Payroll Specialist - Margaret . Cargill Philanthropies

PURPOSE

The Payroll Specialist will provide support to the Finance function with a focus on payroll processing, accounting, and reporting requirements. The position also partners closely with counterparts in Human Resources. This position leverages expertise in tools and processes to manage highly sensitive personnel data as well as specialized payroll expertise to manage more complicated payroll compliance and reporting needs. This position reports to the Assistant Controller and is a member of the Finance team.

• Leads regularly recurring payroll process to ensure accurate and timely processing each payroll cycle, including:
• Uses the third-party payroll processor platform, currently ADP, effectively
• Adheres to payroll processes to ensure accuracy, protection of data, and integrity of appropriate controls
• Ensures that each payroll is documented with reporting to support compliance with all internal and external regulatory requirements for compensation and benefits
• Implements special, non-recurring payroll processes as required to support compliance with different wage and tax reporting requirements related to the non-qualified deferred compensation plans and variable compensation
• In collaboration with the Assistant Controller and counterparts in Human Resources as applicable, monitors developments in compensation and benefits and payroll practices in order to proactively identify needs or opportunities for changes or improvements in approach, tools, or process, including:
• Identifies compliance needs associated with changes in compensation and benefits reporting requirements
• Coordinates with Human Resources on any questions related to employee compensation or benefits
• Identifies and implements efficiencies and compliance-related changes needed in the third-party payroll processing system, currently ADP, with input from the Assistant Controller
• Trains staff in the efficient use of the system

• Initiates accounting for compensation and benefits related activities, including but not limited to producing quarterly and annual reconciliations, maintaining general ledger records, and posting journal entries
• Provides documentation for independent verification of employer contributions to retirement plans, including but not limited to discretionary contributions and the employer’s safe harbor matching contribution
• Analyzes forecast for compensation and benefits expenses against budget, ensuring forecasts are reasonable and variances are supported
• Produces reports to support internal management and decision-making specific to compensation and benefits, including but not limited to paid time off analysis
• Provides audit support for compensation and benefits, including but not limited to the qualified retirement plan and workers compensation

• Leads initial analysis to support tax compliance with respect to payments to vendors
• Maintains online system to prepare and file vendor tax forms
• Maintains vendor records to support reporting requirements
• Processes accounts payable ensuring timely payment of invoices
• Processes employee expense reports, ensuring timely and accurate processing
• Actively supports Finance and other functions to provide responses to vendor inquiries
• Proactively identifies opportunities for improvements related to Finance processes and tools

• Advance MACP’s mission and cultural values of excellence, humility, learning, respect, integrity, and making a difference
• Support MACP’s vision and commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, which are rooted in cultural values and embedded in direction from the donor
• Contribute to community learning and impact goals, including efforts to strengthen a culture of belonging that embraces different viewpoints, seeks full participation, cultivates welcoming and respectful environments, promotes fair treatment, and confronts discrimination in all its forms

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field with 3+ years of relevant experience, or high school degree or equivalent with 7+…