Payroll Specialist - Business Office

Azusa Pacific University 4.29K subscribers

APU seeks employees who desire to contribute to our thriving culture by cultivating community through professional interactions, demonstrating a posture of lifelong learning, and modeling Christ-like character. Working together, employees at APU commit to establishing a university atmosphere that is edifying to God and one another.

This position is responsible for processing, auditing, and reconciling employee bi-weekly payrolls and serving as a key team player in executing the overall payroll operations for over 2,000 faculty, staff, and student employees. Responsibilities include all pre-processing tasks, such as verifying employee tax setups, banking details, and benefit deductions; creating batch pay data; uploading automated timekeeping (People Soft), AP, and third-party data;

and ensuring strict adherence to wage-and-hour laws and university policies. Tasks also include post-production steps such as payroll balancing, downloading and reviewing audit reports, and supporting general ledger integrations. The Specialist provides exceptional, professional customer service to all internal and external stakeholders, assists with student employee FICA exemptions and Federal Work-Study tracking, and collaborates closely with Human Resources, Finance, and external payroll vendors to deliver accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing.

• High School Graduate, Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or Human Resources highly desirable.
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred.

• Minimum of three (3) years of dedicated payroll processing and accounting experience in a high-volume organization; higher education experience strongly preferred.
• Comprehensive understanding of core payroll fundamentals, including paycheck calculations, multi-rate weighted average overtime, wage-and-hour laws, and federal/state payroll taxation.
• Demonstrated understanding of student payroll considerations, including Student FICA tax exception rules (IRC Section 3121(b)(10)) and Federal Work-Study (FWS) program coordination.
• Proven capability to comprehend, analyze, and communicate complex payroll taxation, voluntary/involuntary deductions, and leave impact to employees and HR.
• Ability to organize and present data for internal management, financial audits, statutory reporting, and quarterly/year-end reconciliations (Forms W-2, 1095-C, 941).
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task with high attention to detail in a deadline-driven, high-volume environment.
• Working knowledge of general ledger account mapping, payroll clearing account reconciliations, reporting regulations, and GAAP principles.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and commitment to maintaining strict confidentiality.

• Demonstrate strong mastery of current payroll and timekeeping software (e.g., ADP, People Soft T&L) to maintain data integrity and perform multi-point audits during the pre-transmittal and transmittal phases under strict deadlines.
• Generate, calculate, and audit time and attendance files via the People Soft timekeeping system; verify multi-rate overtime calculations, shift differentials, and California meal/rest period adjustments.
• Process timecard adjustment request forms, manual checks, off-cycle pay runs, and statutory final paychecks upon employee separation in strict compliance with state wage payment timelines.
• Monitor time entry progress across departments, proactively identifying missing hours or unapproved timecards and working with supervisors to ensure complete and timely payment.
• Engage with non-exempt staff who concurrently serve in adjunct faculty or second-assignment roles to ensure…