Payroll Processing Accountant

Job Details Department: Payroll Services-213430 Career Area: Accounting/Finance/Auditing Is this an internal only recruitment?: No Posting Open Date: 10/30/2026 Application Deadline: 11/12/2026 Position Type: Permanent Staff (SHRA) Position Title: Accountant - Contributing Salary Grade Equivalent: NC13 / GN10 Working Title: Payroll Processing Accountant Position Number: 00000346 Vacancy ID: P021526 Full-time/Part-time Permanent/Time-Limited: Full-Time Permanent Hours per week: 40 Work Schedule: Monday – Friday; 7:30am – 4:30pm Work Location: CHAPEL HILL, NC Position Location: North Carolina, US Hiring Range: $50,000 - $58,279 Pay Band Information: To learn more about the pay band for this branch and role, please see the Career Banding rates spreadsheet . Notice to Applicants: This position is not eligible for H-1B sponsorship. Be a Tar Heel! Do you enjoy solving complex payroll challenges, reconciling accounts, auditing data for accuracy, and researching issues to ensure employees are paid correctly and on time? Are you energized by work that combines analytical problem-solving, attention to detail, and collaboration with colleagues across campus? Do you take pride in providing exceptional customer service and contributing to a process that impacts every employee at the University? If so, UNC-Chapel Hill Payroll Services would love to meet you! We’re seeking a Payroll Processing Accountant to join our collaborative Payroll Services team. This position plays a key role in payroll processing, reconciliations, compliance, reporting, and customer support, helping ensure the accuracy, integrity, and efficiency of payroll operations across the University. Working closely with Payroll Services staff, Human Resources, Finance, and departmental partners, you’ll help deliver a seamless payroll experience for employees while supporting critical University operations. This opportunity is ideal for someone who enjoys working with data, values accuracy, and takes pride in delivering outstanding service while building strong partnerships across campus. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact as part of a team dedicated to supporting the University’s employees every day. We welcome candidates who are eager to learn, collaborate, and help us continue providing exceptional payroll services to the Carolina community. Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit: Payroll Services processes and issues salary and wage payments to all University employees, processes and remits deductions for federal, state, and local taxes, retirement, and other withholdings, and processes and remits University payments for employee benefits. Payroll Services also reviews and processes personnel actions for pay rolling purposes; reviews and processes TIM (Kronos) transactions for leave and payment, and performs data control and reconciliation functions for earning, taxes, deductions and benefits. Payroll Services maintains personnel funding records and processes payroll expense distribution along with the reconciliations between the Human Resource and Finance Modules for posting to the General Ledger. Payroll Services monitors payroll compliance, including non-resident alien payroll, and submits reports required for federal, state, and other purposes. Payroll Services serves as the functional lead for Payroll and Commitment Accounting modules within PeopleSoft. Position Summary: This position is responsible for supporting and performing complex payroll functions associated with University payroll operations, including monthly and biweekly payrolls as well as the UNC System Office payroll. The position performs payroll processing activities through PeopleSoft; audits payroll transactions, records, and documentation for accuracy and compliance; researches and resolves discrepancies; assists with year-end processing; and supports W-2 and 1042-S reporting activities. The incumbent ensures payroll data integrity while adhering to federal and state regulations, University policies, and established internal controls. This position serves as a critical subject matter expert within Payroll Services and plays an essential role in business continuity, operational resiliency, and succession planning for the department. The incumbent maintains specialized knowledge of payroll processing, systems, reconciliations, reporting requirements, and compliance obligations necessary to support uninterrupted payroll operations. This role provides cross-functional support for key payroll functions and serves as backup coverage for critical payroll responsibilities during staff absences, vacancies, peak processing periods, and organizational transitions. Through knowledge sharing, cross-training, and operational support, the position helps preserve institutional knowledge and mitigate operational risk. Additional responsibilities include supporting payroll system enhancements, testing payroll calculations and processing scenarios, assisting with special projects, and performing assigned PeopleSoft-related activities. The position must be adaptable, detail-oriented, and capable of working independently in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment while ensuring the accurate and timely processing of payroll activities across multiple payroll cycles. The incumbent will also absorb and perform duties normally assigned to senior payroll staff, including the EHRA Lead Accountant, when necessary to ensure continuity of operations and consistent service delivery. Minimum Education and Experience Requirements: Bachelor’s degree with 12 credit hours of accounting coursework; or Associate’s degree in accounting; or Associate’s degree in business or related discipline with 12 credit hours of accounting coursework; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Management Preferences: Payroll processing experience in a complex organization with multiple payroll cycles, including monthly and biweekly payrolls. Knowledge of established state government and University regulations and procedures, as well as UNC-Chapel Hill policies and practices. Experience working closely with campus departments and business partners to provide guidance on payroll operations and compliance matters is highly desirable. Experience handling sensitive financial and personnel data is preferred. Demonstrated ability to effectively manage complex payroll responsibilities in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment. Campus Security Authority Responsibilities: Not Applicable. Position/Schedule Requirements: Overtime occasionally Organization The nation’s first public university is at the heart of what’s next, preparing a diverse student body to become creators, explorers, innovators and leaders in North Carolina and throughout the world. Carolina’s nationally recognized, innovative teaching, campus-wide spirit of inquiry and dedication to public service continue the legacy that began in 1795 when the University first opened its doors to students. Here, in one of America's most beautiful college settings, we offer exceptional careers in richly diverse fields. Come explore what UNC-Chapel Hill has to offer you. Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,117 Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,894 Total Student Enrollment: 30,011 Founded: 1789, as the first state university in the United States Type of Institution: Public, four-year Undergraduate Admission: 15,961 Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,039 Total Student Enrollment: 26,000 Faculty: 3,000 Percentage of faculty who hold Ph.D.s or the highest degrees in their field: 94 percent Faculty/student ratio: 1/14 Location: UNC is located in the heart of Chapel Hill, the best college town in America! It's a friendly town of about 40,000 in the geographical center of North Carolina. Chapel Hill is at the western point of the Research Triangle, an area of about one million people, comprised of Chapel Hill, the cities of Durham and Raleigh, and the Research Triangle Park, home of many corporate offices and scientific research centers. Carolina is about 30 miles from the state capital, Raleigh, and 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Chapel Hill's main street, Franklin Street, borders the campus and offers shops, coffee houses, cafés, movie theaters and houses of worship. The town has a historic district, museum, library, parks, malls, and many recreational facilities. Origins of Carolina's students: 82 percent of UNC's freshmen are from North Carolina and 18 percent are from out-of-state. Our students come from 42 different states and our international students represent 37 countries. Size of freshman class: Approximately 3,400 Class size: Barely five percent of undergraduate classes contain more than 100 students; two-thirds of undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students. Forty-one percent have fewer than 20 students, including First Year Seminars, in which first-year students work closely with professors. Sports and athletic programs: UNC is an NCAA Division I school with 28 varsity teams. Carolina is the proud home of the Dean Smith Center, Kenan Stadium, Carmichael Auditorium, Koury Natatorium, and many other fine athletic facilities. Students join more than 60 intramural and club sports, which include baseball, bowling, crew, golf, lacrosse, rock climbing, rugby, tae kwon do, and ultimate frisbee. The Student Recreation Center offers weight training, aerobics, stair machines, and all the equipment you would expect to find at a great health club! Carolina offers a newly renovated outdoor pool and indoor pools, a golf course, tennis courts, and the longest zipline in America! Number of residence halls: Incoming undergraduates will live in one of Carolina's 29 residence halls, which are wired for Internet access and cable television. housing.unc.edu Scholarships and financial aid: About 40 percent of UNC-Chapel Hill students receive scholarships and/or some form of financial aid. studentaid.unc.edu Special research institutes: Institute for Research in Social Science, Institute of Outdoor Drama, Morehead Planetarium, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, Institute of Government, Institute of African American Research. Career services: On-campus counseling, job fairs, résumé writing service, internships, placement services. www.unc.edu/depts/career Technological facilities: Students find multiple uses for Carolina's state-of-the-art technological resources. They can access Carolina's computer services through Academic Technology and Networks, which manages academic computing, e-mail, microcomputing labs, interactive media presentation, video and classroom support, and a help desk. The MetaLab oversees the development of SunSITE, one of the world's busiest digital library and electronic publishing projects. Students may open e-mail accounts, and many use campus computer resources to construct personal Web pages. Students in residence halls have hardwired network connections to the Internet and cable television in their rooms. At the ATN Training center, students may take classes on software packages and utilities. Computer labs are available for student use all over campus. Carolina Computing Initiative: Beginning with the freshman class of 2000, undergraduates must purchase laptop computers. The University has arranged for IBM to offer computers at excellent prices. Students, faculty, and staff will enjoy cost savings, higher quality compatible equipment, and better technical support through CCI. www.unc.edu/cci The Study Abroad program allows students to live and learn in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Africa, and the Americas. www.unc.edu/depts/abroad The Honors Program offers special seminars, research programs, and the chance to design your own independent studies. www.unc.edu/depts/honors Carolina students spend time in public service through student organizations, the Campus Y, the Carolina Center for Public Service, and courses that incorporate community service. UNC's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a national collegiate honor society, is the oldest in North Carolina, dating from 1904. There are many other honorary societies at Carolina. UNC offers ROTC programs in all branches of national military service. Through the First Year Seminars program, first year students will understand what it means to study at a premier research university. They will learn from faculty members and share in their research in seminars of no more than 20 students. Life outside the classroom: More than 370 clubs, teams, and student organizations offer something for everyone! You can choose from among musical and dramatic performing groups, publications, ethnic and religious clubs, the Campus Y and other service organizations, fraternities and sororities, and pre-professional organizations. Whatever your interests, you will find others at Carolina who share them! www.unc.edu/depts/union/student/listintr.htm