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Payroll Benefits Technician III

Posted: 10/09/2025
College

Montana State University Billings is a preferred employer in the region-WE WANT YOU!
The following are reasons why you should join our team:

  • Work-life balance
  • Holidays-10 paid holidays per year and 1 Floating Holiday
  • Vacation- 15 days per year (New Employees to 10 years; after 10 years the accrual rate increases)
  • Sick Leave – Earned at an accrual rate of .0416125 for each hour in pay status.
  • Employee and Dependent Tuition Waiver
  • Opportunities to engage in professional development opportunities
  • Committed to employee wellness and access to a robust Employee Assistance Program
  • Medical Benefits that are robust and affordable
  • Visit MUS Benefits to learn more about our benefit package including
    • Medical, Vision, and Dental
    • Life Insurance and Long Term Disability are incorporated into our benefits.
    • Learn more about our retirement benefits at MUS Retirement.
  • Opportunities for career growth and a variety of career paths
  • Campus vibrancy- coffee shops, FREE attendance to MSUB concerts, athletic events, and lectures, access to recreation center, library, etc.
  • Beautiful campus environment that features our MSUB Mile walking path
The Payroll Benefits Technician III reports directly to the Payroll Manager and, along with the Payroll Business Analyst, is responsible for assisting them with the preparation and processing of the MSU Billings payroll. This position will provide technical and professional payroll support, basic analysis, and payroll reporting. Duties include compiling, computing, and posting employee time; analyzing employee payroll records and helping to ensure employees are paid timely and accurately; providing regular payroll reports and various payroll reconciliations, including payroll funds; providing guidance to departments on payroll; and preparing vendor payments on time. This position will also handle accounting duties such as preparing journals for payroll payments. In addition, this position will assist the Finance department with various reconciliations, accounting journals, basic accounting research, and some aspects of the fiscal year closing process.
 
DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Responsible for assisting the Payroll Manager and Payroll Business Analyst with the University payroll operations, including the preparation, review, and processing of biweekly payroll.
  • Provide technical and professional payroll processing, support, analysis, and reporting.
  • Review, code, enter, and audit timesheets in Banner, ensuring accuracy, authorization, correct position numbers, rate of pay, overtime, leave, etc.
  • Processing and review of payroll EPAFs (Electronic Personnel Action Forms).
  • Verifies student status and is responsible for ensuring correct coding for student work-study positions.
  • Runs a multitude of reports during and between payrolls to ensure data integrity and accuracy.
  • Prepare adjusting and correcting journal entries.
  • Assist with certain aspects of the fiscal year-end closing processes, such as inventories and year-end entries, etc.
  • Responsible for timely submission of payments to vendors, including retirement systems, monthly retiree and biweekly insurance, unions, IRS, state, and other miscellaneous vendors.
  • Generates biweekly payments and reconciles the reports to the payroll deduction registers for correct payment to the vendor.
  • Encodes payment documents, including accounts payable and journal entries, with correct accounting distribution.
  • Analyze employee retirement information in the MPERA, Teacher’s Retirement System, and TIAA to verify accuracy.
  • Responsibilities in the ERIC system also include verifying correct employee enrollment dates, proper setup of employee categories, researching and correcting errors, reconciling differences to Banner, and making necessary corrections.
  • Entering healthcare, union, and rental deductions in Banner.
  • Other office duties include answering telephones and researching questions or concerns regarding payroll issues, greeting walk-in customers, and researching questions.
  • Gathers information to complete forms for Verification of Employment, labor and industry, and other miscellaneous items requested by employees or other agencies.
  • Assist with all other duties as necessary, assigned by the Payroll Manager and the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Finance.
QUALITIES:
  • Reliability and dependability in completing tasks and meeting payroll deadlines.
  • Knowledge of Payroll and HR practices and theory.
  • Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, and other accounting practices and procedures.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively. Responds promptly to customer needs.
  • Proficiency in automated payroll and accounting systems and related reporting
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
  • Demonstrated ability to research and analyze data.
  • Analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent attention to detail and accuracy. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and web applications
  • Ability to work independently and as a team player
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Normal office environment

Education Required: Accounting or related degree or equivalent of 4 years of payroll-related or accounting experience

Experience Required: At least two years’ experience working directly in a payroll-related and/or accounting position

Education Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business-related field

Montana State University Billings is committed to providing a working and learning environment free from discrimination. As such, the University does not discriminate in the admission, access to or conduct of its educational programs and activities nor in its employment policies and practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, gender, age, political beliefs, marital or family status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation or preference. In support of the University’s mission to be inclusive and diverse, applications from qualified minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged.

Montana State University Billings makes accommodation for any known disability that may interfere with an applicant’s ability to compete in the hiring process or an employee’s ability to perform the duties of the job. In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU Billings provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference or request accommodation, contact the Human Resources Office, Montana State University Billings, 1500 University Drive, Billings, MT 59101-0298, 406-657-2278, employment@msubillings.edu.

MSU Billings Non-Discrimination Policy and Discrimination Grievance Procedures can be located on the MSU Billings Website: http://www.msubillings.edu/humres/eeos.htm

 

 

Payroll Benefits Technician III
MSU Billings

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