TITLE: Senior Payroll Specialist

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - Berkeley, CA

3 Month Contract with extension possibility

$45 per hour with full benefits

PLEASE APPLY!

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Payroll Manager, the Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for complex, payroll transactions in compliance with applicable policies, contract requirements, regulations and laws. This position is responsible for payroll reporting to internal and external customers; including the Department of Energy. The Senior Payroll Specialist broadly interprets principles, theories and concepts in the financial area with a working knowledge of related functional areas, using concepts and policies to solve a wide range of difficult problems in imaginative and practical ways. This position has interactions with a variety of individuals, both internal and external to the Laboratory.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Payroll, Operations and Reporting Responsibilities (70%)

• Responsible for the oversight, execution and monitoring of payroll transactions, processes and systems.
• Payroll analysis including responsibility for various general ledger account reconciliations; acting in the capacity of a preparer or reviewer.
• Reporting, including non-standard and/or ad hoc, for both internal and external audiences; acting in the capability of a preparer.
• Research, analyze, and correct irregularities and reconciling items in system output results and/or reconciliations.
• Responsible for monthly and year-end close related activities.
• Utilize computer databases (PeopleSoft FMS) to obtain and analyze complex financial information. Confer with computer programmers to design and develop reports.
• Develop and implement solutions to complex payroll problems by in-depth evaluation and analysis.
• Provide technical input in the formulation and execution of financial objectives.
• Assignment specific duties, as described below:
  • Monitor and maintain foreign national employees’ records in Glacier, ensuring accuracy of FICA exemption and monitoring eligibility for tax treaties.
  • Prepare and reconcile amended W2-C and 941-X returns.
  • Administer employee overpayment process including notifications and employee A/R reconciliation.
  • Continue as an active member of the F$M Effort Accounting workstream.
  • Responsible for labor distribution and reconciliation of payroll accruals.
  • Assist in payroll processing as required.

Policy Development, Interpretation and Oversight (15%)

Develop, plan and implement policies, techniques and methods in accordance with Laboratory policies, Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), DOE acquisition regulations, business law, UC and/or government regulations, accepted business practices, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Process Improvement and Enhancement (10%)

• Develop, evaluate and implement work methods and transaction documentation for efficiencies, making recommendations for improvements.
• Participate in end user acceptance testing of new system functionality prior to implementation.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

Actively participate in all phases of F$M and ESM projects as required.

Additional Responsibilities

Provide back-up coverage to other staff within the Controller’s Office, when needed.

Job Qualifications

• Typically 5 years of related significant professional-level experience or the equivalent combination of experience and Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Complete knowledge of and experience in interpreting and applying payroll policies and procedures.
• Complete knowledge of and experience in performing payroll functions including: payroll laws and requirements, pay cycle, payroll taxes including non-nonresident alien taxation, benefits accounting, garnishments and withholdings, payroll accounting, and payroll best practices.
• Significant experience in the development and maintenance of complex financial spreadsheets and databases containing advanced functions and significant experience in utilizing commercial and/or institutional financial tools.
• Significant experience applying skills to independently research, interpret, analyze, compile, and present data and information.
• Significant experience in advanced decision making, problem-solving and analytical skills to independently solve complex issues requiring mature judgment, discretion and tact.
• Significant experience in communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively prepare and deliver financial briefings, documentation, reports and financial advice to Laboratory personnel, and/or other external organizations and agencies.
• Significant experience using interpersonal skills to effectively explain, negotiate, persuade and build consensus among diverse stakeholders; demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with all levels of personnel, both internal and external to the Laboratory.
• Ability to independently devise new approaches, perform assignments and make decisions with high consequence of error with limited direction from management.

Physical and Additional Requirements

• Ability to work in excess of a normal workweek to meet assignments/deliverables.
• Ability to work well under pressure and successfully meet hard deadlines.
• Ability to work on a computer for extended periods of time.
• Ability and flexibility to travel from office site to other locations.
• Ability to deal with and manage heavy workloads during peak periods.