Payroll Coordinator - Temporary

About the position

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is seeking a detail-oriented and highly organized Payroll Coordinator for the Personnel Services Unit within the CUNY Office of Academic Affairs. This temporary position, anticipated to end by January 2027 with a possibility of extension, will manage payroll and personnel-related activities for staff members at CUNY Central. The role requires expertise in time-sheet entry and some budget management, ensuring accurate and timely processing of employee payroll and overseeing grant-related financial activities. The position requires a strong understanding of payroll processes, budgets, and exceptional attention to detail.

Responsibilities

  • Manage the entry and verification of time-sheets on a bi-weekly basis, ensuring accurate recording of hours worked, time off, and other relevant information.
  • Meet bi-weekly payroll and internal deadlines.
  • Collaborate with RFCUNY payroll team and program timekeepers to resolve any discrepancies or issues related to time-sheets and payroll.
  • Provide guidance and support to employees and programs regarding payroll-related inquiries and time-sheets entry processes.
  • Responsible for ePAF modifications by following personnel budgets.
  • Work with programs to prepare journal entries as needed.
  • Work with programs to prepare retroactive salary increases.
  • Prepare annual leave payouts as needed.
  • Calculate funding needed to cover personnel salaries based on allocated amounts via program budgets.
  • Work with programs to prepare personnel expense reports as needed.
  • Ensure accuracy and integrity of all program data.
  • Enter data via Access database on a bi-weekly basis.
  • Ensure discrepancies are properly corrected.
  • Compile required documentation for reports, supporting program in all reporting needs.
  • Respond to inquiries regarding employers/supervisors’ policies and procedures of program, e.g. approving payroll, time and leave requests, etc.
  • Cover team members’ responsibilities in their absence.
  • Attend staff meetings and training as required.
  • Provide support to other teams within the Personnel Services Unit as needed.
  • Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

  • Two+ years’ experience in program administration, student development, or another relevant field
  • Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills with a focus on providing excellent client services
  • Demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collaboratively with a diverse community of students, faculty, program staff, and external partners
  • Ability to exercise good judgment and apply problem-solving skills
  • Strong computer proficiency using standard office software programs, particularly Microsoft Excel
  • Experience working collaboratively in a team-oriented and outcomes-focused environment
  • Proven ability to be detail-oriented, organized, and capable of coordinating multiple assignments and meeting deadlines

Nice-to-haves

  • A bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience in lieu of a bachelor’s degree
  • Experience with payroll, time-sheet entry, and budget knowledge
  • Experience with RFCUNY’s Web report and time and leave system
  • Experience with I-9 and E-Verify

Benefits

  • RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals
Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...