Payroll Assistant III

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: (Primary Duties and Responsibilities)

• Prepares and distributes the weekly and bi-weekly payrolls for the assigned divisions of the company.  Enters union, hourly and salaried payroll timesheets, work orders, payroll adjustments and corrections into the payroll system.
• Processes final payments to terminated employees ensuring payments are timely and in accordance with federal or state legislative requirements to minimize risk.
• Maintains accurate records on all employee payroll transactions.  Verifies pay rates and deductions to ensure compliance with company policy, union contracts, SOX controls and employee designations.
• Analyzes, Audits, validates, and prepares time sheet data for the payroll system in accordance with the payroll schedule. Runs standard reports to identify exception time situations.  Verifies that all employees in the assigned group have submitted their time sheets and that all hours are coded and accounted for correctly.  
• Responds to payroll inquiries and requests within established service level agreements.  Provides guidance and educates employees as needed to resolve pay or time discrepancies and ensure payroll is accurately processed.
• Updates and maintains documentation on all payroll policies and procedures and complies with departmental process guidelines and standards during each payroll cycle.
• Prepares and maintains detailed reconciliation documentation of payroll data to general ledger account balances.  Reviews accounting ledger entries, identifies and resolves discrepancies and variances and updates general ledger information as needed.
• Assists with monthly, quarterly and annual payroll tax returns prepared and processed by the vendor.  Processes voluntary employee deductions such as 401(k), employee stock purchases, and United Way.  Assists in processing tax withholdings and payments to townships, municipalities, counties, etc.
• Requests check payments for union dues, stock, thrift plans, United Way, etc.
• Generates and distributes standard and ad hoc payroll reports as needed for internal finance and operational departments to track labor costs.
• Supports system elevations and process automation.  Develops knowledge of payroll and timekeeping system fields, codes, and processes to problem solve issues such as vendor interface failures, etc.
• Develops close working relationships with internal partners such as the Finance and Accounting teams, Benefits, IT, etc. to quickly resolve issues and handle special requests.
• Maintains current on applicable local, state and federal wage and hour and payroll laws and regulations.
• Updates and maintains payroll files.  Files paperwork, maintains weekly payroll reports and ensures documentation and records comply with  audit control standards, practices and procedures.
• Assists with other tasks or special projects, e.g. W-2 reconciliations, internal and external audits, etc. as assigned

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function(s).

QUALIFICATIONS (Required Experience, Education, Licenses, and Certifications)

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• A Bachelor’s degree preferred
• A minimum of 5 years payroll experience

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: (Examples below)

• Familiarity with payroll processing systems such as Lawson, ADP, PeopleSoft, SAP, etc.
• Expert kn