Accountant, Tax Accountant, Financial Compliance

USC Payroll Services is seeking an Accountant I to join the Payroll Tax Compliance team. This position supports payroll tax compliance for USC’s highly diverse employee population and plays an important role in ensuring payroll tax activities are accurate, timely, and compliant with federal, state, and local requirements. This position follows a hybrid work schedule, with a combination of on-site and remote work.

We are seeking a detail-oriented, adaptable, service-focused, and technology-minded team player who thrives in a collaborative and deadline-driven environment. Because payroll tax regulations, technologies, and business requirements continue to evolve, the successful candidate must be comfortable with change, eager to learn, and able to quickly apply new requirements, tools, and processes. The ideal candidate will also have an interest in exploring emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), and learning how these tools can be responsibly integrated into existing processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery.

Payroll Services operates around critical payroll processing, regulatory filing, and quarter-end and year-end tax reporting deadlines. As a result, time-off blackout periods are a regular part of the Payroll Tax Compliance team’s annual schedule and may be enforced at various times throughout the year, particularly during peak processing and compliance periods. Candidates should be prepared to maintain reliable availability and support the team during these designated periods.

Blackout dates will be communicated in advance whenever practicable.

• Supports payroll tax and accounting compliance activities for USC’s diverse employee population.

• Reviews and verifies accounting and payroll tax records and transactions for accuracy, completeness, and appropriate supporting documentation.

• Reconciles accounts, research discrepancies, prepares adjustments, and maintains documentation for audit purposes.

• Prepares and reviews reports, and other accounting documents in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

• Participates in the evaluation, user testing, and implementation of emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to identify opportunities to improve process efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness.

• Supports efforts to responsibly integrate approved AI and automation solutions into existing payroll tax and accounting processes, including testing functionality, validating results, and providing feedback on potential process improvements.

• Researches and resolves payroll tax and accounting issues while providing timely, professional, and excellent customer service to employees and university partners.

• Maintains current knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax laws and regulatory changes and assists with implementing changes to processes, procedures, and systems.

• Assists with the development and improvement of automated systems, accounting applications, reports, procedures, and internal processes.

• Adapts to changing regulations, technologies, procedures, and operational priorities while maintaining accuracy and compliance.

• Collaborates with Payroll Services colleagues and university partners to meet payroll tax filing, reporting, and compliance deadlines.

• Bachelor's degree and 1 years of work experience

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles including fund accounting

• Demonstrated adaptability and willingness to learn new technologies, systems, processes, and regulatory requirements in a rapidly changing environment.

• Interest in learning and applying emerging technologies, including AI and automation tools, to support process improvement and operational efficiency.