Payroll Specialist

Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA|

Job Overview

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Paid Time Off

Retirement Plan

Professional Development

Job Description

Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) is recognized as one of the largest and highest performing education management organizations in the United States. Founded in 1997 by Jonathan Hage, CSUSA manages over 150 charter schools across four states, proudly serving more than 82,000 students. Its mission centers on a Relentless Commitment to Student Greatness in School and in LifeTM, emphasizing both academic excellence and personal development. CSUSA provides an academically rigorous education aimed at preparing students for real-world success, ensuring they are ready for college or career opportunities upon graduation. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to closing achievement and opportunity gaps while cultivating strong minds and good hearts among its diverse student population.

The role of Payroll Specialist at CSUSA is an essential function within the organization, ensuring accurate and timely processing of bi-weekly payroll for its workforce. The Payroll Specialist is entrusted with maintaining payroll data integrity, validating employee time entries, and supporting payroll operations across multiple locations. Serving as a crucial collaborator between departments, this position requires meticulous attention to detail, strong analytical abilities, and a commitment to compliance with policies and regulations. The Payroll Specialist supports employee inquiries regarding payroll, including tax documents and direct deposit issues, highlighting the importance of excellent communication skills and customer service orientation. This role also demands proficiency in payroll software systems such as ADP Vantage, alongside advanced Microsoft Excel skills for data analysis and reporting. Joining CSUSA in this role means contributing directly to the organization's mission by ensuring that all employees are compensated accurately and on schedule, reinforcing the culture of trust and integrity. The position offers an opportunity to work in a dynamic educational environment with the chance to impact employee satisfaction and operational excellence. This is a non-exempt role subject to applicable wage and overtime laws, typically situated within an office setting with occasional travel requirements. Effective payroll management through this role underpins the seamless functioning of CSUSA’s educational services and the fulfillment of its promise of Strong Minds, Good HeartsTM.

Job Requirements

Associates or bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field
minimum of 2 years of payroll experience
knowledge of payroll systems including ADP Vantage, E-Time, Workforce Manager, Smart Compliance
advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel including VLOOKUP and PivotTables
strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations
excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
strong written and verbal communication skills

Job Qualifications

Associates or bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field
minimum of 2 years of payroll experience
working knowledge of payroll best practices
knowledge of payroll systems including ADP Vantage, E-Time, Workforce Manager, Smart Compliance
advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel including VLOOKUP and PivotTables
strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations
proven ability to manage complex payroll operations and implement process improvements
excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact effectively across departments

Job Duties

Prepare, schedule and process bi-weekly payrolls
ensure that all data necessary to process payrolls is gathered in a timely manner to comply with established schedules
review, analyze and research payroll errors to ensure accuracy of payroll processing
prepare and post transactions in ADP Vantage System
verify and validate employee time entries to ensure compliance with organizational policies
review, analyze, and process retroactive transactions and payments
develop, run, and review pre- and post-payroll audit reports to ensure data integrity
perform daily data entry of payroll transactions and maintain accurate records in the payroll system
review employee timesheets for completeness and accuracy
process payroll for multiple locations and pay groups, ensuring compliance with jurisdictional requirements
ensure that all payroll data including hours worked, leave balances, and earnings is collected and processed in a timely manner
process and calculate payments for distribution, including regular payroll, retroactive adjustments, settlements, and off-cycle disbursements
analyze and process final payments for separated employees, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations
monitor and research employee leave balances and accruals to maintain accurate records
assist employees with payroll-related inquiries, including W-2 and W-4 tax form questions
troubleshoot and resolve direct deposit errors due to closed or incorrect account information
research and process off-cycle payroll payments as needed
review weekly time entry reports from various timekeeping systems and escalate discrepancies when necessary
respond to inquiries from schools, departments, and staff regarding payroll procedures, schedules, and payment statuses
maintain proficiency in payroll software and related systems
strong computer skills are required for daily operations and reporting