Payroll Analyst

This job exists to ensure payroll functional applications meet departmental performance objectives. The Payroll Analyst is responsible for optimizing payroll processes and focusing on automation and system utilization through data analysis and subject matter expertise. The Payroll Analyst will analyze, validate, and manage the real needs of payroll processing, as well as serve as a subject matter expert for various payroll applications. The incumbent will work with end users in meeting their system needs by providing application support in payroll and payroll self-services. Responsibilities include identifying demand, defining and documenting requirements, monitoring development progress, conducting quality assurance testing, and helping ensure deliverables are met. Under limited supervision, this position will provide guidance to the HR Payroll Specialists for complex payroll issues. Working in partnership with the Director, Payroll/Employee Information Manager and the Sr. Operations Specialist, this position is essential to the successful execution of departmental initiatives. Additional roles include serving as the liaison between Payroll/Employee Information, HRIS, and the IT support teams.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

PEOPLE – 20%

1. Mentor and lead Payroll team members regarding best practices and new processes/functionality, including one-on-one training, as needed.

2. Serve as IT/vendor liaison for the Payroll Department.

3. Serve as the primary liaison for other HR teams to address complex payroll issues.

QUALITY/SAFETY – 40%

1. Serve as subject matter expert for various payroll and employee information systems/functions. Includes troubleshooting, training end users, functional system configuration, and testing.

2. Work with various departments, including HR-Compensation, to test and process special payroll cycles, e.g., discretionary bonuses, quarterly bonuses with FLSA calculations, etc.

3. Analyze data from multiple HR/Payroll databases in support of department needs.

4. Optimize Payroll/HR Self-service processes, focusing on automation and system utilization through data analysis, subject matter expertise, and reporting.

5. Have a working knowledge of interfaces between Payroll/HR systems in order to troubleshoot issues and facilitate resolution.

6. Identify and facilitate resolution of issues that arise from operations or various payroll initiatives.

SERVICE – 20%

1. Develop and maintain documentation which is clear, concise, and unambiguous. Adapt high-level business and user requirements into functional requirements with appropriate details.

2. Work with team members and other functional areas to ensure HR needs are met and payroll is processed accurately, timely, and in compliance with various regulations.

GROWTH/INNOVATION – 20%

1. Lead Payroll project teams to facilitate change management for operations and various department projects, and establish effective communication with customers.

2. Lead requirements analysis and verification, ensuring that requirement statements are complete, consistent, concise, comprehensible, and verifiable. Represent requirements using alternative views, such as analysis models (diagrams), prototypes, or scenarios, where appropriate.

3. Create tickets with Oracle/PeopleSoft for payroll issues and work with Oracle/PeopleSoft to test and resolve issues.

4. Partner with the HRIS team to generate reports for Payroll needs (outside IT) from the HR/Payroll System, Time and Attendance System, and HR Self-Service databases.

This position description is not intended to be all inclusive, and the employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor and other management as required. The Houston Methodist Hospital reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Business Administration, Health Administration, Human Resources, Accounting or related discipline required.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

4 – 8 years experience in the Health Care Industry, Human Resources, or Payroll.

4 – 8 years functional experience working with various computer systems/applications.

2+ years working with information technology teams on development projects.

Experience with tools such as Microsoft Reporting Services and SQL preferred

Experience integrating new and existing database environments.

Knowledge of clinical and financial operations in a hospital environment a plus.

Knowledge of Oracle/PeopleSoft, API LaborWorkx, and Kronos preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED

None

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

Communication Skills (Verbal and Written): The ability to talk with individuals and groups about their needs and ask the right questions to obtain essential requirements information. Includes the ability to understand what people say and to detect what they might be hesitant to say.

Analytical Skills: The ability to critically evaluate the information gathered from multiple sources, reconcile conflicts, decompose high-level information into details, abstract up from low-level information to a more general understanding, distinguish presented user requests from the underlying true needs, and distinguish solution ideas from requirements.

Observational Skills: The ability to validate data obtained via other techniques and expose new areas for elicitation.

Organizational Skills: The ability to work with a vast array of information gathered during elicitation and analysis and to cope with rapidly changing information and priorities.

Interpersonal Skills: The ability to help negotiate priorities and to resolve conflicts among customers, technologists, and management. Strong teamwork skills at all levels are critical.

Problem Solving / Reasoning Skills: The ability to balance theory and practical reality in data warehousing methods/approaches.

Productivity Skills: Ability to evaluate, prioritize and problem solve a variety and multiplicity of tasks and ensure their timely and accurate completion. Also, the ability to work independently and take initiative in areas of responsibility.

Industry Knowledge: General knowledge of health care operations desired. Knowledge and appreciation of business concepts and requirements as applicable to a large academic, research, and/or healthcare facility a plus.

Enterprise Information Management / Business Intelligence / Data Warehousing Knowledge: Understands concepts of Data Warehousing applications, tools, functions, and features.