Payroll Processor

Payroll Processor-(OFF00000196)

Salary Range: $25.86 per hour

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Payroll Processor job supports the entire University by contributing to the payroll operations that ensure its employees' wages are paid timely and accurately.

The position protects university assets by ensuring wages are paid in accordance with university policies, and that the recording of the wages and related benefit charges are accurate.

This role ensures that wage payments, and the related mandatory reporting thereof, are compliant with various government and regulatory agencies.

Essential Functions:

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• Process biweekly, monthly, and off-cycle payrolls for all SMU employees: Perform the steps to complete a payroll cycle, using established procedures, guidelines, and task assignments among the team members. Prepare and/or review reports of key payroll activity prior to, during, and after the payroll processing. Print negotiable paychecks for distribution to employees.
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• Process incoming payroll data: Evaluate incoming electronic payroll data (hire forms, extra comp requests, separation/clearance forms), approve for final processing or return to department for modifications; evaluate incoming payroll data that is received outside of the eForms workflow, key manually to update employee records.
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• Provide customer service and user support: Perform advanced review of inquiries submitted to the Payroll Help Desk; respond accordingly or provide targeted assistance as appropriate. Research payroll discrepancies and facilitate resolution. Review daily queries that identify potential data conflicts, update records to resolve or pass information to appropriate SMU colleague for resolution.
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• Monitor status of time records: Monitor unapproved hours and exceptions on time records and communicate with approvers to resolve. Solicit assistance of payroll manager and/or business analyst to address system issue, if needed.
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Qualifications 

Education and Experience:

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• A high school diploma, or equivalent, is required. An Associate's degree in Accounting or Business Management is preferred.
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• A minimum of two (2) years of customer service experience in an office environment is required.
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• Experience in payroll, accounting, tax, and/or accounts payable is strongly preferred.
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• Experience in higher education desired.
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Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

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• Candidate must demonstrate strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills to effectively convey information. Must also demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in writing. Strong active listening skills with the ability to give full attention to what other people are saying and ask questions as appropriate are essential. A strong customer service orientation is essential.
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• Candidate must possess strong analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to identify, analyze, evaluate problems and recommend solutions. Strong research skills are essential.
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• Candidate must possess strong organizational and time management skills to effectively prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast paced environment. The ability to focus on details, maintain accuracy, and meet deadlines is essential.
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• Candidate must demonstrate proficiency in data entry and should have a strong command of spelling and grammar. Previous experience in MS Excel and Peoplesoft HCM is preferred.
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Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

About SMU: 

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

Deadline to Apply:

November 16, 2026

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by November 2, 2026.

EEO Statement:

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.