Payroll Specialist

Young World Physical Education

Cedar Rapids (IA)

On-site

USD 60,000 - 65,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

The Cedar Rapids Community School District seeks a Payroll Specialist to ensure accurate bi-weekly payroll processing and compliance with district policies and applicable laws. The role supports data integrity and delivers excellent service to employees.

Located at Educational Leadership & Support Center in Cedar Rapids, this 1.0 FTE, 12-month position offers a salary range of $60,000 to $65,000 with benefits per the work agreement. Occasional overtime may be required.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, or related field preferred.
Three or more years of payroll or related experience, including payroll processing, customer service, and demonstrated proficiency using HRIS.
Strong computer skills including accurate data entry, and proficient use of Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite products.
Proven experience working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities with frequent interruptions.
Experience integrating new technologies and online resources into work practices.

Responsibilities

Manage the complete bi-weekly payroll process, ensuring accurate entry, verification, auditing, and reconciliation of hours, deductions, benefits, overtime, and corrections.
Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local laws and district policies, including IRS regulations, FLSA, FMLA, ACA, HIPAA, wage reporting, tax filings, and other payroll requirements.
Investigate and resolve payroll issues and respond to employee inquiries with timely, professional service.
Collaborate with other departments and vendors to support accurate payroll processing and resolve system or data issues.
Maintain the confidentiality of all payroll and employee information, adhering to privacy laws and best practices for data security.
Train, guide, and mentor Payroll Assistants to ensure work is accurate and aligned with district policies and procedures.
Exercise sound judgment to review payroll transactions and ensure integrity and accuracy of records.

Skills

Payroll processing

Compliance and regulatory knowledge

Customer service

Data entry accuracy

Cross-functional communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/Accounting or related field preferred

Tools

HRIS

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Payroll Specialist

Cedar Rapids Community School District ELSC – Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Open in Google Maps)

This job is also posted in TeachIowa, Iowa's Marketplace for education jobs

Job Details

Application Deadline: Posted until filled
Posted: Jul 22, 2026 7:03 PM (UTC)

Job Description

PAYROLL SPECIALIST

LOCATION: Educational Leadership & Support Center

CLASSIFICATION: 1.0 FTE 12-mo position - Salary Range $60,000 - $65,000

Salary Non-Administrative Meet and Confer Work Group Table B - All benefits in accordance with work agreement. Reports to Payroll and Benefits Manager.

All benefits in accordance with work agreement.

Department hours are 7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Monday Friday except for designated weeks in June/July that are 7:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Monday Thursday. Occasional overtime may be required.

SUMMARY: The Payroll Specialist is responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely processing of bi-weekly payroll while maintaining compliance with district policies, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable laws. This position serves as a key resource for payroll administration by ensuring data integrity, providing exceptional customer service, supporting cross-functional operations, and contributing to continuous process improvement.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each key responsibility and expectation satisfactorily.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Payroll Processing & Quality Assurance: Manage the complete bi-weekly payroll process, ensuring accurate entry, verification, auditing, and reconciliation of employee hours, deductions, benefits, overtime, and payroll adjustments. Identify and resolve discrepancies while maintaining accurate payroll records.

Compliance: Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and district policies, including IRS regulations, FLSA, FMLA, ACA, HIPAA, wage reporting, tax filings, and other payroll requirements. Monitor regulatory changes and implement necessary process updates.

Problem Resolution & Employee Support: Investigate and resolve payroll issues. Respond to employee inquiries with accurate, timely, and professional service.

Collaboration: Work closely with other departments to ensure alignment of payroll, benefits, and employee data. Collaborate with internal teams and external vendors to support accurate payroll processing and resolve system or data issues.

Confidentiality & Security: Maintain the confidentiality of all payroll and employee information, adhering to privacy laws and best practices for data security. Safeguard sensitive information in all aspects of payroll processing and communication.

Training & Mentorship: Train, guide, encourage, and support Payroll Assistants to ensure work is accurate, complete, and aligned with district policies and procedures.

Payroll Integrity: Exercise sound judgment in reviewing payroll transactions, identifying potential issues before payroll is finalized, and ensuring the integrity and accuracy of payroll records.

KEY ROLE EXPECTATIONS:

Dependability and Time Management: Demonstrate regular and reliable attendance, effectively prioritize work, meet deadlines, manage competing priorities, and ensure responsibilities are completed accurately and on time.

Critical Thinking & Adaptability: Analyze issues, solve problems, and adapt to changing priorities, regulations, and operational needs while maintaining accuracy.

Ownership of Responsibilities: Demonstrate initiative and accountability by taking ownership of assigned responsibilities and contributing to the overall success of the department. Proactively identify opportunities for improvement, support teammates during busy periods, suggest solutions, and take the lead on initiatives that strengthen department performance.

Professionalism: Maintain a professional appearance and demonstrate confidence, composure, and competence when interacting with others or resolving issues. Uphold confidentiality to promote trust, strengthen credibility, and ensure sensitive information is handled appropriately.

Customer Service and Communication: Build positive relationships with employees, vendors, and colleagues through professional, timely, and accurate communication while providing exceptional customer service.

Continuous Improvement: Seek opportunities to improve payroll processes, increase efficiency, strengthen internal controls, and support ongoing enhancements to systems and procedures.

Commitment: Demonstrate flexibility to work additional hours during peak payroll periods or as needed to meet deadlines while maintaining accuracy and quality.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, or related field preferred.

Three or more years of payroll or related experience, including payroll processing, customer service, and demonstrated proficiency using and training others on Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS).

Strong computer skills including accurate data entry, professional use of email, and proficient utilization of Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite products.

Proven experience working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities with frequent interruptions.

Experience integrating new technologies and online resources into work practices.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, interpret, and communicate information clearly and effectively in both oral and written form. Ability to prepare reports, training materials, and employee communications and respond professionally to questions from a variety of stakeholders.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to perform payroll-related mathematical calculations involving percentages, deductions, accruals, decimals, and formulas. Proficiency using spreadsheets, calculators, and databases to analyze and validate payroll information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to handle objects or controls. The employee will sometimes push/pull items such as tables and carts. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus while working with computers, written materials, reports, assessment data, etc.

The Cedar Rapids Community School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The district does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability.

Position Type: Full-time

Job Categories: Support Staff > Accounting/Bookkeeping

Equal Opportunity Employer

All employers submitting a job opening for posting on the Teach Iowa system will not discriminate in hiring on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, marital status, or status as a veteran. A bona fide religious institution may choose to exercise the allowances in Iowa Code section 216.6.(6)d. Employers may have additional developed specific equal employment opportunity policies and procedures; please check with employers.

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