Payroll Operations Specialist

This role is responsible for performing all aspects of payroll processing, including Time & Labor, Absence Management, and related functions. The ideal candidate is highly organized and thrives in a fast-paced environment, efficiently completing a high volume of transactions with accuracy and timeliness. Additionally, this position ensures compliance with university policies and procedures. Key responsibilities include:

• Monitor Time & Labor systems to ensure accurate processing of employee time.
• Process Absence Management requests and maintain records of employee leave.
• Perform the timely and accurate execution of all payroll functions.
• Ensure all payroll-related data is properly maintained and updated in the system.
• Work closely with HR, Finance, and other departments to resolve payroll-related inquiries.
• Ensure adherence to university policies and procedures during payroll processing.

This is a hybrid position; it will require 1-2 days in the office.

Essential Functions:

Payroll Processing (50%)

• Coordinate, prepare and generate off-cycle pay requests for all business units across the university system. Responsibilities include identifying, researching, and resolving errors with requests that could result in incorrect pay for an employee.
• Complete other payment processes, including stop payments, reversals, replacement of payments and returned checks.
• Prepare updates to employee pay during the bi-weekly payroll process. This entails researching and correcting erroneous pay information and auditing employee paychecks before closing payroll to ensure accurate earnings.
• Perform payroll deduction and garnishment processes, including maintaining deduction changes and reporting requirements.

Time and Absence Processing (20%)

• Serve as subject matter expert for Time & Labor and Absence Management and share process knowledge with the university's HR community, providing outreach when necessary to improve unit counterpart's knowledge.
• Actively monitor, evaluate, and correct erroneous time reporting and absence request data for employees.

Customer Service (20%)

• Use Salesforce and TDX to resolve questions from unit counterparts and university employees.
• Meet all service-level standards related to timeliness, accuracy and case quality measures.
• Determines when questions have policy or process implications and reach out to business process owners and/or policy owners to discuss potential process or policy updates.
• Serve as a third-level resource for issues related to pay, Time & Labor, and Absence when the Office of Human Resources Call Center's service team cannot resolve customer inquiries or concerns. These inquiries require research, analysis, and resolution beyond the scope of the inbound service center.

System and Process Improvement (10%)

• Serve as subject matter expert and share process knowledge with the university's HR community, providing outreach when necessary to improve unit counterpart's knowledge.
• Share process knowledge and recommend topics for training based on case and data trends.
• Proactively develop relationships with unit counterparts to identify, document, and streamline business processes across time & labor, absence management and payroll functions.

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree or a combination of related education and work experience to equal four (4) years.

Preferred Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree plus two years of professional HR/Payroll related work experience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team setting
• Experience with PeopleSoft HRMS, Excel, and administering time reporting and absence management
• Fundamental Payroll Certification

Pay Range: $48,464-$58,464; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 75%-100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. A resume is required to be considered for the position. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).