Payroll and Accounting Associate

OPERA America, Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Opera America, Inc. is seeking a payroll specialist in New York to process weekly payrolls for diverse employee groups, ensuring timely and accurate payments in line with collective bargaining agreements.

You will enter employee data, respond to payroll inquiries, and perform related analyses and reconciliations. Strong math, Excel skills, and experience in a union environment are preferred. This role requires in-person work at the Opera House office a minimum of four days a week.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; a bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• Strong mathematical and analytical abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and data analysis within Office.
• Minimum of one year payroll experience.
• Experience in a union environment is preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Opera knowledge or familiarity with the arts is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Process complex weekly payrolls for various employee groups with accuracy.
• Enter data for new and existing employees.
• Perform payroll-related research and analysis.
• Assist employees with payroll questions and issues with good service.
• Respond to unemployment claims, employment verifications, and worker’s compensation inquiries.
• Maintain paid time off records for assigned groups.
• Investigate payroll discrepancies and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Provide general administrative support to Finance and related tasks.

Skills

Payroll processing

Union knowledge

Excel proficiency

Data entry

Communication

Attention to detail

Office suite

Education

High school diploma

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Network(s): Artistic Administration; Finance, HR, & Administration

Description

Process complex weekly payrolls for various employee groups, ensuring timeliness, accuracy, cost effectiveness, and compliance with collective bargaining agreements and regulations. Consistently deliver top-notch internal customer service. Communicate regularly with managers and timekeepers and answer employee questions. Perform research and analysis related to labor expenses. Assist with various financial and accounting reviews and reconciliations.

Primary Responsibilities

Process complex weekly payrolls for various employee groups, ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and compliance with collective bargaining agreements and regulations

Enter data for new and existing employees

Assist with payroll-related research and analysis

Assist employees with payroll-related questions and issues, demonstrating customer service excellence

Answer inquiries on unemployment claims, employment verifications, workers’ compensation, mortgage and loan applications

Maintain paid time off records for assigned employee groups

Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, in accordance with regulations

Maintain in-depth knowledge of payroll-related regulations and high degree of familiarity with collective bargaining agreements and non-contractual pay practices

Provide general administrative support, including answering phones, handling walk-in traffic, and filing, as necessary

Participate in the preparation of Payroll and Finance mailings to employees

Provide accounting support for Finance Department including documentation review and financial analyses and reconciliations

Assist in the follow-up and reissuance of uncashed checks

Coordinate securely gathering banking information and setting up electronic payments, and fielding questions regarding and resolving issues with returned payments

Assistance with other finance and accounting department tasks on a partial weekly basis

Other duties as assigned

Skills and Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent education required. Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Excellent mathematical skills.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office (in particular, strong Excel skills).

Minimum of one year payroll experience.

Prior experience in a union environment preferred.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Excellent organization skills and attention to detail.

Opera knowledge, appreciation for the arts, and language skills a plus.

Physical Demands

Must be able to work well in a high-pressure/fast-paced environment

Must be able to deal with a variety of personality types

Must be able to learn and adapt to a changing work environment

Must be able to handle confidential information with the utmost discretion

Must be able to work successfully both independently and as part of a team

Regularly required to sit, talk, and hear

Frequently required to use repetitive hand motion and to stand, walk, reach, bend

Occasionally required to lift up to 20 pounds

Must be able to work in person at the Opera House office a minimum of four days a week