Payroll Processing Accountant

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill; Elkins Hills (NC); On-site; USD 50,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill is seeking a Payroll Processing Accountant to join their Payroll Services team. The role focuses on payroll processing, reconciliations, compliance, reporting, and customer support to ensure accurate and timely payroll operations across the University.

The position involves working with Payroll Services, Human Resources, Finance, and departmental partners to deliver a seamless payroll experience, with opportunities to support system enhancements and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 12 credit hours of accounting coursework; or Associate's degree in accounting; or Associate's degree in business or related discipline with 12 credit hours of accounting coursework; or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Payroll processing experience in a complex organization with multiple payroll cycles; knowledge of state government and UNC-Chapel Hill policies and practices.

Responsibilities

• Payroll processing for monthly and biweekly payrolls.
• Auditing payroll transactions, records, and documentation for accuracy and compliance.
• Resea rching and resolving discrepancies; assisting with year-end processing; supporting W-2 and 1042-S reporting.
• Ensuring payroll data integrity and adherence to regulations and internal controls.
• Providing cross-functional support and backup coverage for critical payroll responsibilities.

Skills

Payroll processing

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree with 12 accounting credits

Associate's degree in accounting

Tools

PeopleSoft

TIM (Kronos)

Job description

Posting Information

• Department: Payroll Services-213430
• Career Area: Accounting/Finance/Auditing
• Is this an internal only recruitment?: No
• Posting Open Date: 10/30/2026
• Application Deadline: 11/12/2026
• Position Type: Permanent Staff (SHRA)
• Position Title: Accountant - Contributing
• Salary Grade Equivalent: NC13 / GN10
• Working Title: Payroll Processing Accountant
• Position Number: 00000346
• Vacancy ID: P021526
• Full-time/Part-time Permanent/Time-Limited: Full-Time Permanent
• Hours per week: 40
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:30pm
• Work Location: CHAPEL HILL, NC
• Position Location: North Carolina, US
• Hiring Range: $50,000 - $58,279
• Pay Band Information: To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet.
• Notice to Applicants: This position is not eligible for H-1B sponsorship.

Position Summary Information

Do you enjoy solving complex payroll challenges, reconciling accounts, auditing data for accuracy, and researching issues to ensure employees are paid correctly and on time? Are you energized by work that combines analytical problem-solving, attention to detail, and collaboration with colleagues across campus? Do you take pride in providing exceptional customer service and contributing to a process that impacts every employee at the University? If so, UNC-Chapel Hill Payroll Services would love to meet you!

We're seeking a Payroll Processing Accountant to join our collaborative Payroll Services team. This position plays a key role in payroll processing, reconciliations, compliance, reporting, and customer support, helping ensure the accuracy, integrity, and efficiency of payroll operations across the University. Working closely with Payroll Services staff, Human Resources, Finance, and departmental partners, you'll help deliver a seamless payroll experience for employees while supporting critical University operations.

This opportunity is ideal for someone who enjoys working with data, values accuracy, and takes pride in delivering outstanding service while building strong partnerships across campus. In this role, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact as part of a team dedicated to supporting the University's employees every day. We welcome candidates who are eager to learn, collaborate, and help us continue providing exceptional payroll services to the Carolina community.

Payroll Services processes and issues salary and wage payments to all University employees, processes and remits deductions for federal, state, and local taxes, retirement, and other withholdings, and processes and remits University payments for employee benefits. Payroll Services also reviews and processes personnel actions for pay rolling purposes; reviews and processes TIM (Kronos) transactions for leave and payment, and performs data control and reconciliation functions for earning, taxes, deductions and benefits. Payroll Services maintains personnel funding records and processes payroll expense distribution along with the reconciliations between the Human Resource and Finance Modules for posting to the General Ledger. Payroll Services monitors payroll compliance, including non-resident alien payroll, and submits reports required for federal, state, and other purposes. Payroll Services serves as the functional lead for Payroll and Commitment Accounting modules within PeopleSoft.

This position is responsible for supporting and performing complex payroll functions associated with University payroll operations, including monthly and biweekly payrolls as well as the UNC System Office payroll. The position performs payroll processing activities through PeopleSoft; audits payroll transactions, records, and documentation for accuracy and compliance; researches and resolves discrepancies; assists with year-end processing; and supports W-2 and 1042-S reporting activities. The incumbent ensures payroll data integrity while adhering to federal and state regulations, University policies, and established internal controls.

This position serves as a critical subject matter expert within Payroll Services and plays an essential role in business continuity, operational resiliency, and succession planning for the department. The incumbent maintains specialized knowledge of payroll processing, systems, reconciliations, reporting requirements, and compliance obligations necessary to support uninterrupted payroll operations. This role provides cross-functional support for key payroll functions and serves as backup coverage for critical payroll responsibilities during staff absences, vacancies, peak processing periods, and organizational transitions. Through knowledge sharing, cross-training, and operational support, the position helps preserve institutional knowledge and mitigate operational risk.

Additional responsibilities include supporting payroll system enhancements, testing payroll calculations and processing scenarios, assisting with special projects, and performing assigned PeopleSoft-related activities. The position must be adaptable, detail-oriented, and capable of working independently in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment while ensuring the accurate and timely processing of payroll activities across multiple payroll cycles. The incumbent will also absorb and perform duties normally assigned to senior payroll staff, including the EHRA Lead Accountant, when necessary to ensure continuity of operations and consistent service delivery.

Bachelor's degree with 12 credit hours of accounting coursework; or Associate's degree in accounting; or Associate's degree in business or related discipline with 12 credit hours of accounting coursework; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Payroll processing experience in a complex organization with multiple payroll cycles, including monthly and biweekly payrolls. Knowledge of established state government and University regulations and procedures, as well as UNC-Chapel Hill policies and practices. Experience working closely with campus departments and business partners to provide guidance on payroll operations and compliance matters is highly desirable. Experience handling sensitive financial and personnel data is preferred. Demonstrated ability to effectively manage complex payroll responsibilities in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment.

Not Applicable.

Overtime occasionally

https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/327901

Contact Information

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at [phone] or send an email to [e-mail]

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.