Payroll Assistant

Job Description:
The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, have strong analytical skills, and be committed to maintaining confidentiality and providing excellent employee service.

Examples of Essential Functions & Duties:

• Payroll Processing Support: Assist in the preparation and processing of bi-weekly payroll for all employees within the PeopleSoft system, including data entry, calculation of wages, overtime, and bonuses.
• Data Management & Entry: Accurately enter and maintain employee data in the PeopleSoft HCM system, including new hires, terminations, salary changes, deductions, and tax withholdings (W-4s).
• Time & Labor Management: Verify, audit, and process employee timecards and reported hours using the PeopleSoft Time & Labor module, ensuring all entries are accurate, approved, and comply with company policy and federal/state labor laws (e.g., FLSA rules for overtime calculation).
• Absence Management: Track and manage employee leave information (e.g., PTO, sick leave, FMLA) within the PeopleSoft system, collaborating with managers to resolve discrepancies promptly.
• Deductions & Garnishments: Ensure the correct setup and processing of various deductions, and wage garnishments or child support orders, adhering to all legal requirements.
• Employee Inquiries: Serve as a point of contact for employee payroll questions via phone or email, providing timely and professional assistance regarding paychecks, deductions, and tax inquiries.
• Administrative & Clerical Support: Perform general administrative tasks, including filing and maintaining organized physical and digital payroll records.
• Office Machine Operation: Operate standard office equipment, including copiers, scanners, and check folding/inserting machines for physical check distribution and mailings.
• Reporting & Compliance: Generate standard and ad-hoc payroll reports for internal review and audit purposes. Maintain organized and secure payroll records in compliance with federal, state, and local wage laws.
• System Collaboration: Collaborate with HR, Finance, and the IT PeopleSoft functional team on system updates, testing, and troubleshooting to ensure seamless payroll operations.
• Perform all job duties and responsibilities in a safe manner to protect oneself, fellow employees and the public from injury or harm. Promote safety awareness and follow safety procedures in an effort to reduce or eliminate accidents.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Sufficient education, training and experience to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.

• Development of the required knowledge and abilities is typically obtained through but not limited to: High School Diploma or GED equivalency.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven experience in a payroll processing or administrative role is preferred.
• Direct experience using PeopleSoft HCM and specifically the Time & Labor module is highly advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of payroll processes, basic accounting principles, and relevant federal/state wage and tax laws (e.g., FLSA).
• Exceptional attention to detail and a high level of accuracy in data management.
• Strong mathematical and analytical problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to meet tight, recurring deadlines.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive employee information.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly intermediate to advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP functions, Pivot Tables, and data manipulation formulas) for auditing and reconciling large datasets exported from PeopleSoft