Accounting Manager, Fringe Benefits & Payroll Banking

Capitalizing on over 140 years of history and tradition in downtown Los Angeles, the University of Southern California (USC) is looking for skilled, motivated professionals to help forge the future of higher education. The USC Finance Division, USC Payroll Services, is seeking an Accounting Manager, Fringe Benefits & Payroll Banking to join its team. This position offers a primarily hybrid work arrangement, with four days remote and one day on-site each week. The hybrid work arrangement may change at any time to accommodate university needs. Candidates considering this opportunity will join USC Payroll Services , a central university department that supports payroll operations across campuses, including its medical enterprise. Payroll Services oversees a broad range of critical functions, including payroll tax reporting, fringe benefit accounting, payroll system configuration, paycheck issuance, and other related audit and compliance reporting. Position Overview The Accounting Manager, Fringe Benefits & Payroll Banking provides management oversight and technical expertise for fringe benefit accounting, payroll deductions, ledger reconciliations, and related accounting activities across the university. This role helps ensure the accuracy, integrity, and compliance of payroll-related financial activity in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), while providing oversight of payroll banking activities. This is a hands-on people management role, with responsibilities divided approximately 50% between team management and 50% hands-on accounting, reconciliation, analysis, and operational responsibilities. The Accounting Manager oversees five Accounting and Payroll staff and provides coaching, professional development, and technical guidance to an established and capable team. The successful candidate will be an adaptable and collaborative manager who builds relationships, promotes accountability and open communication, develops employees, and effectively guides the team through changing processes, systems, and priorities. Fringe benefits accounting is a significant focus of this position. With more than 20,000 benefits-eligible employees, USC operates in a high-volume, complex environment involving benefit deductions, liabilities, general ledger activity, adjustments, refunds, and reconciliations. On a day-to-day basis, the Accounting Manager oversees benefit deduction and general ledger reconciliations, reviews and resolves discrepancies, manages employee refunds and adjustments, provides guidance on labor union deductions, and serves as an internal resource on benefit and payroll deduction matters. The manager will primarily oversee benefit plans through staff while remaining hands-on with the direct administration of select plans as needed. The Accounting Manager will also play a key role in a significant upcoming project focused on redesigning and automating current processes. Working with Payroll Services leadership and university partners, the manager will help design future-state processes, conduct detailed testing, strengthen controls, and support change management by helping employees understand and adopt new processes. The role also provides oversight of payroll banking activities, including reconciliations of payments, prenote processes and other fraud prevention controls. The Accounting Manager collaborates with internal and external partners to research and resolve exceptions and help ensure accurate and timely employee payments. Experience with payroll banking is preferred; the role's primary technical emphasis is fringe benefits accounting. Key Accountabilities Oversees fringe benefit accounting for a high-volume employee population, including benefit deductions, liabilities, adjustments, refunds, reconciliations, and related general ledger activity to ensure accurate and timely reporting. Develops, reviews, and continuously improves reconciliation processes for fringe benefit and labor union deductions, ensuring appropriate accounting treatment, timely resolution of discrepancies, and compliance with GAAP and university policies. Leads internal and external audit engagements, including ERISA audits, by coordinating deliverables and ensuring data integrity, while monitoring and addressing audit findings to drive process improvements and strengthen internal controls. Supports open enrollment activities, including system testing and updating internal documentation to reflect current processes and requirements. Leads, coaches, and develops five Accounting and Payroll staff, providing technical guidance, feedback, mentorship, and professional development while fostering accountability, adaptability, collaboration, and open communication. Oversees labor union deductions and related accounting and reporting activities, including implementation and support of new union deduction and benefit requirements. Applies GAAP principles and CPA-level accounting judgment to fringe benefits accounting, reconciliations, financial controls, and complex accounting matters. Partners with Benefits, Retirement, Payroll Services, Treasury, the Comptroller's Office, external auditors, and other stakeholders to research and resolve fringe benefits accounting, payroll deduction, audit, and compliance matters. Plays a key role in process redesign, automation, and technology initiatives, including evaluating current processes, designing future-state workflows, performing user acceptance testing, validating results, strengthening controls, and supporting implementation and change management. Oversees payroll banking activities and related controls, including bank reconciliations, prenote and check exceptions, and daily banking activity, coordinating with appropriate partners to support accurate and timely employee payments. Maintains awareness of applicable regulations affecting benefit deductions and plans, including retirement plans and flexible spending accounts, and supports accurate implementation of benefit plan changes through payroll. Handles sensitive payroll, banking, benefits, and employee information with a high degree of confidentiality, discretion, integrity, and attention to data security. Effectively manages multiple priorities and critical deadlines in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment while maintaining accuracy, service, and accountability. Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time. The standard work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Based on business needs and critical open enrollment, audit, payroll, or year-end deadlines, additional availability may be required during evenings, weekends, holidays, and university Winter Recess periods. Minimum Requirements Bachelor’s degree required. Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license required. Five years of relevant professional experience. Advanced proficiency in Excel with experience handling large, complex datasets, performing data validation and cleanup, and building effective data models. Strong attention to detail and organizational skills. Handles sensitive and confidential payroll and benefits information with a high level of discretion and data security. Ability to adapt to changing systems, technologies, business requirements, and operational priorities in a rapidly evolving environment. Experience managing, supervising, or leading accounting professionals, including the ability to train, evaluate, coach, and support employee development. Demonstrated analytical, problem solving and effective communications skills. Knowledge of university financial policies, procedures, and systems. Demonstrated commitment to providing exceptional customer service, with the ability to communicate professionally, responsively, and effectively with employees, university stakeholders, external vendors, and government agencies. Effective written and verbal communication skills. Preferred Requirements Master’s degree Seven years of relevant professional experience. ERISA audit experience Experience supporting fringe benefit accounting and payroll deductions associated with union-represented employees, including union-sponsored benefit plans. Experience with payroll banking Experience participating in system implementations, process redesign, automation, user acceptance testing, or financial transformation initiatives. In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words, and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, community, well-being, open communication, and accountability. Employee Benefits USC offers a wide variety of benefits and programs that support our staff and their families. This support advocates work-life balance and employee well-being. USC employees are connected by the traditions and history that make us proud to be Trojans, and the work culture thrives on mutual respect, trust, and synergy amongst all its members. Join us! The annual base salary range for this position is $111,621.65- $115,000.00. When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions. About USC Finance Division: USC Finance Division is a group of innovative and talented professionals who provide high quality services in support of education and research at USC. The Finance Division is comprised of the following departments: Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Financial and Business Services, Office of the Comptroller; Office of Budget and Planning, Treasury, and Health Plans; Facilities Planning and Management, Audit Services, Risk Management, and Information Technology Services. Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree Minimum Experience: 5 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Senior or lead bookkeeping/accounting experience with directly related college study. Thorough knowledge of established accounting principles, methods, practices and terminology used in financial/accounting and statistical recordkeeping work. Ability to train, evaluate and supervise the work of employees. Demonstrated analytical, problem solving and effective communications skills. USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected] . Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law. 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