Payroll Assistant - Roxbury Community College

Roxbury Community College; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and Vision Plans

Retirement plan

Tuition benefit

Paid holidays

Job summary

Roxbury Community College (RCC) in Boston, MA, is hiring an Employment Onboarding and Payroll Assistant to support accurate, timely payroll processing for faculty, staff, and student employees. Reporting to the Payroll Supervisor, you will handle day-to-day transactions, timekeeping, and new-hire setup, ensuring correct pay from the first check.

You will serve as a resource for pay-related questions, meet payroll deadlines, and seek process improvements to boost accuracy and efficiency within

Qualifications

• Education: Associate degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1–3 years payroll, bookkeeping, accounts payable, or related financial administrative experience.
• Accuracy: Exceptional attention to detail with a proven record of data and numerical accuracy.
• Organization: Strong time-management skills and the ability to meet fixed payroll deadlines during high-volume periods.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Payroll Supervisor to process accurate biweekly, semi-monthly, and monthly payroll runs.
• Review employee time entries and approvals for completeness and accuracy before each payroll deadline.
• Set up new staff and student employees in the payroll system, verifying tax withholding forms and direct deposit information.
• Prepare payroll reports, summaries, and audit documentation for leadership and year-end processes.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organization

Confidentiality

Communication

Excel skills

Education

Associate degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

HRCMS

Timekeeping software

Job description

Roxbury Community College (RCC) is a public institution of higher education offering associate degrees, certificate programs and lifelong learning opportunities to the Greater Boston community. The Department of Education recognized RCC as a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) and as one of the top 100 community colleges in the country for student outcomes through the Postsecondary Success Recognition Program, making it the only community college in Massachusetts with these designations.

RCC offers 24 associate degree programs, 6 credit-based certificate programs, 13 non-credit professional certification programs, 30+ lifelong learning and fitness classes, and customized incumbent worker training programs. The college hosts hundreds of civic and community events at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center each year. RCC is committed to providing all learners with the academic and non-academic support required for degree completion and long-term success.

Roxbury Community College is guided by our six core values of Accountability, Equity, Excellence, Honesty, Integrity, and Respect. RCC is also an AA/EO employer and strongly encourages applications from candidates who would enhance the diversity of its staff. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act requires all institutes of higher education to disclose campus policy statements and crime statistics. Our annual report is available at Clery Report.

Job Description:

Title: Employment Onboarding and Payroll Assistant

Unit: Non-Unit

Department: Human Resources Department

Reports to: Payroll Supervisor

Date: 2026

Position Overview

The Payroll and Onboarding Assistant supports the accurate, timely processing of payroll for faculty, staff, and student employees. Reporting directly to the Payroll Supervisor, this position handles day-to-day payroll transactions, timesheet review, and payroll records, including setting up new hires and student employees in the payroll system so they are paid correctly from their first check. You will serve as a go-to resource for departments and employees on pay-related questions and deadlines. This is an excellent opportunity to build a career in payroll operations and higher education administration.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the Payroll Supervisorto process accurate biweekly, semi-monthly, and monthly payroll runs.
• Review employee time entries and approvals for completeness and accuracy before each payroll deadline.
• Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies, working directly with departments to correct missing or inaccurate data.
• Process payroll adjustments, including off-cycle checks, retroactive pay, and corrections.
• Set up new staff and student employees in the payroll system, verifying tax withholding forms, direct deposit information, and I-9 employment authorization before the first pay date.
• Enter and maintain accurate employee pay and status records in payroll and timekeeping systems.
• Monitor student employee eligibility, work-hour limits, and employment status to ensure pay complies with institutional policy.
• Coordinate with hiring managers and supervisors so new employees are paid on time, with increased volume during peak semester hiring periods.
• Assist student employees and staff with timesheet access, pay stubs, and paycheck inquiries.
• Maintain and communicate the payroll calendar so departments meet submission deadlines.
• Prepare payroll reports, summaries, and audit documentation for leadership.
• Support year-end processes, including W-2 preparation, reconciliations, and audits.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional payroll regulations.
• Maintain secure, organized, and confidential payroll records.
• Recommend process improvements that increase payroll accuracy and efficiency.

Requirements:

Qualifications

• Education: Associate degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience: 1-3 years of payroll, bookkeeping, accounts payable, or related financial administrative experience.
• Accuracy: Exceptional attention to detail with a proven record of data and numerical accuracy.
• Organization: Strong time-management skills and the ability to meet fixed payroll deadlines during high-volume periods.
• Confidentiality: Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive financial and personal information.
• Communication: Clear, professional communication with a strong customer service orientation.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office with intermediate to advanced Excel skills (formulas, sorting/filtering, reconciliations).

Preferred

• Hands-on experience with payroll systems, HRCMS, or automated timekeeping software.
• Working knowledge of payroll tax withholding and wage-and-hour requirements.
• Experience in higher education or with student employee payroll.

Additional Information:

Employees of Roxbury Community College are considered employees of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and receive benefits that include:

• High quality and affordable health insurance through the Commonwealth's Group Insurance Commission (GIC)
• Reasonable Dental and Vision Plans
• FlexibleMedical Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance Account
• Low cost basic and optional life insurance
• Retirement Savings: State Employees' Pension or Optional Retirement Program (ORP) and Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan or 403(b).
• 12 paid holidays per year and competitive Sick, Vacation, and Personal Time
• Tuition Benefit for employees and dependents at state colleges and universities
• Short-Term Disability and Extended Illness program participation options offered by AFLAC
• Professional Development and Continuing Education opportunities
• Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
• Cell Phone Bill Discounts with Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Cell Phone Carriers
• Access to the Commonwealth's Mass4You, employee assistance program
• Free employee parking on the Roxbury Campus
• Public Transportation is available to the College via the MBTA Orange Line Roxbury Crossing Station & connecting bus stops, an eight-minute walk to the campus.

Location: Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02120

Unit Status: Non-Union

Hours:Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Compensation Range: $52,000-$56,000 per year