Payroll Specialist (Entry / Intermediate / Senior) - Open Rank

Job Summary:

The School of Dental Medicine is seeking an Entry, Intermediate, or Senior Payroll Specialist to join its Human Resources team. The position supports accurate payroll, timekeeping, additional payments, and payroll-related leave administration for approximately 450 employees, including university and classified staff, faculty, per-dem faculty, and student employees.

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Payroll Specialist works closely with the unit’s other Payroll Specialist and HR partners across the school and university. The level of independence and complexity of assignments varies by professional level; the position does not supervise employees.

Key Responsibilities:

• Process assigned monthly and bi-weekly payroll activities, including call pay and other additional payments, and support accurate, timely submission of employee time.

• Audit timesheets, payroll registers, earnings codes, and leave balances; investigate discrepancies, coordinate corrections, and complete annual leave-sweep reviews.

• Maintain employee payroll and timekeeping records in TimeClock+, PeopleSoft HCM, MyLeave, and related systems; perform monthly leave-accrual uploads and support system testing or transitions.

• Coordinate payroll impacts of FML, FAMLI, Short-Term Disability, and other leave programs; advise employees and supervisors on established payroll and timekeeping procedures.

• Set up and onboard new employees; explain time entry, leave reporting, earnings codes, direct deposit, W-4 requirements, and other payroll documents.

• Coordinate student employee hiring and onboarding, including position postings, applications, offer letters, background checks, I-9 verification, HCM entry, and timekeeping training.

• Serve as backup for payroll HR functions, collaborate with HR partners, and, at higher professional levels, independently resolve complex issues and recommend process improvements.

Work Location:

This position will be on a hybrid schedule, with 4 days a week in office and one day remote for the first three months, and then moving to a three days a week in office and two days a week remote. The position will operate during regular office hours of 8am to 5pm, M-F.

Why Join Us:

Join the School of Dental Medicine’s Human Resources team and contribute to payroll accuracy and responsive employee service across a diverse academic workforce. The role offers collaboration with HR professionals across the school and university and the opportunity to support timekeeping, leave, onboarding, and payroll-process improvements.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options

• Dental: Multiple plan options

• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision

• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay

• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year

• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)

• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)

• Holiday Days: 10/year

• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses

• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Entry Professional:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Substitution: A combination of education and related technical, military, or paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.

Intermediate Professional:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Substitution: A combination of education and related technical, military, or paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.

• One (1) year of professional HR generalist or payroll experience.

Senior Professional:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Substitution: A combination of education and related technical, military, or paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.

• Two (2) years of professional HR generalist or payroll experience.

Applicants for all levels must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2 years of professional experience working in a human resource generalist position.

• 2+ years of experience in a payroll specialist position.

• Experience working with accounting and financial data, which included analyzing and identifying variances.

• Experience with the University of Colorado Anschutz Human Capital Management (HCM) system.

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide work visa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position now or in the future.

• Successful completion of a criminal background check and sex offender registry check.

Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate payroll, timekeeping, leave, and HR policies/procedures to exercise good judgment in applying them to human resource challenges.

• Ability to support financial and accounting information systems. 

• Ability to identify, research, and resolve routine payroll and timekeeping discrepancies.

• Ability to administer time collection, employee funding, and payroll.

• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally, including public speaking.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.

• Knowledge of professional standards, concepts and practices related to Human Resources.

• Knowledge of applicable Federal and State laws and regulations.

• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality while working with sensitive information.

• Ability to take initiative with daily work activities and collaborates to create a positive effect on team performance.

• The ideal candidate for this position will be a detail-oriented, dedicated and professional individual.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. Curriculum vitae / Resume

2. Three to five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address.

Questions should be directed to: Oscar De Moya – oscar.demoya@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

6 months

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range for this position is determined by the professional level at which the selected candidate is hired. The anticipated hiring ranges for each level are as follows:

• Entry Professional: $48,512 – $65,006 annually

• Intermediate Professional: $52,793 – $70,742 annually

• Senior Professional: $57,073 – $76,478 annually

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@cuanschutz.edu​.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.