Payroll Specialist

Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale; Fort Lauderdale (FL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale is seeking a Payroll Specialist to manage semi-monthly payroll, maintain HRIS data integrity, and support HRIS upgrades. The role requires liaising with vendors and ensuring accuracy in payroll processing.

The position emphasizes serving with a servant's heart, upholding our leadership covenant, and contributing to a ministry‑minded workplace in Fort Lauderdale. It is a full‑time, hourly non‑exempt role with standard church payroll duties.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of clerical or administrative experience.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Timekeeping administration and accuracy checks.
• Process payroll for multiple entities per pay calendar (clergy housing allowances and dual tax status).
• Prepare pay runs, deductions, and balance to general ledger.
• Maintain HRIS data integrity and run reports for leadership and HR.
• Support year-end tasks and W-2 distribution.
• Respond to employee inquiries on pay, deductions, and time off.

Skills

Time management

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Tools

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

HRMS

Job description

Position Description

JOB TITLE: Payroll Specialist

DEPARTMENT: Accounting

DEPT CODE: 0150

REPORTS TO: Payroll Manager

STATUS: Hourly Non‑Exempt

HOURS: Full Time (40)

TUITION: Non‑Taxable

LOCATION: Fort Lauderdale

At Calvary Chapel, we are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ by connecting people to God, people to people, and people to outreach. Our vision is to reach our community and change our world. As a staff member, it’s not what we do, it's who we are.

Your passion:

The Payroll Specialist will assist in all aspects of processing the payroll on a semi‑monthly basis and maintains the HRIS data integrity, report writing and analyzing of data required by Leadership, Management, Accounting, HR and Payroll. This person also supports HRIS upgrades and other technical projects as assigned, as well as acting as a liaison between Vendor Technical Support and Calvary Chapel. This person works with a servant's heart and has the desire to bring glory to the Lord.

You are:

• Convinced a relationship with Jesus changes everything in a person’s life
• Committed to keeping your family as your first ministry
• Dedicated in your personal study of God’s Word
• Consistently placing a high priority on worship and your personal prayer life
• An excellent and generous steward of your personal finances
• Obedient to God to take a Sabbath and make space for soul‑keeping
• Deeply compassionate towards people who are in need or hurting
• Excited about global missions and local outreach – you want to change the world
• A part of a healthy friendship community and accountability circle
• Willing to give up personal pleasures and freedoms in order to live a life above reproach and that is aligned with our Leadership Covenant

You Will:

Time and Attendance

• Administer the timekeeping structure, including adding and removing department timekeepers and maintaining their access.
• Review time cards each pay period, communicate required corrections to departments, and enter corrections directly when a department timekeeper is unavailable.
• Monitor overtime and report recurring overtime patterns to leadership.

Payroll Processing

• Process payroll for multiple entities in accordance with the published pay calendar, including clergy compensation (housing allowance designations and dual tax status).
• Build the pay run upload file from multiple source documents using the Paycor template.
• Review the high volume of pay adjustments received each period for accuracy, proper approval, and account coding.
• Enter employee‑initiated non‑pay changes, such as direct deposit updates.
• Maintain recurring voluntary and benefit deductions on individual employee records.
• Review all deductions and pay data prior to transmission, and run and review the preliminary pre‑post register.
• Communicate pay run deadlines and cutoffs to department timekeepers.
• Prepare manual and replacement checks, and initiate stop payments on lost or destroyed checks.
• Maintain organized documentation for each pay run, including supporting approvals for every payment.

General Ledger and Post‑Processing

• Prepare and edit the payroll general ledger download for the Payroll Manager’s review.
• Generate post‑run reports, review for accuracy, and format them for upload into the accounting system.

Reporting and Analysis

• Provide recurring reports to department leaders, including overtime and voluntary deduction activity.
• Develop standardized reports for ongoing needs and prepare ad hoc reports on request.
• Assist in reviewing salary allocations across entities, funds, and departments, and report allocation trends.

Year‑End

• Assist in the timely distribution of W‑2s and other year‑end statements, including mailing W‑2s to terminated employees.

Employee Records and HR Support

• Review and process staff transitions, including pay rate changes, status changes, transfers, and bonus payments.
• Review new hire payroll records for accuracy, including tax withholding, banking information, and specialized deductions.
• Confirm employees are properly classified in the payroll system.
• Track tax‑exempt W‑4 elections and manage annual renewal.
• Serve as a resource to employees and HR on questions regarding time off, pay rates, and payroll deductions.

Payroll System Administration and Data Integrity

• Maintain data integrity across payroll and HR records and the underlying processes that support it.
• Manage user security and system access.
• Analyze data across systems to identify inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and anomalies, and participate in resolution.
• Document procedures and guidelines for payroll and HR system processes, and train users on them.

Accounting Support

• Process approved vendor setup requests received through the shared vendor mailbox, establishing new vendor records from the request form and supporting documentation.
• Update existing vendor records, and verify and activate vendor status.
• Support weekly check printing and mailing.

You have

• Spiritual Gifts in Administration, Wisdom and Discernment.
• Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of personnel administration.
• The flexibility to work over a number of projects and effectively balance workload.
• Initiative with a strong sense of urgency and is deadline driven.
• Have excellent organizational skills.
• Strong problem‑solving ability.
• 5+ years’ experience in the clerical or administrative field.
• High level of initiative, conscientiousness, and ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Advanced knowledge and application in Google Suites and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and ability to utilize computer technology to enhance operations.
• Previous HRMS experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, dialogue and listening skills.
• The ability to relate and communicate well with staff and the general public.
• Maturity with the ability to keep confidential information confidential.
• Will adhere to all aspects of the Employee Handbook including “Expectations of Work Standards’
• Ability to be flexible and utilize good time management skills.

What you are required to know

• We are an EEO employer.
• You may have to bend, sit or stand for prolonged periods of time, lift, pull, push and/or move up to 35 lbs.
• This is a full‑time (40 hours/week) hourly non‑exempt position.
• You may have to work evenings and/or weekends to assist with special events or emergencies.

It would be incredible if

• Love what you do and have fun doing it!
• You have a way of making others feel at home and you encourage