Payroll Assistant III

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status—including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. We are searching for a payroll assistant to join our best‑in‑class team! The payroll assistant will be required to gather all information pertaining to work patterns and salary deductions and to ensure that this is captured accurately on our payroll software. To be successful as a payroll assistant, you should have an affinity for numbers and a passion for promoting business operations. What You'll Do In this role, you will identify and correct payroll‑related errors before these affect the salary run. The Payroll Assistant III leads the preparation and distribution of weekly and bi‑weekly payrolls for an assigned division. Under the general direction of the Payroll Manager, you will enter union, hourly, and salaried payroll timesheets, work orders, payroll adjustments, and corrections into the payroll system. Your solution‑led, can‑do approach will empower you to add value from day one and affect changes that will impact the entire team. Essential Duties Maintains accurate records on all employee payroll transactions. Verifies pay rates and deductions to ensure compliance with company policy, union contracts, SOX controls, and employee designations. Analyzes, audits, validates, and prepares timesheet data for the payroll system in accordance with the payroll schedule. Runs standard reports to identify exception time situations. Verifies that all employees in the assigned group have submitted their time sheets and that all hours are coded and accounted for correctly. Responds to payroll inquiries and requests within established service‑level agreements. Provides guidance and educates employees as needed to resolve pay or time discrepancies and ensure payroll is accurately processed. Updates and maintains documentation on all payroll policies and procedures and complies with departmental process guidelines and standards during each payroll cycle. Prepares and maintains detailed reconciliation documentation of payroll data to general ledger account balances. Reviews accounting ledger entries, identifies and resolves discrepancies and variances, and updates general ledger information as needed. Assists with monthly, quarterly, and annual payroll tax returns prepared and processed by the vendor. Processes voluntary employee deductions such as 401(k), employee stock purchases, and United Way. Assists in processing tax withholdings and payments to townships, municipalities, counties, etc. Requests check payments for union dues, stock, thrift plans, United Way, etc. Generates and distributes standard and ad hoc payroll reports as needed for internal finance and operational departments to track labor costs. Supports system elevations and process automation. Develops knowledge of payroll and timekeeping system fields, codes, and processes to problem‑solve issues such as vendor interface failures, etc. Develops close working relationships with internal partners such as the Finance and Accounting teams, Benefits, IT, etc. to quickly resolve issues and handle special requests. Maintains current on applicable local, state, and federal wage and hour and payroll laws and regulations. Updates and maintains payroll files. Files paperwork, maintains weekly payroll reports and ensures documentation and records comply with audit control standards, practices, and procedures. Assists with other tasks or special projects, e.g. W‑2 reconciliations, internal and external audits, etc. as assigned. Are you a talented payroll professional who can hit the ground running and wants to take your career to the next level? Let's talk!

QUALIFICATIONS

An Associate's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field required. Bachelor's degree preferred. A minimum of 5 years of payroll experience that demonstrates expert‑level knowledge of payroll, payroll deductions, and payroll taxes.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is generally quiet.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Sedentary physical activity requires reaching, sifting, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, feeling, repetitive motions, talking, and hearing. Visual requirements are for close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. 75% or more time is spent looking directly at a computer. Associate is frequently required to stand, walk (or otherwise be mobile). Ability to deal with stressful situations as they arise.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

Essential Utilities, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered‑veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law. Essential Utilities is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io). To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to: Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship. Family members cannot work in the same department. #J-18808-Ljbffr Aqua, Inc.