Sr Payroll Specialist

The University of Southern California (USC) is a leading private research university located in Los Angeles. USC is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and public service, and fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Location - Information Sciences Institute in Marina del Rey

Job Summary

This is a 6-month fixed-term position. The Senior Payroll Specialist serves in a lead role supporting the planning and delivery of payroll services. This position ensures the accurate and timely processing of payroll for faculty, staff, and students. The incumbent acts as a key liaison to assigned departments, resolving complex payroll issues and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and university regulations

Key Responsibilities

Sorts, prioritizes, reviews for accuracy, and processes incoming payroll and personnel documents
Leads payroll specialists in processing out-of-system payroll requests and audits calculations for termination and final pay
Coordinates final audits of hand-drawn checks to ensure compliance with university policies and applicable federal and state laws
Maintains payroll records and statistics and prepares reports.
Provides direction and guidance to staff on payroll processes, procedures, and best practices
Serves as a liaison to departments, resolving complex payroll issues in compliance with FLSA, California labor laws, and IRS regulations
Processes payroll-related transactions for new hires, transfers, and promotions, ensuring accurate system entry and proper documentation

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent.

Minimum 3 years of payroll experience.

Strong knowledge of payroll processes and procedures.

Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Associate's degree.

4 or more years of payroll experience.

Experience working in higher education or large, complex organizations.

The hourly rate range for this position is $38.31 - $41.55. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope of responsibilities, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal equity, applicable laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.