Job Title
Payroll Analyst
Work Modality
Hybrid – 3 In-Person
Is this request for the creation of a new Position (or the modification of an existing Position) to temporarily support the WorkDay ERP?
Yes
Job Category
University Staff
Department Name
CONTROLLER
Location Code
PAYROLL SERVICES (04400D)
Is this split and/or fully grant funded?
No
Duties and Responsibilities
Job Summary
The Payroll Tax Specialist serves as the University’s primary lead for payroll tax compliance, agency relations, and complex payroll tax reconciliations. This role is responsible for the end-to-end integrity of federal, state, and local payroll tax reporting, managing vendor partnerships for payroll tax filings, and resolving historical agency discrepancies. While the primary focus is payroll tax compliance, this position also serves as the critical backup and secondary administrator for UKG Ready timekeeping and provides support and operational coverage for the University’s payroll cycle.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Tax Compliance & Agency Liaison (Primary Focus)
- Autonomy in Tax Workflows: Manages federal, state, and local tax-related workflows, including the coordination and filing of quarterly reports through the 3rd party administrator (currently Ceridian), preparation of amended returns (e.g., Fed 941x) and other specific state/local filings.
- Agency Relationship Management: Provides information to the IRS, IDOL, and other state and local agencies regarding payroll taxes in response to payroll-tax-relatednotices. Ensures that the Payroll Manager and AVP Tax and Compliance are informed of such matters. Navigates complex portals to resolve historical backlogs, wage discrepancies, and manages Power of Attorney (POA) documentation.
- Dispute & Penalty Resolution: Researches tax notices and manages penalty/interest abatements, dedicating the necessary time to interface with agency representatives to maintain the University’s good standing.
- Vendor Partnership: Serves as the primary point of contact for Ceridian Dayforce Tax, ensuring the accuracy of all outsourced filings.
- NRA & FICA Coordination: Partners with the Tax and Compliance Department to ensure compliance with Non-Resident Alien (NRA) tax matters. Manages FICA reconciliations, identifies over/underpayments, and executes taxable wage adjustments based on tax treaty eligibility.
- SUI Coordination: Collaborates with HR to resolve State Unemployment Insurance issues, ensuring rate changes and notices are updated and reconciled.
2. UKG Ready Support & Backup Administration
- System Backup: Serves as the designated secondary Subject Matter Expert (SME) and backup to the primary UKG lead. Provides essential coverage for mass electronic timecard approvals and system oversight during peak cycles or absences.
- Access & Security Support: Assists in managing UKG account access and resolving lockouts. Supports the execution of weekly reports to identify locked users and enforces Single Sign-On (SSO) protocols.
- Audit & Verification: Provides secondary support for UKG timecard verification and audits of work hours for complex employee profiles (multiple rates, prorated hires, student terminations).
- Interface & Sign-Off: Maintains the creation of UKG-to-Lawson batch interfaces and assists with the bi-weekly global sign-off process and audit documentation retention.
3. Payroll Administration & Operations
- Banking & ACH Management: Assists with ACH cancellations and direct deposit administration. Monitors ACH returns in partnership with Cash Management and ensures timely reprocessing.
- Check Production: Provides secondary support for the printing and sealing of paychecks and direct deposit statements; assist with EFT requests for Cash Management.
- Absence & Disability Entry: Assist with Absence Management processing (Vacation, Sick, Holiday) and partners with Benefits/MetLife to ensure accurate FMLA/LOA coding on timesheets.
- Operational Support & Inquiry Management: During periods of high volume, provides additional support in managing the Payroll Services inquiry mailbox, assisting with the resolution of complex stakeholder concerns under the direction of the lead administrator. This position also assist in daily payroll operations, resolving inquiries from student workers, employees, and managers, and coordinates union dues file transmissions and IDES Unemployment reports.
Minimum Education and/or Work Experience
Minimum Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required.
Minimum Experience:
-
1-3 ears of experience in a computerized accounting environment, preferably within Payroll, Accounting, HR or Finance.
Qualifications
Regulatory Knowledge:
- Strong knowledge of state and federal payroll and tax regulations preferred, including experience with 941-X filings.
Soft Skills:
- Excellent analytical skills and strong attention to detail.
- Ability to work under tight deadlines and provide effective communication/guidance to a team.
Certificates/Credentials/Licenses
N/A
Computer Skills
- Hands-on experience with payroll systems such as Lawson, Kronos or UKG Ready.
- High proficiency in Excel and spreadsheet analysis.
Supervisory Responsibilities
No
Required operation of university owned vehicles
No
Does this position require direct animal or patient contact?
No
Physical Demands
Repetitive Motions, None
Position Maximum Salary or Hourly Rate
$70,000/ann
Position Minimum Salary or Hourly Rate
$61,000/ann
Special Instructions to Applicants
As a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. To learn more about Loyola University Chicago’s mission, candidates should consult our website at www.luc.edu/mission/. For information about the university’s focus on transformative education, they should consult our website at www.luc.edu/transformativeed.
About Loyola University Chicago
Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, recognized for its academic excellence, commitment to community engagement, and leadership in sustainability. A Carnegie R1 research institution, Loyola leverages its status as one of an elite group of universities with the highest level of research activity to advance knowledge that serves communities and creates global impact. With 15 schools, colleges, and institutes—including Business, Law, Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences—Loyola operates three primary campuses in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, that provide students a transformative, globally connected learning experience. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution that is ranked as one of the country’s most sustainable campuses by The Princeton Review and has earned distinctions from AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation for its longstanding record of service and community engagement. Guided by its Jesuit mission and commitment to caring for the whole person, Loyola educates ethical leaders who think critically, act with purpose, and strive to create a more just and sustainable world.
Loyola University Chicago strives to be an employer of choice by offering its staff and faculty a wide array of affordable, comprehensive, and competitive benefits. To view our benefits in detail, click here.
Loyola adheres to all applicable federal, state, and/or local civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Please see the University’s Nondiscrimination Policy.
Quick Link for Posting
https://www.careers.luc.edu/postings/34800
