Payroll Accountant

Job Title: Payroll Accountant - FT 40 hrs. per wk. This is an on-site position
Department: Finance
Reports To: Payroll Supervisor
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Salary Level: $22.00 to $30.00 / hr.

Summary: This is an on-site position. Under supervision of the Payroll Supervisor, performs all assigned aspects of bi-weekly payroll process. Coordinates with outside payroll service and responds to internal and external inquiries related to payroll, garnishments, and other pay-related matters. Performs balance sheet account reconciliations, journal entries, and analysis as assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Payroll Duties:

• Process bi-weekly payroll in accordance with established policies and procedures, ensuring accuracy, meeting all necessary deadlines and adhering to applicable regulatory requirements
• Process manual payroll checks as needed
• Process voluntary payroll deductions, such as 401(k) deferrals, health insurance premiums, and remit to appropriate entities in accordance with policy and regulatory requirements
• Process involuntary deductions, such as levies and garnishments, performing related research and communicating with employees as needed
• Process paid time off requests and maintain paid leave accrual balances in accordance with established policy
• Resolve discrepancies regarding payroll, paid leave and other employee-related information, performing necessary research and review of payroll reports, regulatory requirements and other sources as needed
• Maintain payroll database to ensure that employee information is updated and accurate and work with payroll service provider to resolve system problems
• Maintain electronic and paper payroll records in accordance with established policies and procedures
• Prepare and enter payroll-related journal entries into Quickbooks
• Coordinate with payroll service provider, to ensure that accurate W-2 forms are mailed to employees each year before the deadline
• Respond to all internal and external payroll-related requests in a timely manner, with an emphasis on excellent customer service
• Communicate with Co-op staff, department supervisors/managers and Human Resources personnel as needed regarding payroll matters
• Assist with regulatory audits as needed
• Prepare special payroll-related reports and analyses for management, as requested

Accounting Duties

• Prepare and record month-end closing journal entries, as assigned
• Process health benefits and workers' compensation insurance bills, ensuring accuracy of amounts paid; enter as bills into the general ledger
• Perform balance sheet account reconciliations for payroll-related accounts, as well as others as assigned

Other Duties

• Maintain strict confidentiality with regard to employees' pay rates and other private information
• Assist with administration of 401(k) retirement plan disbursements and enrollment changes
• Assist with financial and regulatory audits as needed
• Maintain documented procedure manuals for assigned duties
• Recommend improvements to procedures in order to improve controls, accuracy and efficiency
• Attend external workshops, network with other professionals, and participate in other outside activities in order to continue to develop as a payroll professional and to stay abreast of emerging regulatory issues
• Other duties as assigned

Responsibilities Regarding Safety:

• Protect the safety of self, co-workers, and BriarPatch Co-op patrons at all times
• Report any potentially harmful equipment or situations to the immediate supervisor without delay
• Report safety-related accidents and incidents at once to supervisor
• Follow all company and safety policies and procedures
• Operate equipment in a safe manner that will not lead to injury of self or others

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma. AA degree and/or CPP certification preferred.
• Minimum 2 years accounting and/or payroll experience
• Demonstrated experience reconciling, analyzing, and reporting financial data
• Demonstrated experience requiring high accuracy and attention to detail

Language Skills:

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as policy/procedure manuals, financial reports, regulatory requirements, and other business information
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence
• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers, employees, and outside parties, both in writing and verbally

Mathematical Skills:

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
• Ability to compute rates, ratios, and percentages

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to deal with a variety of variables in order to solve practical problems
• Ability to effectively prioritize work and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, changing environment with frequent interruptions
• Ability to work independently and efficiently while maintaining a high degree of accuracy
• Ability to compare and reconcile complex accounts and reports
• Ability to perform basic research assignments, including research of laws and other regulatory requirements

Computer Skills: A qualified individual will have the following:

• Basic understanding of one or more payroll processing software applications
• Intermediate understanding of one or more accounting software applications
• Intermediate understanding of Microsoft Excel
• Intermediate understanding of Microsoft Word
• Basic understanding of common internet search tools

Physical Demands: Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Stand, walk, and sit for extended periods.
• Use hands and fingers to handle, feel, and operate equipment.
• Reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Talk and hear; visually review detailed numerical data.
• Occasionally taste or smell (as applicable to work environment).
• Safely lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment: While performing job duties, the employee is regularly exposed to a moderate level of noise and occasional changes in temperature. This position requires long periods of sitting and extensive computer use.

Responsibilities to Sustainability:

• Contribute to BriarPatch's sustainability efforts to support a sustainable community by:
• Minimizing waste by reducing and reusing materials and resources when possible.
• Proper recycling and composting.
• Water & energy conservation.

Responsibilities to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

• Value and support a work environment that includes people of different identities and diverse backgrounds; promote respectful, equitable, and inclusive practices.