Payroll Technician

HD Payroll Technician
USC Thornton School of Music

Payroll

The USC Thornton School of Music seeks a Payroll Technician to join its high-performing Business Office Team.

The Payroll Technician will serve as the primary point of contact to provide guidance, prepare and process human resources and payroll transactions for the school, serving as a resource for students, staff and faculty on payroll related issues. This position serves as a critical liaison with Thornton’s School of Music Human Resources, HR Service Center, Payroll Services, and Thornton Managers, among others.

The Payroll Technicianis responsible for ensuring accurate and timely payments for assigned groups of faculties, staff, resource employees, and student employees. This includes processing payroll transactions, as well as maintaining employee data in Workday, handling payroll questions and completing any other tasks necessary for monitoring and overseeing the Thornton’s School of Music payroll process and ensuring employees are compensated correctly and on time. She/he coordinates with Thornton’s HR and Finance about changes in payroll, such as corrections, terminations, new hires, promotions, and transfers.

This is a full-time position with a hybrid-fixed work arrangement, with an anticipated schedule of three days per week on-site.  Hybrid work arrangements are subject to change.

Specific Job Accountabilities:

• Processes payroll for student employees, resource employees, and other assigned groups, including:

  • New hire paperwork

  • Entering new student workers, job transfers and changes in employment into the Workday system

  • Coordination with departments on student employment status

  • Student payroll processing

• Performs payroll-related responsibilities.  Tasks include assisting students, staff and faculty on entering/approving time in Workday, process check requests, reconcile pay results, and picking up checks from payroll office as needed.  

• Addresses payroll questions and problems or directs to appropriate staff for resolution.

• Assists HR Payroll Analyst with staff and faculty payroll processing during peak times

• Enters hourly employee timesheets, processes out of cycle checks, and runs payroll reports as needed

• Supports HR Partner with paperwork preparation and transaction processing in Workday

• Maintains confidential personnel databases and files

• Researches and gathers data on payroll and/or personnel information and activities. Prepares standard and ad hoc reports for management. Conducts preliminary analysis of data as needed.

• Drafts and/or produces correspondence, memorandums and emails based on knowledge of payroll and personnel policies and procedures.

• Reviews monthly payment projection reports to ensure accurate compensation.

• Processes Payroll Accounting Adjustments as needed.

• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise: Payroll experience in a university setting 

• Exceptional written and oral communication and interpersonal skills

• Strong attention to detail, prioritization, and organizational skills

• Strong knowledge and understanding of standard labor laws as they relate to wages and compensation

• Knowledge of USC HRIS systems; Workday, the Student Information System (SIS), and College Work-Study (CWSP). 

• Proficient in MS Office, Excel, Word, etc.

Job Qualifications:

• Minimum Education: High school or equivalent

• Minimum Experience: 1 year

• Minimum Field of Expertise: Skilled in payroll or personnel processing with knowledge applicable federal, state, local laws and regulations.

• Ability to establish and maintain accurate payroll and personnel records.

Salary Hiring Range:

The hourly base salary range for this position is $25.87 to $28.51.

When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external and organizational considerations.

Required Documents and Additional Information

• Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.

• Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.

• USC is requiring all employees, students, staff, and faculty to submit proof of COVID-19 and 1st booster vaccination. There is exemption process available for medical and religious reasons. Your safety is our top priority.

Your application will not be considered complete without these items.

About the Thornton School of Music:  The Thornton School is home to more than 185 faculty and 1,000 music majors divided into three divisions: Research and Scholarly Studies, Classical Performance and Composition, and Contemporary Music. Founded in 1884, and today the oldest continually operating cultural institution in Los Angeles, USC Thornton consistently ranks among the top one percent of the nation’s music schools and conservatories. Graduates of the school attain positions with major orchestras, ensembles, recording studios and music industry firms and perform on stages and in studios around the world.

Combining the benefits of a world-class conservatory and a leading research university, the USC Thornton School of Music offers students the opportunity to pursue a rigorous music education in a real-world context.  We offer a full range of musical disciplines across a demanding and innovative curriculum, and the opportunity to work with a faculty of national and international renown.  For more information, please visit us at http://music.usc.edu .

USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff & their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans; tuition benefits for staff & their family; free professional development online courses; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses & free tram pick up services; discounts to football, basketball & other campus events. To view more information, please visit:https://employees.usc.edu/benefits-perks/

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