Senior Payroll Specialist

American University; Washington; Hybrid; USD 47,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

American University’s Payroll Operations team is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to audit and analyze biweekly and monthly payrolls, including termination payouts and multi-state tax considerations. You will load Workday EIB files and ensure on-time processing while maintaining strict confidentiality.

The role requires collaboration with HR/Payroll Customer Service, HR delivery teams, managers, and staff across campus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in business administration, accounting, or another relevant field.
• 2–4 years of payroll or accounting experience required.
• Experience with ERP/payroll systems.
• Proficiency in Excel (formulas and lookups).

Responsibilities

• Audits biweekly and monthly payrolls and resolves issues before processing.
• Researches payroll inquiries and prepares analysis sheets for customers.
• Provides backup for Payroll Operations Manager and Workday Analyst.
• Tests configuration changes with IT teams.
• Ensures compliance with GAAP and confidentiality.
• Keeps up-to-date with federal/state regulations and university policies.

Skills

Auditing

Payroll processing

Data analysis

Multi-state tax

Confidentiality

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Workday

ServiceNow

Excel

Job description

Department

Payroll Operations

Time Type

Full time

Job Type

Regular

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Work Modality

Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)

Union

Excluded

Job Description

Summary

The Senior Payroll Specialist supports the Payroll Office by providing auditing and analysis for the production of assigned bi-weekly and monthly payrolls. Additional processing and analysis may include: termination payouts, overtime calculations for employees with multiple positions, and preparation and loading of Workday Enterprise Interface Builder (EIB) files. This position will also act as backup for Payroll Specialists, and Payroll Operations Manager, and Workday Technical Analyst (as assigned). The position will review payroll data to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations and university policies and procedures. Strict adherence to critical deadlines and confidentiality is required. This is an opportunity to gain hands‑on Workday HCM payroll, time-tracking, and reporting experience.

This position requires interaction with the HR/Payroll Customer Service teams, HR delivery teams, managers, and employees within their respective areas of assignment across the university.

Essential Functions

• Works independently to perform auditing steps in the production of assigned biweekly and monthly payrolls. Performs daily review of new hires, job changes, address changes, terminations, retro pay events, multi‑state tax audits, and bonus / one‑time payments to proactively identify and remedy any issues before processing on‑cycle payrolls.
• Researches and resolves problems concerning faculty, staff, and student employee earnings and deductions. Calculates and analyzes various wages and benefit payments such as period activity pay, separation/termination payouts, retroactive payments, multi‑job overtime, short‑term disability, and other miscellaneous type payments. Interacts with other departments to prepare precise and punctual payments. Responds to customer inquiries via ServiceNow, email, phone, or in person. Prepares payroll analysis sheets for customers. Monitors and answers customer inquiries from ServiceNow case queue. Prepares and processes EAP loan requests and any other monthly reports that may be required.
• Provides backup for Payroll Operations Manager, running key payroll processes such as on‑cycle payroll complete and off‑cycle check processing.
• Provides backup for Payroll Operations Manager and Workday Technical Analyst to troubleshoot complex Workday problems.
• Works with Workday Technical Analyst and IT Product Manager to test configuration changes.
• Requires staying abreast of checks that have been held in Payroll Office.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Full‑time.
• 35 hours per week.
• May sometimes be required to work additional hours to finish time‑sensitive payroll processes and reporting.

Salary Range

• $34.00 - $38.50 per hour.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in business administration, accounting, or another relevant field.
• 2 - 4 years of relevant experience
• Excel skills – formulas, lookups.
• Demonstrated experience using an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or automated payroll system is required.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree.
• Accounting background.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Must be familiar with payroll processing for biweekly and monthly payrolls.
• Critical and analytical thinking, oral and written communications, and customer service skills.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for payroll, benefit, and audit purposes.
• Knowledge of word processing, and spreadsheet software.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance

• Must strictly observe confidentiality of information –background check required.

Other Duties

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

AU offers a competitive benefits package.

Other Details

• Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
• Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.
• Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
• American University is an E-Verify employer.

Current American University Employees

American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.

Contact Us

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email [e-mail].

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.