Program Specialist 4 - Payroll

Inside Higher Ed; Bremerton (WA); On-site; USD 61,404 - 82,512; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/vision benefits

Dental insurance

Flexible Spending Arrangement

Wellness Programs

Paid holidays

Job summary

A leading educational institution is seeking a Program Specialist 4 based in Bremerton to manage payroll processing and support employees with payroll inquiries. The role requires attention to detail and experience in payroll systems such as PeopleSoft, as well as a high school diploma. It offers a salary range of $61,404-$82,512 with comprehensive benefits including medical, retirement plans, and paid leave. The candidate must be authorized to work in the United States and reside within a reasonable distance from the campus.

Qualifications

• Experience in a higher education setting.
• High proficiency in payroll systems and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing including audits and corrections.
• Guide employees on timesheet accuracy and submission protocols.
• Respond to payroll inquiries across various regulations.

Skills

Employee communication

Payroll processing

Attention to detail

Time management

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

PeopleSoft

Job description

Program Specialist 4

Salary: $61,404-$82,512 | Classification: Program Specialist 4 | Reports to: Payroll Manager

The primary objective of this role is to manage end‑to‑end payroll processing, including staff direction, timesheet review, employee communication, and ensuring compliance with applicable policies and procedures. The position maintains internal checks and balances by facilitating staff verification processes, ensuring the accuracy of employee data entries and updates through peer review. In addition, this role serves as a key support resource for employees and managers by providing training, guidance, and best practices related to payroll functions. The position independently advises employees on matters such as compensation and time reporting, while also contributing to the development of training programs and the effective use of HR/payroll systems.

Essential Functions

• Guide employees on entering hours worked, leave, holiday pay, and special pay on timesheets, and verify submission for accuracy.
• Respond to payroll inquiries, including questions about payroll deductions and pay, ensuring responses are accurate and consistent with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Help supervisors with reviewing, approving, and correcting timesheets, ensuring accurate documentation and compliance.
• Coordinate with the benefits team and/or employee for deduction adjustments or when errors are identified during reconciliation to ensure PEBB enrollment is accurate.
• Collect information required for TIAA benefits calculations.
• Verify job data for accurate benefit deduction, updating process as needed.
• Review submission in HealthCare Authority (HCA) 24/7 and Pay 1 verifying submissions are accurately entered into ctcLink.
• Reconcile health deductions and communicate any errors with the Benefits Manager for resolution.
• Assist employees in resolving issues related to electronic timesheets to ensure accurate hours are reported for pay.
• Coordinate with relevant departments to resolve discrepancies in leave processing to ensure accurate number of hours are reported for the pay period.
• Identify and resolve any discrepancies in direct deposit information to ensure accuracy.
• Coordinate the process for reissuing paychecks adhering to established internal procedures and state and federal regulations.
• Communicate payroll deadlines to employees ensuring they are met.
• Collaborate with accounts payable to dispatch vendor payments after payroll processes.
• Verify personnel data.
• Determine the type of legal document such as writ of garnishment, child support order, order to withhold or federal educational loan.
• Enter data into ctcLink to ensure accurate setup in ctcLink.
• Verify garnishments are accurate during payroll processing, resolving any discrepancies.
• Prepare and submit First and Second answers to the issuing court or agency after garnishment payroll processing is complete.
• Review faculty contracts and update tickets, partial entries, and related files for accuracy prior to approval.
• Coordinate with the ABO to confirm accuracy of data provided by Divisions and Instructional Support Services (ISS) and resolve errors identified during the approval process.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in a higher education setting.
• Experience with PeopleSoft.

Terms of Employment

Please note that we are unable to sponsor visas for this position. Only candidates who are currently authorized to work in the United States will be considered.

Benefits

This is a full‑time classified position scheduled to work 40 hours a week, with a salary range of $61,404–$82,512 annually. All classified positions will start their salary at Step A. When you have completed six months of probation, you will receive a 5 percent pay increase. A collective bargaining agreement exists, and this position is covered by the Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) Union. Classified positions qualify for the following benefits: Medical/vision, dental, long‑term disability, life insurance, accidental dismemberment, Flexible Spending Arrangement, Dependent Care Assistance Program, Wellness Programs, Department of Retirement Systems Plan 2 or Plan 3, Deferred Compensation Program (DRS) retirement savings plan, TIAA supplemental retirement savings plan, Aflac, 11 paid holidays, leave – vacation/sick/personal holiday/personal leave, auto/home insurance, space available tuition waiver, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), fitness center, reduced rate and priority consideration on‑site childcare on a space available.

For more information regarding benefits, please visit our website here.

Conditions of Employment

• Prior to a new hire, a background check, including criminal record history, will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment, but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. In addition to the background check, candidates will be required to complete the Sexual Misconduct Disclosure Form as required by WB HB 2327.
• The employee must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance of the campus to respond to workplace reporting requirements at the time of hiring. Frequent travel to Olympic College campuses or other sites may occur.

How To Apply

To be considered for this position, a candidate must apply online through the Olympic College website and submit the following required materials:

• Olympic College Online Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter – in your cover letter, describe how your experience sets you apart for this position.
• Unofficial college transcripts. Official transcripts and copies of mandated certifications will be required of the successful candidate.

EEO Statement

Olympic College values equity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. Olympic College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, or status as a veteran of war. Prohibited sex discrimination includes sexual harassment, including but not limited to unwelcome sexual conduct. Provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students, employees, and applicants with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Federal Rehabilitation Act. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non‑discrimination policies: Erin Pohl, Title VII and Title IX, building 5, room 528A, 360‑475‑7303. Olympic College is a smoke‑free/drug‑free environment. This recruitment announcement does not reflect the entire job description and can be changed or modified without notice.

Olympic College Human Resources 1600 Chester Ave Bldg. 5 – 5th Floor Bremerton, WA 98337 https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/olympic