Toggle navigation  

Payroll Examiner 1

Bookmark this Posting Print Preview | Apply for this Job

Posting Details

 Position Information 

About Buffalo State  | Buffalo State is one of the largest comprehensive schools in the State University of New York system. As a civically minded, urban-engaged campus community located in the city’s cultural corridor, Buffalo State prides itself as having smaller learning environments coupled with larger university opportunities. Boasting a diverse and inclusive campus, Buffalo State is committed to the intellectual, personal, and professional growth of its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The school’s mission is to deliver a broad array of high-quality and distinctive academic programs infused with diversity, creativity, and hands-on learning opportunities for hardworking students who seek a personalized and affordable education that engages their minds and advances their careers. Buffalo State is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, service, scholarship, creative activity, and cultural enrichment. With degree programs in education, the arts, science, arts and humanities, and professional studies, each year over 6,000 students choose Buffalo State. Buffalo State welcomes applicants who are committed to helping us fulfill our mission.
Posting Date  | 08/21/2025
Department  | Payroll Office
Line Number  | 20594
Budget Title  | Payroll Examiner 1
Rank/Grade  | SG-12
FTE  | Full-Time
FLSA  | Non-Exempt
Negotiating Unit  | CSEA
Appointment Type  | Contingent Permanent
Jurisdictional Class  | Competitive (0)
Shift Hours  | Monday – Friday, 8:15am – 4:30pm
Department Operating Needs  | This position has the designation of Essential-Remote Service, therefore the successful applicant is designated as an essential service employee. For a definition of essential service employees, please review the university’s Emerging Closings Policy.
Brief Job Description  | Payroll Examiners manage a segment of a payroll program, which entails the preparation of the regular, lag and special payrolls. They make related payroll determinations concerning salaries, miscellaneous payments, deductions, taxes, and other similar matters. The preparation of payrolls requires compliance with detailed procedures, the use of multiple computer software programs, and adherence to strict deadlines. Incumbents interpret and apply policies, rules and regulations issued by the Office of the State Comptroller, the Department of Civil Service, and the Division of the Budget; sections of multiple negotiated agreements between New York State and the employee unions; and sections of the State Finance Law governing salaries, lump sum payments, deductions, leave credits, and other factors which affect employee payrolls.

Payroll Examiners are expected to be able to perform the full range of payroll calculations and transactions. Accordingly, they must possess specific knowledge concerning a wide variety of payroll and related topics such as overtime eligibility, tax requirements, garnishments, and system requirements to complete transactions and provide guidance to others. Payroll Examiners handle calculations that include a wider range of variables, exceptions, or the application of specific salary determination rules. Incumbents are expected to identify and resolve discrepancies, and develop job aids. Payroll Examiners function independently, without direct supervision of work procedures and priorities. Incumbents are considered technical experts in payroll processing and, when functioning as the payroll program supervisor, are the final point of review for all payroll actions.

Payroll Examiners must understand the business rules of the various automated systems that are used in processing payrolls (e.g., PayServ, NYSTEP, HRIS or other internal agency payroll/personnel systems) in order to trouble-shoot problems, prepare payroll reports, and respond to employee inquiries.

Payroll Examiners have frequent verbal communication with agency program administrators and personnel staff to explain payroll procedures and deadlines, mandatory and voluntary payroll deductions, and attendance and leave rules. They also have frequent verbal and written communications with all levels of employees to explain changes in salaries and deductions, procedures for voluntary deductions, and related topics. Payroll Examiners have frequent verbal communications with subordinate staff providing them with advice and assistance to supplement written manuals and guidelines.

When processing payroll transactions and preparing payrolls, incumbents have frequent verbal and written communications with representatives of the Office of the State Comptroller and the Department of Civil Service to request technical assistance with complex or unusual salary computations, to identify and clarify legal and procedural requirements, and to resolve discrepancies in procedures and interpretation.

In addition:

Calculate and/or verify salary calculations and related factors for agency employees:
- Reconstruct employee salary histories by following standard procedures to determine and/or verify appropriate salary.
- Calculate and coordinate processing of salary increases, longevity payments, and performance advances.
- Calculate employee salaries taking into account eligibility for miscellaneous payments and additional factors.
- Calculate and issue corrected W-2 Wage Statements as necessary to report adjusted earnings and taxes for employees.
- Calculate, coordinate, and communicate back salary awards, settlements, penalties and garnishments in accordance with court orders, grievances, disciplinary proceedings, and arbitration decisions.
- May calculate the number of pay periods of sick leave with half pay entitlement for employees by applying knowledge of Civil Service Law, Office of the State Comptroller rules and regulations, and negotiated agreements.
- May determine eligibility and adjust vacation, sick, and personal leave credits for part-time annual salaried employees using various reports to calculate the additional hours worked beyond their payroll percentage and the amount of leave credits to be adjusted under the guidelines set forth by the Department of Civil Service.

Provide customer service to agency employees and department managers on payroll and/or personnel related issues:
- Answer various types of communications (phone, e-mail, and letters) from employees and managers concerning general payroll topics and specific personal status issues and inquiries.
- Write responses to authorized inquiries from banks, insurance companies, and government agencies regarding employees pay status, income, and benefit status using multiple systems to gather appropriate data.
- Write memos utilizing information from control agencies to notify employees and/or department managers of a wide variety of payroll and/or personnel related topics.
- Coordinate, organize and promote a targeted campaign to educate agency employees about direct deposit options and policies in order to increase participation in the direct deposit program.
- May coordinate and deliver informational sessions and new employee orientation programs on a variety of payroll topics.
Required Qualifications  | One year of permanent competitive service in a clerical, keyboarding, or paraprofessional title allocated to Grade 7 or higher.
Preferred Qualifications  |
Application Deadline Date  | 09/05/2025
Open Until Filled  | No
Special Instructions to Applicant  |
Contact Person  |
Contact Email  |
Contact Fax  |
Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting  | https://jobs.buffalostate.edu/postings/8114
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer  | Buffalo State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution that subscribes to all federal, state, and SUNY legal requirements and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or marital or veteran status (Nondiscrimination Notice). Any violation of this policy should be reported to the Equity and Diversity Office, Cleveland Hall 415, (716) 878-6210. Buffalo State is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Warnes at warnesje@buffalostate.edu or call (716) 878-4822.
Background Investigation Statement  | All applicants are subject to a pre-employment background investigation. Our Pre-Employment Background Screening Policy is available at http://hr.buffalostate.edu/pre-employment-background-screening.
Clery Statement  | Applicants interested in positions may access the Annual Security Report (ASR) for SUNY Buffalo State at http://police.buffalostate.edu. The ASR contains information on campus security policies and certain campus crime statistics. Crime statistics are reported in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. Applicants may request a hard copy of the ASR by contacting the SUNY Buffalo State University Police Department at (716) 878-6333.
New York State Executive Order 161  | Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Documents Needed to Apply

Human Resource Management Office
 Buffalo State University • 1300 Elmwood Avenue • Cleveland Hall 403
 Buffalo, NY 14222 • Phone: 716-878-4822 • Fax: 716-878-3068
 Website: hr.buffalostate.edu • E-mail: senecacl@buffalostate.edu

 To ensure the security of your data, you will be logged out due to inactivity in 3 minutes at
 .

 Any data not saved will be lost.

 Click 'OK' to keep your session active.