Payroll and Finance Specialist

Payroll & Finance Specialist

The Payroll & Finance Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day financial integrity and payroll accuracy of the district. This role manages the full cycle of Accounts Payable ensuring all transactions comply with UFARS (Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards) and state mandates. From processing bi-monthly payroll and managing tax withholdings, this position ensures that the district's fiscal operations are transparent, compliant, and efficient.

Key Responsibilities

• Payroll Processing: Execute semi-monthly payroll, including the calculation of taxes and the filing of federal and state reports (941s, W-2s, etc.).
• Data Integrity: Record and update employee information (tax exemptions, address changes, pay changes, and terminations) and process employee leave activity.
• Contract Compliance: Partner with Human Resources to ensure all employees are compensated accurately according to current employment contracts.
• Benefit Reconciliation: Reconcile monthly insurance and benefits bills for accuracy and prepare union dues deduction reports.
• Support: Serve as a resource for employees to resolve payroll concerns or discrepancies.
• Accounts Payable Transaction Management: Coordinate and process all accounts payable, including matching invoices to purchase orders and reconciling credit card receipts.
• Compliance: Ensure all financial activity aligns with UFARS standards and prepare annual 1099 forms.
• Reporting: Prepare the monthly board check/wire register for School Board approval.
• Vendor Relations: Maintain vendor files (including W-9s), process and mail vendor checks, and manage AP-related email and correspondence.
• Record Keeping: Maintain an organized electronic filing system and manage records according to the state retention schedule.

Qualifications Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Software: Proficiency in Microsoft Excel is required. Experience with SMART Finance and SMART HR is highly preferred.
• Accuracy: Ability to identify and resolve financial problems in a timely, precise manner.
• Communication: Ability to carry out complex instructions and prepare detailed reports.
• Ethics: Must maintain the highest level of confidentiality and meet strict deadlines.
• Physical Requirements: This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 30 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel and occasionally requires standing and walking; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Education and/or Experience: Required: High school diploma or GED with experience in an accounts payable or bookkeeping role. Preferred: Associate's or Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or business. Experience: 13 years of experience in both payroll and accounts payable is preferred.

Rate of Pay: $55,000 - $70,000 annually depending on experience and qualifications Benefits include: Medical Insurance Dental and Vision Insurance 403(b) PERA PTO 12 Paid Holidays Free School Fitness Center Membership and more