Graduate Payroll Coordinator II

About the University and College

The University of Georgia (UGA), established in 1785, is the first public higher education institution in America and serves as Georgia's flagship university. It is consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities nationally. UGA's main campus is in Athens, GA, with additional campuses in other locations. The university employs over 3,100 faculty members and more than 7,700 full-time staff, serving over 41,000 students across various programs.

The College of Engineering, part of UGA, is among the nation's fastest growing public engineering colleges. Since its inception in 2012, enrollment reached over 2,400 students. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, research, and innovation.

Position Overview

The Graduate Payroll Coordinator II is a vital member of the College of Engineering Business Office. This role oversees payroll and business operations for the College’s Graduate Program supporting over 250 students. The position involves managing projected payroll and benefits expenses, processing payroll adjustments, maintaining comprehensive records, and acting as a subject matter expert on graduate funding functions. Additionally, it handles tuition waivers and GTRIP funds related to the college.

Key Responsibilities

• Forecast graduate payroll costs and communicate projections using established compensation rates.
• Assess and verify funding availability and align time allocation with approved budgets.
• Work with Human Resources to assign effort levels, set compensation rates for new hires, and process salary changes.
• Manage timely terminations for graduating or departing students in coordination with HR.
• Handle funding requests, retroactive salary corrections, and short work break approvals.
• Oversee graduate student health insurance assignments, identify discrepancies, and correct funding sources.
• Monitor parking and suspense accounts, submitting adjustments to reconcile balances.
• Collaborate with internal and external departments to verify student payroll funded by engineering sources.
• Assign accurate tuition waiver attributes and maintain waiver records through graduate payroll spreadsheets.
• Track tuition budgets on sponsored projects and coordinate tuition charges for students.
• Maintain GTRIP fund information and manage tuition returns and budget transfers.
• Work with academic leadership on teaching assistant funding using GTRIP funds and provide guidance on spending policies.
• Maintain and audit payroll, tuition, and funding records to support audits and internal reporting.
• Perform bulk data updates and ensure consistency across multiple tracking systems.
• Participate in semester audits with HR and the Graduate Office to ensure payroll and funding alignment.
• Generate payroll, funding, and tuition reports for accreditation and administrative use.
• Collaborate with campus partners to improve processes and data accuracy.
• Provide additional financial and administrative support to the Business Office and Graduate Program as needed.
• Complete assigned university and college training sessions.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent plus 2 years of related work experience.
• Preferred experience with UGA systems: OneUSG, GradStatus, and Data Warehouse.
• Strong attention to detail, sound financial decision-making, and dedication to compliance with University, University System of Georgia (USG), and Graduate School policies.
• Ability to navigate and process tasks within institutional payroll and student information systems.

Work Details and Employment Terms

• Full-time position based on UGA’s Athens campus.
• Standard business hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Reports to the College of Engineering Business Office.
• Salary starting at $53,000+, commensurate with experience.
• Position classification: Payroll Technician II, non-exempt status.

Additional Information and Policies

• This role operates with significant autonomy and requires independent decision-making daily.
• Employment contingent upon successful background checks including criminal, credentials verification, and credit checks where applicable.
• The University of Georgia is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusivity and provides accommodations for applicants as needed.
• The position involves access to confidential and financial information, requiring adherence to security policies.

Application Requirements

• Applicants must submit a resume or CV, cover letter, and three professional references with contact information.