What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fiscal Accountant - Payroll position at Eastern Washington University?
Posting Details
Posting Details
Working Title
Fiscal Accountant - Payroll
Posting Number
2025012CP
Position Information
Classification Title
Fiscal Analyst 3
Classification Code
143K
RCW Exemption Criteria
No Exemption
EWU Position Number
C99082
CUPA Code
P-430130 - Accountant, Senior
FLSA
Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit
BU 1
% Full Time
100
Salary / Wage Range
CS - 50
Salary Information
$53,964 – $72,588
Anticipated Start Date
Position is available now.
Term of Appointment
12 months per year
Location
Cheney campus
County
Spokane
Project Description
Project Duration
Background Check
Yes - Access to Funds or other items of value
Responsible HR User
Kenlyn Mackey
Responsible HR User Email address
kmackey2@ewu.edu
Position Details
Job Summary
- Eastern Washington University is currently seeking a dedicated and experienced Fiscal Accountant – Payroll to join our payroll office team. In this senior-level role, you’ll take the lead in specialized payroll activities, ensuring smooth operations within the department. With a strong focus on autonomy, you’ll independently plan, manage, and execute your workload, while also rotating tasks with other senior Fiscal Accountant positions for cross-training and to ensure backup coverage for vital payroll functions.
- The Fiscal Analyst 3 must be efficient and have superior organizational skills, a customer-focused approach to the workplace and a high level of professionalism.
- The salary range for this position is $53,964 – $72,588. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills. In addition to salary, the university offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, life and disability insurance and retirement. In addition, EWU offers generous vacation and sick leave accruals, 13 paid holidays per year and fringe benefits, such as tuition waiver for employees and their eligible family members, discounted EWU sports tickets and free transportation through STA buses. For additional information regarding insurance benefits please see our Benefits page: https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/benefits/insurance/. Eastern Washington University provides an inclusive, equitable, and transformative learning experience, driving the pursuit of knowledge with affordable academic excellence.
About Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University, a regional, comprehensive public university with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, is one of six state-funded four-year institutions of higher education in Washington, each governed by its own board of trustees. As the region’s polytechnic, we are recognized for our distinctive approach to hands-on learning that leads to in-demand careers. EWU’s 300-acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 12,000 residents 16 miles southwest of Washington’s second largest city, Spokane. Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane at the innovative, energy-efficient Catalyst building, the SIERR building which is a hub for research, development and advancement of health sciences, and at Riverpoint, a campus shared with Washington State University. In addition, EWU programs can be found at select locations throughout the state, aligned with the needs of the community. Eastern contributes to the vitality of the region and the state through its wide array of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in over 100 fields of study, as well as applied doctorates in physical therapy and educational leadership, offering accessible pathways to career success and personal development to students of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Eastern Washington University has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow and succeed by Colleges of Distinction, a nationally trusted resource guide for college-bound students. The honor recognizes Eastern as a ’24-’25 College of Distinction (CoD).
Eastern Washington University has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow and succeed by Colleges of Distinction, a nationally trusted resource guide for college-bound students. The honor recognizes Eastern as a ’24-’25 College of Distinction (CoD).
Money magazine recently named EWU as one of its Best Colleges in America 2024.
Tribal Land Acknowledgement
Eastern Washington University resides within the traditional homelands of the Spokane People and other tribes who are connected through their shared history of this region. This land holds their cultural DNA and it is their Ancestors who are here and bring forth the knowledge of this place—the knowledge that comes from the land.
Eastern Washington University resides within the traditional homelands of the Spokane People and other tribes who are connected through their shared history of this region. This land holds their cultural DNA and it is their Ancestors who are here and bring forth the knowledge of this place—the knowledge that comes from the land.
Equal Opportunity Statement
EWU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, age, marital status, families with children, protected veteran or military status, HIV or hepatitis C, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal laws.
Conditions of Employment
- During the course of university employment this position will be involved in the receipt of, or accountability for, university funds or other items of value; as well as the unsupervised access with the developmentally disabled, vulnerable adults or children under the age of 16. The offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion and passing of a background check prior to beginning employment.
- All new employees will comply with EWU Immunization Policy 602-02 and provide proof of immunity or vaccination to MMR before beginning work at EWU. Waivers for the immunization requirements are available for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.
- After starting employment, employees will complete required training. In person and Zoom training opportunities will be posted on InsideEWU and are listed on Human Resources webpage at https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/training/.
- This position is covered by the Washington Federation of State Employees’ Collective Bargaining Agreement:
https://in.ewu.edu/hr/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2023/06/WFSE-EWU-CBA-Barg.-Units-1-and-2-FINAL-2023-2025.pdf
Physical Demands
If you would like to obtain a copy of the Essential Functions Analysis form, which describes the physical and mental demands of the position, please contact Kenlyn Mackey at kmackey2@ewu.edu.
