Remote Temp Payroll Specialist - 20 hrs/wk

Worcester Polytech; Worcester (MA); Remote; USD 41,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is seeking a Temporary Payroll Specialist to process biweekly payrolls in Workday HCM. This 20 hours/week remote role supports daily payroll operations, emphasizing accuracy, customer service, and compliance with federal and state laws and union agreements.

The position runs approximately six months with potential extension, offering $30–$35 hourly and exposure to complex payroll tasks in a university setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of payroll experience, including Workday HCM payroll.
• Knowledge of federal and state payroll laws and regulations.
• Proficiency in Excel.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills with an aptitude for problem-solving.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and meet payroll deadlines.
• Availability to work approximately 20 hours per week remotely, including coverage on biweekly payroll deadline days.
• Preferred Experience with ADP payroll tax processing and reconciliation.
• Experience in a unionized environment and applying collective bargaining agreement pay rules.
• Payroll experience in higher education.

Responsibilities

• Assist with biweekly payroll processing for multiple pay groups, including auditing, analyzing, verifying, and entering payroll items.
• Ensure accuracy of gross-to-net calculations, benefit deductions, retirement contributions, tax withholding, union dues, and garnishments.
• Review reported time, follow up with managers and employees, evaluate time and adjustments from prior pay periods, evaluate unprocessed time, and clean up unsubmitted time entries.
• Run payroll audit reports in preparation for processing, follow up as needed, and make adjustments and fixes for accurate and timely payment.
• Communicate about missing direct deposit information, distribution of printed checks or pay cards, net pay reissues, direct deposit rejects, and stale-dated checks.
• Communicate via email, phone, and videoconference with employees, departments, managers, and agencies, researching and responding to questions about pay, deductions, taxes, etc.
• Manage the payroll queue in the Halo ticketing system.
• Send reminders related to time entry and approval deadlines, year-end processing, etc.
• Create and update procedure and job-aid documentation for department and community use.
• Maintain accurate information on the website and in Workday, including setting up processing for future payrolls and vacation and holiday calendars.

Skills

Payroll processing

Workday HCM

Excel

Customer service

Communication

Independent work

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Halo ticketing system

Job description

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is seeking a Temporary Payroll Specialist to process biweekly payrolls in Workday HCM. This 20 hours/week remote role supports daily payroll operations, emphasizing accuracy, customer service, and compliance with federal and state laws and union agreements.

The position runs approximately six months with potential extension, offering $30–$35 hourly and exposure to complex payroll tasks in a university setting.