Job Summary
The Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for the following:
Processing the Support Staff and Student Biweekly payroll which includes triggering/monitoring the preliminary payroll results, monitoring time tracking activity, maintaining payroll adjustments, assisting Human Resources/Student Employment Office colleagues with HCM/payroll touchpoints, auditing, resolving issues, settling to the bank, triggering third party integrations and funding, and running various payroll reports. In support of the biweekly payroll processing, this position is responsible for auditing/approving payment election and tax election updates, responding to employee inquiries, managing withholding orders, maintaining the payroll schedules, academic year benefit schedule, and holiday calendar, updating the payroll alerts, monitoring bank ACH returns, documenting/maintaining payroll procedures, recommending and implementing process improvements, and responding to external auditors’ data requests.
Assisting the Director of Payroll and Accounts Payable Director and the Workday Finance Operations Manager with Workday ad hoc and biannual release reviews, enhancement recommendations, testing, and change management.
Administering the GLACIER Tax Compliance and GLACIER Tax Prep (GTP) systems including ensuring full compliance with all federal and state nonresident/resident alien regulations, analyzing and validating tax treaty benefit eligibility and collecting applicable documentation, maintaining online GLACIER records and department tax files, administering Bowdoin Grant non-qualified scholarship tax payments/reporting requirements, overseeing international student fellowship vouchers, performing annual tax treaty renewal and GLACIER Tax Prep processes, submitting and reporting Federal and Maine income taxes, issuing year-end 1042-S, filing annual/quarterly Federal and Maine 1042 returns, and assisting international students, employees and guests with routine GLACIER questions/guidance.
Processing the Controller’s Office’s settlement runs (AP checks, Paymode, Credit Card Spend, Ad Hoc Payments, Miscellaneous Payments, Wires, Expense Reports, Customer Refunds, etc.)
Acting as back-up for processing the Faculty/Staff monthly payroll.
Assisting the Director of Payroll and Accounts Payable with routine needs such as W-2 processing, 1099MISC/NEC processing, annual fellowship tax letters and various audits (e.g., KPMG, Benefits, Retirement Plan, Workers’ Compensation, OSHA, Conflict of Interest Survey, etc.).

Benefits and Pay:
The targeted hiring range for the role based on the position requirements is $65,000 – $68,000.
A variety of health insurance plans
Life insurance, disability insurance, and a generous retirement plan
Paid time off – Vacation, Personal, and Holidays
Paid parental leave
Access to many of the College’s facilities including the gym and pool
And more: https://www.bowdoin.edu/hr/benefits-perks/index.html
Education/Skills Requirements
Required:
High school diploma or equivalent and 4 – 7 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, critical thinking and communication skills for reconciling payroll discrepancies and identifying trends.
Strong understanding of payroll compliance, tax regulations, and labor laws.
Ability to manage and prioritize multiple goals.
Ability to work well as an individual and as part of a high-performing team.
Ability to handle confidential communications / information with care.
Proficiency in payroll software and systems, including experience with large-scale payroll processing.
Proficient in MS Excel, Word, and Teams; ability and willingness to learn other software applications as needed.

Preferred:
Associate’s and/or bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field and 4 – 7 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Workday Payroll and Time Tracking experience (or comparable software).
GLACIER Tax Compliance system experience (or comparable nonresident alien tax compliance software).
Experience with multi-state payroll processing in the following approved states: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Experience Requirements and/or Equivalents
Required:
At least 4 – 7 years of payroll processing, payroll management, or specialized bookkeeping experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience in handling complex payroll issues and exceptions.
Excellent knowledge of accounting principles related to payroll.
Familiarity with HCM (Human Capital Management) and timekeeping software.
Standard Work Days and Hours
Hours are typically 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. This position is on-site and will work in the Controller’s office on campus.
Additional hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays may be required.
This is an exempt-level position that requires the time commitment necessary to successfully fulfill all the job responsibilities.
About Bowdoin
Bowdoin embraces diversity in all forms, and the College is home to talented students, faculty and staff—with a variety of racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; religious beliefs; and gender identities, among other factors.

We encourage applications from candidates committed to the support of an inclusive campus community and those who will enrich and contribute to the College’s multifaceted diversity. We value a community in which individuals of all backgrounds are warmly welcomed and encouraged to succeed.

Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its commitment to the liberal arts for well over 200 years. Bowdoin’s reputation as a preeminent liberal arts college rests on the excellence of its faculty, students, and staff; intimate size; strong sense of community; and connections to the people, history, and natural beauty of Maine.

Bowdoin’s campus is situated in a beautiful natural setting. Located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of approximately 20,000, the College is a short drive from the Maine coast, twenty-five miles from Portland and 120 miles from Boston.