Pre-Placement Physical
No
Hearing Test
No
Medical Monitoring Post Hire
No
Protective Equipment
University, local, regional and state mandates for public and personal protection should be followed as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree which includes 18 quarter or 12 semester hours in accounting, auditing, or related field by start date. Professional experience will substitute for the Bachelor’s degree on a year-for-year basis.
- Minimum two years of relevant professional experience in financial areas such as:
- Payroll, accounting, auditing, financial transaction reconciliation, financial reporting, fiscal tracking and monitoring, governmental experience, general or higher education, tax preparation
- Advanced skills using Microsoft Office products, Excel and Word.
- Detail oriented working experience with a high degree of accuracy
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Must be self-directed and able to complete projects with limited supervision.
- Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to apply a responsive and flexible approach that is supportive to the needs of, including universal access, of our students, faculty, staff and the public.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Ellucian (Banner) or similar integrated payroll enterprise systems.
- Experience working in a payroll office
Other Skills and Abilities
Work Schedule Type
Regular
Work Schedule
Typically, Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm.
Posting Date
03/11/2025
Open Until Further Notice
No
Closing Date
Screening to Begin
Immediately
Special Instructions to Applicants
It is recommended that you print a copy of these instructions and the position posting before you begin to complete the online application, as the instructions will not be viewable once you begin the application process.
Required documentation includes all of the items listed below.
- Attach a detailed cover letter in which you explain how you meet each of the required qualifications (and preferred qualifications, if applicable). It is preferred that you provide that information in a bulleted list or within a table within your cover letter.
- Attach a chronological resume including work history and major duties, education, and any specialized training or skills related to the position. List at least 3 professional references including: names, titles, organization name, phone numbers, email addresses, and connection to you (these can be identical to the references listed on the application).
- Complete the online application form and respond to the online questions, if applicable.
- Mission Statement Response - EWU’s mission is to provide an inclusive, equitable, and transformative learning experience, driving the pursuit of knowledge with affordable academic excellence. We are committed to serving first-generation, Pell-eligible students. How would you contribute to this mission?
Application Types Accepted
Application
Job Duties
% of Time
75
Responsibility / Duty
Payroll Processing, Reporting & Validation
- Run the payroll processing cycle on a rotating basis with other payroll staff
- Set-up deductions in the payroll system and calculate and input needed adjustments including garnishments, medical, retirement and other miscellaneous deductions
- Calculate, verify and enter leave and comp-time cash-outs, retro pay and timesheet corrections
- Calculate, verify, collect and input overpayments
- Correspond with employees and take corrective action as needed for deduction adjustments and overpayments
- Calculate shared leave hours given, received and returned for employees
- Verify payroll input and calculations of other payroll staff
- Prepare and verify vendor payments and journal entries. This includes electronically uploading payroll data and payments
- Responsible for deduction/benefits reconciliations of payroll and vendor accounts
- Serve as liaison with vendors, benefits office and information technology staff
- Prepare regular and amended quarterly payroll reports for state and federal taxes
- Research payroll requirements for establishing other state tax reporting
- Annually assist with W2 preparation and reporting
- Assist with researching rules, laws, policies and procedures using different sources, such as authoritative manuals, union contracts, IRS and State laws, in order to update and maintain the payroll system
Essential Function Indicator
Yes
% of Time
10
Responsibility / Duty
Payroll System Maintenance
- Assist with implementation and maintenance of the Banner HR/Payroll system, which includes interpreting regulations and applying them to system processes
- Update and verify tables in the payroll system, such as deductions, earnings, and the payroll calendar
- Test changes and upgrades by running test payrolls and validating outcomes
Essential Function Indicator
Yes
% of Time
10
Responsibility / Duty
Procedure Maintenance & Documentation
- Assist in the review and implementation of changes to internal procedures for compliance with EWU, state and federal policies, procedures and regulations
- Continual review of payroll processing for efficiency and improvements
- Answer questions from employees and department personnel on payroll procedures and policies
- Notify campus community of payroll deadlines and processing changes
- Draft or suggest edits to written payroll procedures for both departmental use and outward-facing to the campus
- Draft campus wide emails and send website update requests as needed
Essential Function Indicator
Yes
% of Time
5
Responsibility / Duty
Other
- Utilize system query tools and the report writer for data validation, reporting and problem solving
- Answer employee questions related to paychecks, deductions, etc.
- Answer questions from university department personnel related to payroll feeds to the Finance system
- Perform other duties as required
Essential Function Indicator
Yes
Salary : $53,964 - $72,588
