The posting
Job Description
Summary of Position
The Senior Payroll & Accountant leads end-to-end payroll operations, serves as a positive and confidential resource for campus community inquiries, and ensures GAAP-compliant financial reporting. Core responsibilities include processing payroll, reconciling accounts, preparing tax filings, and supporting audits and finance department functions.
Responsibilities
Payroll Administration and Processing
- Manage and process 26 annual payroll cycles for approximately 425 student workers and 420 regular employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable regulations and institutional policies.
- Review and verify payroll data, employee records, time entries, and submissions to ensure accuracy based on assigned work schedules.
- Collaborate closely with the Financial Aid Office regarding student employee payroll matters.
- Reconcile payroll outputs and resolve discrepancies within payroll and related tax accounts.
- Identify and report abnormal hours, unusual payroll activity, and system processing issues to the Controller for timely resolution.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee payroll records.
Payroll Deductions and Retirement Contributions
- Process voluntary and involuntary payroll deductions accurately and timely, including wage garnishments, tax levies, child support payments, and other court-ordered deductions.
- Ensure withheld funds are properly distributed to the appropriate external agencies.
- Facilitate the electronic submission of 403(b) retirement plan reports and contributions to TIAA.
- Access the TIAA secure portal to verify individual employee retirement account deposits and resolve discrepancies.
- Establish new involuntary deduction accounts in the payroll system as needed.
Payroll Tax Compliance and Reporting
- Review and verify ADP federal, state, and local payroll tax filings, as well as Pennsylvania.
- Unemployment Compensation reports.
- Reconcile ADP W-2 forms to the Wage and Tax Register and verify payroll tax information against Oracle records.
- Assist employees with W-2 questions and payroll tax-related inquiries.
- Maintain payroll elements related to taxable benefits, including vehicle usage and social club deductions, to ensure accurate W-2 reporting.
- Complete monthly new-hire reporting and Social Security number verification.
- Review and update PSD local tax jurisdictions in the payroll system when discrepancies or errors are identified.
- Ensure payroll tax reporting and related processes comply with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
Financial Reporting and Audit Support
- Prepare monthly payroll reports for the Financial Services Office to support reconciliation of payroll expenses to the general ledger.
- Prepare financial reports and complete related procedures required for the college’s annual audit.
- Work collaboratively with the Chief Financial Officer, Controller, and other Financial Services personnel to provide accurate supporting documentation and respond to audit requests.
- Assist with payroll and financial account reconciliations to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial records.
Payroll Reconciliation and Employee Support
- Work quarterly with Financial Services to review and clear outstanding check lists, including voiding and reissuing manual checks.
- Process voids and reissued payroll checks through ADP throughout the year as needed.
- Respond to employee payroll questions and concerns in a timely, professional, positive, and confidential manner.
- Serve as a payroll subject matter expert and provide training and guidance to staff on payroll and related financial processes.
- Identify and assist in resolving payroll processing and reconciliation issues.
General Ledger and Accounting Responsibilities
- Prepare and process monthly general ledger journal entries related to payroll and other assigned financial accounts.
- Post subledger detail and review entries for accuracy and completeness.
- Prepare and process monthly journal entries for various financial accounts.
- Reconcile accounting system balances to corresponding financial statements and supporting documentation.
- Collaborate with other departments to complete account reconciliations and resolve discrepancies as assigned by the Director of Finance or Controller.
- Maintain accurate financial records and ensure transactions are properly documented and recorded.
Performs all other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor.
Qualifications
Experience and Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management or related field or equivalent work preferred.
- 7-10 years experience required, 10 or more years preferred.
Required Knowledge
- Thorough understanding of federal, state and local laws concerning payroll and payroll administration.
- Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word)
- Google Suite of Products
Required Skills and Abilities
- Effective interpersonal communication across various levels of the organization, including attentive listening skills. Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the appropriate sections of applicable laws, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, and policies.
- Ability to remain tactful, calm, and persuasive in controversial and/or confrontational situations.
- Proven ability to prepare clear, concise, accurate and persuasive reports, correspondence, analytical studies and other written materials.
- Minimal Travel required for position; 1-3 times per year.
YOUR COMPENSATION
Starting salary will be competitive, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.
THE HIRING PROCESS
We encourage you to apply through our posting website which can be found at Employment Opportunities.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. An offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.
About Us
Allegheny College, founded in 1815, is one of the nation’s most historic and innovative four-year colleges with the distinct requirement of completing a major and minor in different academic areas. This multidisciplinary learning celebrates students’ unusual combinations of interests and provides creative, independent thinkers with a path for educational depth and intellectual growth, preparing them for a successful launch after graduation and even for careers that may not yet exist. Located in western Pennsylvania, 1.5 hours equidistant from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo, Allegheny College is one of 40 colleges featured in Loren Pope’s “Colleges That Change Lives” and recently ranked #4 by The Princeton Review in its Top 20 Best Private Schools for Making an Impact. In its 2025 rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized Allegheny College as one of the country’s top 100 national liberal arts colleges, with special distinctions including one of the top 10 best for senior capstone experience and one of the top 25 best for undergraduate research and creative activities.
Allegheny’s undergraduate residential education prepares students for successful, meaningful lives by promoting students’ intellectual, moral, and social development and encouraging personal and civic responsibility. Allegheny’s faculty and staff combine high academic standards and a commitment to the exchange of knowledge with a supportive approach to learning. Graduates are equipped to think critically and creatively, write clearly, speak persuasively, and meet challenges in a diverse, interconnected world. Allegheny College is deeply committed to creating an inclusive community that actively challenges racism, sexism, heterosexism, religious bigotry, and other forms of bias (see Allegheny College Statement of Community).
Allegheny College is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Allegheny does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, or national origin.
Allegheny College is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact the Director of Human Resources.
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