Payroll Specialist

University of Denver; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition benefit

ECO pass

Job summary

The University of Denver is seeking a Payroll Specialist to manage bi-weekly payroll processing and off-cycle requests, ensuring compliance with IRS and state regulations using the university ERP and timekeeping systems.

Ideal candidates have 2–5 years of payroll experience, strong analytical skills, and a collaborative approach with Human Resources. This is a hybrid role with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of full-time payroll experience.
• Experience with bi-weekly payroll processing.
• Familiarity with federal/state regulations affecting payroll.

Responsibilities

• Process the bi-weekly payroll in a timely manner using ERP/timekeeping systems.
• Handle off-cycle payroll requests per established procedures.
• Ensure accurate tax withholding and treatment per federal/state/local rules.
• Generate and maintain payroll documentation and reports.
• Support regulatory issues and coordinate with HR on benefits and deductions.

Skills

Payroll processing

Tax compliance

ERP systems

Timekeeping systems

Regulatory knowledge

Deadline-driven

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration or related

Tools

UKG Workforce Management Pro

Banner Payroll

Job description

The Payroll Department is part of the University Financial Services division at the University of Denver. The department provides high-quality payroll and tax compliance services for the University’s approximately 4,000 employees, delivered accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Payroll Manager, the Payroll Specialist is responsible for the processing and timely delivery of the University’s bi-weekly payroll, including processing off-cycle payroll requests as needed. The Payroll Specialist uses an understanding of the University’s ERP and time keeping system to accurately pay employees in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, such as the IRS and FLSA rules and regulations. The Payroll Specialist helps to assure proper tax treatment, accounting, and disposition of withholdings such as taxes, deductions for benefits, charitable contributions, retirement contributions, etc. The Payroll Specialist follows established procedures and guidelines to process payroll accurately and in compliance with university policy and applicable regulations.

Essential Functions

In addition to following the University of Denver’s policies and procedures, principal responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Processes the University’s bi-weekly payroll in accordance with established procedures, ensuring proper payment of wages and salaries by using the ERP and time keeping system to correctly process salaries and reported hours worked, correctly utilize paid leave and holiday pay, correctly accrue compensatory time, and correctly compute overtime while meeting deadlines.
• Processes off-cycle payroll requests as needed, following standard procedures to ensure accurate and timely payment outside the standard bi-weekly cycle.
• Ensures accurate tax withholding and treatment for employees processed through bi-weekly payroll cycles, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Generates and maintains supporting documentation for all payrolls.
• Provides support related to regulatory issues, such as non-resident aliens, social security, moving expenses, and other fringe benefits, escalating complex or non-standard situations as needed.
• Coordinates with Human Resources for proper benefit and deduction set-up, verifies and processes unused vacation and sick leave payouts, and terminates all payroll deductions for retiring and terminating employees.
• Calculates adjustments for a variety of pay rules following established guidelines.
• Supports the accurate issuance of W2s.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify routine payroll issues and elevate complex or non-standard situations appropriately.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency using payroll software in a complex environment.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines on a regular basis, following established procedures and guidelines.
• Knowledge of federal and state regulations related to employment and/or payroll practices.
• Trustworthiness and complete dependability in handling sensitive and confidential information.

Required Qualifications

• Two to five (2-5) years of full-time work experience in payroll

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, such as finance, accounting, business administration or similar
• Experience using UKG Workforce Management Pro and/or Banner Payroll
• Experience processing bi-weekly payroll in multiple jurisdictions
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) by the American Payroll Association

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. In accordance with the University’s flexible work policy, this position is eligible to be considered for partial remote work. Further details regarding this arrangement will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on division and team-specific needs.

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) November 2, 2026.

Salary Grade Number

The salary grade for the position is 11.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $65,000 - $72,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.