Senior Accountant, Payroll

Idaho State University; Pocatello (ID); On-site; USD 62,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Life insurance

Disability plan

EAP

Job summary

Idaho State University is seeking a Senior Accountant, Payroll to provide accounting support for our payroll operations in the Office of Human Resources. You will work with the Payroll Manager and cross-train to ensure smooth biweekly payroll processing.

The role emphasizes accuracy, compliance, and teamwork within a large university setting. This on-campus, full-time position requires a Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance or six years of equivalent experience, with at least four years in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field or six years equivalent experience.
• At least four years in accounting/finance with payroll experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills at all organizational levels.
• Strong problem solving, financial analysis, and investigative research skills.
• Excellent organizational, prioritization, and multi-tasking abilities in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist with biweekly payroll processing and reporting.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and reports; support audits with data analysis.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws and best practices.
• Cross-train with Payroll Manager and assist with payroll processing and related duties.
• Assist with education tax processing, tuition waivers, and benefits coordination.
• Support projects and process improvements within Payroll/Benefits as needed.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Problem solving

Financial analysis

Investigative research

Organizational skills

Prioritization

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Advanced degree (preferred)

Job description

Thank you for your interest in positions at Idaho State University. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by logging into your profile and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions, please review our https://www.isu.edu/hr/employee-tools/talent-acquisition/ta-faqs/.

Senior Accountant, Payroll (2788)

Pocatello - Main

NOT eligible for remote work, on-campus position

Priority Date: November 15, 2026

Institution Information

Idaho State University, established in 1901, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research and teaching institution, with a culture built on trust, compassion, stability, and hope. ISU serves over 12,000 students in Pocatello, Meridian, Twin Falls, and Idaho Falls. Students and faculty at ISU are leading the way in cutting-edge research and innovative solutions. We are proud to offer exceptional academics nestled in the grand, natural beauty of the West. We invite you to apply to be a part of our University community!

Job Description

The Payroll Accountant provides accounting, financial, and administrative support to Idaho State University's payroll operations, including assisting the Payroll Manager with the processing of the biweekly payroll, and preparing and maintaining accurate records in compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and wage laws. This position is housed in the Office of Human Resources and reports directly to the AVP of Finance, with a dotted line report to the AVP of Human Resources. The Payroll Accountant will work closely on a day-to-day basis with the Payroll Manager, Personnel Technician for Payroll Processing, and the Benefits Coordinator. The Payroll Accountant and Payroll Manager will both be cross-trained to run payroll to ensure redundancy and flexibility, as needed, to support biweekly payroll operations. Because ISU payroll is processed on a bi-weekly basis, the Payroll Accountant position requires the ability to work a regular schedule consistent with the needs of the university and payroll cycle.

This position is not eligible for new visa sponsorship at this time. Candidates who already hold valid U.S. work authorization may be considered.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Administration Support:

• Works in conjunction with the University Controller, Payroll Manager, Personnel Technician for Payroll Processing and Senior Accountant in Finance to support the administration and processing of biweekly payroll
• Prepares and maintains accurate records and reports of payroll transactions; facilitates audits by pulling ad-hoc payroll reports (data analysis of salary transactions)
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local payroll, wage, and hour laws and best practices
• Process and advise on best practices for payroll/salary redistribution of funding sources

Payroll Processing Support:

• Cross trains with the Payroll Manager to understand all operations associated with payroll processing and is occasionally responsible for running biweekly payroll
• Reconcile Payroll Vendor & Levy Checks
• Process Payroll JV's
• Prepare the prior month calculation for Box 12 DD and collaborate with benefits coordinator as needed.
• Prepare file for ADP and reconcile state accounts for out-of-state tax compliance
• In collaboration with HR Associate and Personnel Technician, support processing of the Education Tax through review and audit of employees utilizing Employee credit benefit
• Manage and process employee tuition waivers each semester
• Completes routine daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual tasks associated with payroll processing
• Supports projects and/or process improvement based on changes that impact Payroll and/or Benefits programs; as directed by the University Controller or Payroll Manager and in collaboration with other units at the University

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field from an accredited institution OR six (6) years equivalent professional experience
• At least four (4) years experience in accounting, finance, or related field, with at least one (1) year direct experience working in payroll related functions
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to interact effectively with leadership, faculty, and staff at all organizational levels
• Strong problem solving, financial analysis, and investigative research skills
• Excellent organizational, prioritization, and multi-tasking capabilities while maintaining close attention to detail in a dynamic and complex environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field
• Accounting experience within higher education
• At least two (2) years direct experience in payroll accounting functions

Additional Information

This position will remain open until it is filled; however, priority consideration will be given to applications received on or before November 15, 2026. Salary will be between $62,000 and $68,000 per year, commensurate with education and experience. Benefits include comprehensive health, dental, and vision; life insurance; disability plan; employee assistance program (EAP); excellent retirement options and company contribution; and generous paid time off/sick leave accrual. All offers of employment are conditional pending the successful completion of a background investigation, provided by HireRight.

Type: Working 12 months per year

Position: Non-classified Staff

Division: Finance and Administration

Idaho State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, including Veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The State of Idaho is committed to access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. If you require an accommodation at any step in our recruitment process, you are encouraged to contact [phone] (TTY/TTD: 711), or email [e-mail].

Preference may be given to veterans who qualify under state and federal laws and regulations.