Administrative Specialist

Syracuse University

The Administrative Specialist administers payroll and related personnel transactions for the Whitman School of Management, ensuring that staff, student, adjunct, and faculty pay is accurate, timely, and charged to the correct funding source in compliance with University policy and federal wage-and-hour regulations. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Budget and Finance, the position also serves as Search Administrator for adjunct and overload faculty searches and coordinates with Human Resources and Labor Relations. The incumbent handles confidential data, including labor relations information on grievances, bargaining strategy, and discipline files, as well as compensation and human resources data. The role requires sound independent judgment and strict confidentiality to protect this information.

Education and Experience

• Associates degree/Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Three to five years of higher education administrative and payroll support experience required. Prior Syracuse University Human Resources experience covering many of these job functions is strongly preferred.

Skills and Knowledge

Proficiency with Microsoft 365, PeopleSoft, OnBase, and Access. Strict discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential labor relations information, including grievances, bargaining strategy, and discipline files, as well as confidential compensation, financial, and personnel data. Exceptional time management skills and the ability to adapt to a continually changing work environment. Collaborative, team-oriented approach supported by strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Payroll Administration: Administers semimonthly and weekly payroll for the Whitman School of Management by reviewing and approving staff and student time entries each cycle so employees are paid accurately and on schedule. Enters RAPs, PARs, and chart string changes to keep position funding and pay records current. Trains student employees in the use of TimeClock and corrects timekeeping errors to ensure compliance with federal wage-and-hour regulations. Maintains the confidentiality of the compensation and personnel data handled in this work.

• Adjunct Search, Labor Relations: Serves as Search Administrator for adjunct searches each semester and summer session, coordinating with department chairs to identify positions to be filled by adjuncts and overload faculty. Partners with Human Resources to generate adjunct contracts and maintain multi-year contracts, and manages job postings from search proposal through hiring proposal, including review of hiring decision notifications. Works with Labor Relations to resolve union-related issues and, in doing so, handles confidential labor relations information, including grievances, bargaining strategy, and discipline files.

• New Hire Coordination: Coordinates new hires for staff, students, PhD students, Graduate Assistantships, adjuncts, faculty overloads, and extra service in conjunction with University Human Resources, HR Compensation, and Payroll by entering PERs, requesting new PINs, and reporting changes in vacant and filled PINs. Handles confidential compensation and human resources data in the course of this work.

• Stipends and Awards: Processes summer and academic-year stipends, Maymester and Summer Session pay, and faculty and staff awards, ensuring each payment is set up on the correct funding source and paid within the applicable term. Processes summer pay for Defense Comptrollership Program faculty and PhD students.

• Grant Payroll: Processes grant-related payroll under the direction of the Assistant Director of Budget and Finance or the Budget Manager by submitting all PARs and chart string changes for grant accounts so the department stays in compliance with University rules and deadlines.

• Audits and Special Projects: Participates in financial audits, year-end closeout, and special projects, and performs other duties as assigned.

• Physical Requirements

• Not Applicable

• Tools/Equipment

• Not Applicable