Principal Accountant

Position : Principal Accountant

Hours : 8 : 30am - 5 : 00pm

Duration : 6 months (possible extension)

Location : Newark, NJ

Duties and Responsibilities :

• Monitors the accounting, reporting and control of financial data to ensure the accurate maintenance and reporting of expenditures in accordance with company policy and procedures, federal and state regulations, and GAAP.
• Participates in the implementation and development of company policies and procedures to maintain consistency, improve methodology and efficiency of accounting operations.
• Ensures accurate withholding of deductions from employee pay, in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Oversees Electronic Payments of employees pays, ensuring mandatory direct deposit participation for specified groups of employees.
• Handle employee account setup, payroll payment reversals and bank returned funds, as well as creating manual check (replacements).
• Responsible for accurate and timely disbursements and reporting to third parties, including processing the weekly and monthly interface files to Accounts Payable.
• Performs and reviews analyses of selected general ledger accounts; identifies and resolves reconciling items and accounting issues on a timely basis.
• Responsible for all pension related deductions, payments, and reporting. This includes defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans and NJ State pension plans (PERS and PFRS).
• Process inbound and outbound payroll interface files, while complying with required file layout specifications, troubleshooting errors, and reconciling data.
• Oversees company's Pension Payroll. Reviews and approves pension calculations, pension and deduction refunds, voluntary / nonvoluntary deductions, taxes, direct deposit and address changes.
• Provides oversight direction to the clerical staff in the performance of specific tasks and responsibilities.
• Run Discoverer Reports and prepare detailed reports for third party payments, as well as all levels of management to facilitate the flow of payroll information and resolve issues.
• Testing for periodic system upgrades.
• Miscellaneous projects as requested by Senior Management.
• Provide excellent customer service to all internal / external customers.
• Excel skills beyond basic.
• Payroll (not just ADP, but hands on) as this payroll is processed "in house".
• Tax reporting and Deductions experience.

Qualifications :