Payroll Specialist

Clarke County Hospital; Osceola (IA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Clarke County Hospital in Osceola, Iowa, is looking for a dedicated Payroll Specialist to manage biweekly payroll and ensure compliance with federal and Iowa tax requirements. This role requires strong attention to detail and collaboration with HR for system accuracy.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate adherence to hospital policies, maintain current certifications, and have knowledge of compliance requirements for federally funded healthcare programs. Applicants should be prepared to support payroll cost allocation and respond to employee inquiries professionally.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in payroll processing and compliance.
• Knowledge of federal and Iowa payroll tax regulations.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in record-keeping.

Responsibilities

• Process biweekly payroll and maintain accurate records.
• Ensure compliance with payroll tax requirements.
• Monitor timekeeping records and internal controls.

Job description

Job Responsibilities

• Process biweekly payroll and maintain accurate employee payroll records.
• Ensure compliance with federal and Iowa payroll tax requirements, including withholding, reporting, unemployment filings, and IPERS reporting.
• Verify accurate retirement and benefit deductions, including IPERS and other retirement benefits.
• Verify accurate healthcare‑specific pay elements such as shift differentials, on‑call pay, callback pay, incentives, and cross‑department labor allocations.
• Support payroll cost allocation and reporting for Medicare cost reports, grant reporting, audits, and cost‑based reimbursement.
• Prepare payroll journal entries, reconcile payroll‑related accounts, and assist with month‑end, year‑end, and audit requests.
• Monitor timekeeping records, validate approvals, maintain audit trails, and support strong internal controls.
• Track payroll‑related grant funding requirements, including time and effort reporting and Single Audit support.
• Respond to employee payroll questions while maintaining strict confidentiality.
• Provide AR deduction list to the Business Office after each pay run.
• Ensure UKG system accuracy and coordinate with HR to maintain accurate setup and reporting.

Cross‑Departmental Functions

• Work closely with Human Resources to ensure system compliance and accuracy.
• Participate in new employee setup.

Performance Criteria

• Demonstrate Clarke County Hospital Standards of Behaviors and adhere to hospital policies, procedures, and safety guidelines.
• Maintain regular, reliable attendance that meets business needs.
• Keep current licenses and/or certifications required for the position.
• Apply knowledge of HIPAA, DIA, DNV, OSHA, and other regulatory agencies guiding healthcare.
• Complete all annual education and competency requirements within the calendar year.
• Understand compliance requirements for federally funded healthcare programs (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid) regarding fraud, waste and abuse.
• Report compliance questions or concerns to hospital administrative staff and take appropriate action on staff‑reported compliance issues.