Accounting and Payroll Specialist

Accounting and Payroll Specialist

Cleveland, OH, USA

For over 55 years, Urban Community School (UCS) has served Cleveland's children by providing an individualized, innovative, and challenging education. Rooted in the Ursuline Sisters' tradition of faith, character, and educational excellence, UCS engages our faculty, families, and community partners in the successful whole child development of students. Serving nearly 800 children from 6 weeks old through 8th grade, the school uses restorative practices and conscious discipline to foster growth and community.

Accredited by the Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS), UCS enrolls a student body in which seventy-six percent of families are economically disadvantaged.

Our growing 15-acre campus in the Ohio City neighborhood is home to a vibrant mix of facilities and partners. The Roundstone Athletic Center features the Glick Family Fieldhouse and the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. The campus also hosts The Metro Health System, House of Champions, Urban Squash Cleveland, USA Lacrosse, Re:

Source Cleveland, and Facing History and Ourselves. Outdoor spaces include Doyle Field, a new Little League field, along with a sports mini-pitch, lacrosse field, basketball court, three playgrounds, and learning garden.

UCS is a recipient of the 2022 Top Workplace Award from The Plain Dealer, which is based solely on employee feedback. UCS has also been recognized as one of Cleveland's City Champions by The Plain Dealer, a National Green Ribbon School for Environmental Practices and Learning Model, and a School of Excellence by the Cleveland Foundation and The George Gund Foundation.

The Accounting and Payroll Specialist ensures that all UCS employees are paid accurately and on time, and that benefit programs are administered with care and precision. This role manages payroll processing, benefits deductions, and employee data maintenance in partnership with Human Resources and Finance team members.

The Accounting and Payroll Specialist supports a positive employee experience by balancing accuracy and compliance with responsiveness and service. As a member of the Finance team, this role provides support for accounts receivable processes and donation accounting activities.

• Process bi-weekly payroll for all employees using Paycor, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Review timesheets, salary changes, and pay adjustments for completeness and appropriate authorization.
• Calculate and process deductions including benefits, garnishments, and taxes.
• Reconcile payroll data between HRIS and accounting systems.
• Maintain payroll records in compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
• Administer employee benefits in HRIS and carrier systems, including all enrollment changes.
• Coordinate with HR on benefit plan updates, open enrollment, and employee communications.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation for all benefit programs.
• Conducts onboarding & off-boarding of benefits with all employees in each system.

• Assist with all bank deposits and general ledger accounting for school revenue, including tuition payments, government funding.
• Processes vouchers including those from the Cleveland Department of Education, Peterson, and EdChoice.
• Weekly tracking and posting of tuition, registration, sports, aftercare, lunch, and other income revenues for the school from various merchant payment platforms (Square, Stripe, My School Bucks , and UCS Benefit site).
• Coordinate reporting and reconciliation of donations to Blackbaud/NXT system of record.
• Manage membership and other ancillary invoicing streams for the school.

• Prepare payroll reports for internal and external use (benefit invoices, retirement contributions, audits, etc.).
• Ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, payroll tax regulations, and benefit plan requirements.
• Partner with HR and Finance on annual reporting (W-2, 1095-C, 401(k) audit, etc.).
• Provide support to the Finance manager during the year end US GAAP financial statement and 401k audits

• Coordinate with HR to maintain current employee data.
• Support Finance Manager with monthly reconciliations, budget, and year-end reporting.
• Provide exceptional service to UCS employees and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and accuracy under deadlines.

• Commitment to Mission:
  Demonstrates a strong passion for and alignment with the mission of Urban Community School (UCS), actively incorporating the organization's values into daily work and decision-making.
• Detail Orientation & Accuracy:
  Maintains error-free payroll and benefits data.
• Customer Service Orientation:
  Provides high-quality, confidential support to employees.
• Adaptability & Growth Mindset:
  Adjusts quickly to changing regulations, systems, and processes.
• Technical/Finance
  
  Skills:
  
  Applies…