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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.  In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.  Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The Office of the Controller is responsible for the financial operations of Chicago Public Schools, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Internal Accounts, and Corporate Accounting.

Job Summary: 

Under direction of the Payroll Manager, the Payroll Team Lead coordinates the activities of a team to ensure that the organization's payroll is processed accurately and on time, while abiding by CPS and Payroll policies  and procedures. Acts as the first point of contact for department issues in manager's absence. Plans, assigns and reviews work of staff to ensure that group objectives are met. 

The Payroll Team Lead will be held accountable for the following responsibilities: 

• In collaboration with the Payroll Manager, monitors the team's performance metrics, calls, ticket  monitoring and adherence to policies and procedures in a timely fashion to ensure an accurate and timely payroll while meeting the requirements of CPS and its employees.  
• Provides team with positive and constructive feedback. Communicates job expectations, provides training, and enforces  compliance with policies and procedures. Works with managers to address performance  issues or administer disciplinary actions according to company policies. Completes RISE reviews for the team in collaboration with the Payroll Manager. 
• Reviews and monitors staff schedules to ensure sufficient staffing levels are maintained to  provide effective customer service. Monitors employee  work hours and works with employees on any excessive tardy/absence time.  
• Completes and posts bi-weekly metrics reports. Summarizes data and creates solutions for  continuous improvement. Takes steps to correct deficiencies.  
• Processes and validates accuracy of payroll and/or timekeeping system updates such as employee schedules, pay rules, password resets, pay codes, timesheet data, pension, garnishments, transit, union and other general deductions using CPS and vendor systems.
• Partners with stakeholders to research and resolve payroll and/or timekeeping discrepancies and resolve exceptions and ensure accurate and complete payroll records.
• Recommends process improvements to complete work within expected quality and deadlines.
• Reviews work of specialists to ensure data accuracy and  compliance with existing payroll processes and procedures.  Provides support and subject matter expertise.
• Serves as an escalation point and a resource for complex payroll questions. Examines the root  cause of issues to resolve payroll related questions and issues.
• Responsible for leave accrual rules annually for paygroup changes or transfers titles
• Processes vacation payout for 10 month employees and all final payments including but not limited to retirement, resignation and termination of benefits days.
• Serves as backup to Payroll Manager, as needed.
• Reviews and audits payroll transactions to make process improvement changes to follow Board, local, state and federal payroll rules and regulations.
• Other duties as assigned.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Payroll Team Lead must possess the  following qualifications:  

Education Required: 

• High school diploma or equivalent is required
• Associate or Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Finance, Accounting or a similar field is preferred

Experience Required: 

• A minimum of seven (7) years of professional payroll experience with progressive payroll responsibilities and payroll processing experience is required or five (5) years of professional payroll experience with an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Advanced Excel skills (E.g., VLOOKUP, pivot tables, macros, advanced functions) and SQL highly preferred.
• Knowledge of pension funds procedures is preferred. 
• Knowledge of Federal and State Labor Laws 
• Comfort and ability to accurately work with numbers and large, complex spreadsheets. 
• PeopleSoft and Kronos knowledge.  
• Strong verbal, written communication, and problem-solving skills.  
• Strong customer service skills to manage, subside, and resolve conflicts.  

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency -Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 -Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.