Payroll & Accounting Associate

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra seeks a Payroll & Accounting Associate to join our Finance team. This hands-on role covers payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable with a focus on accuracy, confidentiality, and service.

You will work with staff, musicians, contractors, and IATSE stagehands, ensuring timely payments and strong controls. We value collaboration, problem solving, and process improvement as we support the orchestra’s mission and financial health.

Responsibilities

• Process payroll accurately and on schedule using Paylocity Payroll.
• Review timesheets, payroll inputs, deductions, and employee changes for accuracy.
• Partner with managers to resolve timesheet and payroll questions.
• Train new team members on payroll submission and deadlines.
• Perform payroll reconciliations and assist with tax filings and audits.
• Maintain 1099/1042/945 artist and contractor information and payment terms.
• Ensure timely payments to artists and contractors per contracts.
• Collaborate with internal teams to resolve payment discrepancies.
• Support payroll for IATSE-represented stagehands per union agreements.
• Maintain organized documentation for artist, contractor, and union payments.
• Manage accounts payable from invoice receipt to payment with correct coding.
• Review invoices and supporting documentation for accuracy and approvals.
• Process vendor payments and maintain vendor records.
• Reconcile vendor statements and resolve discrepancies.
• Respond to vendor questions professionally.
• Assist with 1099 reporting, month-end close, and audits.
• Train new staff on accounts payable processes and systems.
• Manage accounts receivable from invoice creation to receipt.
• Review invoices for accuracy and coding.
• Process customer payments and maintain records.
• Send dunning notifications when needed.
• Respond to customer questions with high service levels.
• Train staff on invoicing processes and systems.
• Use financial systems to maintain accurate processes.
• Support implementation of new financial systems and processes.
• Identify opportunities to simplify workflows and strengthen internal controls.
• Document procedures for staff and participate in system testing.

Job description

REPORTS TO: Controller

POSITION SUMMARY:

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is seeking a detail-oriented, collaborative, and service-minded Payroll & Accounting Associate to join our Finance team. This is a hands-on role with responsibility for three essential areas of our operations: payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable. The position is ideal for someone who enjoys working with numbers and systems, but also enjoys helping people, solving problems, and finding better ways to get things done. As a performing arts organization, our work includes staff, musicians, artists, and contractors. Accuracy, timeliness, confidentiality, and strong customer service are essential.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Payroll & Employee Support

• Process payroll accurately and on schedule using Paylocity Payroll.
• Review timesheets, payroll inputs, deductions, employee changes, and other information to ensure payroll is complete and accurate.
• Partner with managers and team members to resolve timesheet and payroll questions.
• Train new team members and managers on payroll submission, timesheet procedures, deadlines, and related processes.
• Perform payroll reconciliations and assist with payroll reporting, tax filings, year-end activities, and audits.
• Review and maintain 1099, 1042 and 945 artist and contractor information, including contract terms, rates, dates, and payment requirements.
• Ensure artists and contractors are paid accurately and on time in accordance with their contracts.
• Work closely with internal teams to resolve discrepancies or missing information before payments are due.
• Support payroll and payment processing for our IATSE-represented stagehand team, ensuring compliance and consistency with applicable union agreements and contract terms.
• Maintain organized documentation supporting artist, contractor, and union payments.

Accounts Payable

• Manage the accounts payable process from invoice receipt through payment.
• Review invoices for accuracy, appropriate approvals, coding, and supporting documentation.
• Process vendor payments and maintain accurate vendor records.
• Reconcile vendor statements and research and resolve discrepancies.
• Respond to vendor and internal department questions with a high level of professionalism and service.
• Assist with 1099 reporting, month-end close, reconciliations, audits, and other finance activities.
• Train new team members on the accounts payable process, procedures, and systems.

Accounts Receivable

• Manage the accounts receivable process from invoice creation through receipt.
• Review invoices for accuracy and appropriate coding.
• Process customer payments and maintain accurate customer records.
• Send dunning notifications as necessary.
• Respond to customer and internal department questions with a high level of professionalism and service.
• Train new team members on the invoicing process, procedures, and systems.

Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Use financial systems to maintain accurate and efficient processes.
• Support the implementation and adoption of new financial systems and processes.
• Look for opportunities to simplify workflows, reduce manual work, improve accuracy, and strengthen internal controls.
• Document procedures and create clear, easy-to-follow resources for staff.
• Participate in system testing, process improvements, and other Finance initiatives.
• Approach problems with a continuous-improvement mindset: How can we make this more accurate, efficient, and easier for the people we serve?