issues and ensure proper financial posting.

Key responsibilities include processing PEBB files, retirement entries, and union reporting, as well as developing tools to streamline payroll workflows and supporting system testing and data

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with CPA or PA certificate or 30 quarter hours in Accounting plus 3 years of accounting experience.
• Transcripts must be submitted for all required and related courses from accredited institutions.
• Accounting experience must include at least 3 of: preparing transactions, journal entries and posting, summarizing data to trial balance, closing accounts, spreadsheet/database/word processing, data processing.

Responsibilities

• Ensure accuracy and compliance of payroll, benefits, and retirement accounting functions.
• Perform complex reconciliations of payroll deductions, retirement contributions, union dues, and benefit payments.
• Assist with PEBB daily files, retirement entry processing, and reconciliation activities; prepare, audit, and submit union reporting and vendor invoices.
• Process overpayments, daily manual checks, payroll posting, tax reconciliations, and payroll tax research.
• Develop and maintain data tools to streamline payroll processes and collaborate on automation and workflow improvements.

Skills

Customer service

Analytical skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Regulatory interpretation

Computer skills

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Education

CPA or PA certificate

Accounting hours 30 qtr / 20 sem

Accounting experience 3 years

Job description

Payroll Accountant

Department: Business Affairs

Classification: Accountant 1

Appointment Type and Duration: Regular,Ongoing

Salary: $24.99 - $38.15 per hour

FTE: 1.0

Review of Applications Begins: September 29, 2026; position open until filled

Department Summary

Business Affairs (BA) provides efficient and effective business services for University of Oregon (UO) students, faculty, and staff; manages and secures UO material assets; and ensures UO business is conducted in accordance with all applicable regulations, policies, procedures, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and sound business practices.

Business Affairs consists of 5 divisions reporting to the Associate Vice President for Business Affairs and Controller and provides direct services to staff, students, and UO departments: Financial Services/Accounts Payable/Travel, Student Financial Services, Payroll, Information Systems, and Treasury Management. These divisions manage the largest payroll in Eugene, support UO expenditures totaling more than $500 million, and manage the billing and collection of tuition and fees for more than 24,000 students. Business Affairs has approximately 64 FTE and an annual operating budget of $7 million.

Position Summary

The Payroll Accountant supports the accuracy, integrity, and compliance of the university's payroll, benefits, and retirement accounting functions. This position performs complex reconciliations of employee payroll deductions, retirement contributions, union dues, and benefit payments, working closely with Human Resources, vendors, and payroll staff to identify discrepancies, resolve issues, and ensure proper financial posting. The role assists with PEBB daily files, retirement entry processing, and reconciliation activities, as well as the preparation, auditing, and submission of union reporting and vendor invoices.

A key responsibility of this position is supporting payroll processing through the calculation and collection of overpayments, processing of daily manual checks, and assisting the Payroll Accounting team with payroll posting, tax reconciliations, and research related to payroll tax accounts. The Payroll Accountant also processes benefit and retirement adjustments, performs testing of system programming changes and releases, and contributes to the accuracy of payroll data across systems.

The position plays a critical role in supporting workflow efficiency by establishing and verifying employee job records, mandatory deductions, tax withholding, retirement codes, benefit codes, and other key data elements in the Banner HRIS system. The accountant ensures consistency and compliance with pay rules, personnel policies, and data standards across all employee classifications. The role also develops and maintains data tools to streamline payroll processes and collaborates with management to identify and implement automation and workflow improvements.

Through a combination of analytical skills, attention to detail, and collaboration with internal and external partners, the Payroll Accountant helps safeguard payroll accuracy, maintain regulatory compliance, and support efficient payroll operations across the university.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor's degree with CPA or PA certificate; OR

Bachelor's degree with 30 quarter (20 semester) hours of college-level Accounting, OR

30 quarter (20 semester) hours of Accounting courses and three years of Accounting experience.

Transcripts must be submitted for all required and/or related courses. All courses must be from accredited colleges, universities, or private vocational schools.

*Accounting experience must include at least 3 of the following:

• Preparing transactions to be recorded in records of original entry;
• Preparing journal entries, posting from journals to general ledger,or preparing original general ledger entries;
• Summarizing data from a ledger to a trial balance;
• Closing accounts at the end of an accounting period;
• Applying PC spreadsheet, database, and word processing software;
• Processing data using a computer.

Professional Competencies

• Exceptional customer service skills and the ability to represent Business Affairs and the university in a friendly, helpful, and professional manner.
• Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Ability to interpret and apply rules and regulations in a compliant manner.
• Ability to explain (verbally and in writing) complex rules and regulations to various audiences in a meaningful and effective manner.
• Proficiency in computer software technology.
• Independent problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with payroll processes and accounting.
• Direct experience with health insurance billing practices.
• Direct experience with creating and reconciling federal and state tax forms.
• Direct experience working with IT staff to develop data extraction processes and reports.

FLSA Exempt: No

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

This is a classified position represented by the SEIU Local 503, Oregon Public Employees Union.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit ourwebsite.

The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please email us or call 541-346-5112.

UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy (including pregnancy-related conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, familial status, citizenship, service in the uniformed services (as defined in federal and state law), veteran status, expunged juvenile record, and/or the use of leave protected by state or federal law in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listedhere.

In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online.