Lake Michigan College · 4 weeks ago
Payroll Accountant
Benton Harbor, MI
Full-time
Onsite
Mid Level
$59K/yr - $76K/yrLake Michigan College is a community college in southwest Michigan seeking a Payroll Accountant. This position is primarily responsible for general ledger accounting, analysis, and financial reporting focusing on payroll, while supervising the Payroll Specialist and ensuring compliance with payroll-related activities.
Higher Education
Responsibilities
Process Payroll as Backup - Serve as the backup for payroll processing, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely execution
Payroll Entry & Validation - Responsible for completeness and accuracy of assigned accounting records including bi-weekly payroll journal entries and monthly salary, benefit, and related accruals
Coordinate with Human Resources - Collaborate with HR to ensure accurate employee payroll data, including new hires, terminations, salary adjustments, and benefits deductions
Tax Compliance & Reporting - Prepare and file quarterly payroll tax reports (Form 941) and ensure timely and accurate year-end W-2 reporting
Problem-Solving & Escalation - Supervise Payroll Specialist and serve as primary point of escalation for Payroll Specialist, assisting with complex payroll issues, compliance concerns, and process enhancements to ensure accuracy and efficiency
Position Control Management - Maintain position control records to ensure accurate tracking of authorized positions, vacancies, and salary budgets
Salary Budget Oversight - Assist in developing and maintaining salary budgets, including analyzing payroll trends and explaining variances between budget and actual
PTO & Leave Accounting - Maintain accurate tracking and reconciliation of paid time off (PTO) balances, leave accruals, and related financial reporting
Payroll Reconciliations - Reviews, analyzes and reconciles payroll-related general ledger accounts each month to ensure accuracy and completeness
Compliance & Audit Support - Ensure payroll activities comply with federal, state, and institutional policies and assist with audits related to payroll records and procedures
Retirement Plan Administration - Ensure proper reporting and compliance with retirement plan contributions and deductions, working with state and third-party administrators
Process Improvement & Automation - In assigned areas, reviews accounting systems and determines best practices to gain efficiencies and improve effectiveness
Institutional Historian - Ensures that complete, accurate, and well-organized files are maintained and easy to quickly access. Ensure important decisions in assigned areas are documented and maintained
To provide the best service to our external and internal customers, all positions at Lake Michigan College require regular and predictable on-site attendance as an essential job functions. Under certain circumstances, the College may consider alternative work arrangements and will do so in compliance with and according to the parameters outlined in the Colleges Flexible Scheduling and Remote Work Options policy
Other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Associates degree
Experience in accounting
Intermediate or advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and Word
Ability to organize, analyze, prioritize, and communicate well
Preferred
Bachelors degree in accounting, business, or finance
CPA
Public accounting experience
Ellucian Banner experience
Benefits
Benefits start on first day of hire!
Extensive paid time off (including Spring Break)
College fully pays the in-network health insurance deductible
Minimum of 10% employer retirement contribution per payroll
And much more!
Company
Lake Michigan College
Lake Michigan College is a two-year community college serving a diverse student population of approximately 5,000 annually.
Founded in 1946
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Doug Schaffer, MA, CFRE
Vice President, Enrollment & Community Partnerships
Becca Ringman, CSP
Human Resource Business Partner
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