Position is Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm with the ability to work additional hours as needed.

Position is located at 921 W Monroe Avenue, Lowell, AR.

Exempt: Yes

Salary Grade: Grade 15

Summary:

SUMMARY: The Senior Payroll Accountant is responsible for multi-state payroll processing for Arvest Bank. The incumbent must verify, balance, and adjust payroll edits, tuition reimbursements, administer levies, garnishments and other income withholdings orders, and must maintain accounting functions/ financials associated with payroll. This position requires a high level of independent judgment and confidentiality, and frequent communication with Human Resources and Benefits personnel in order to clarify data and resolve issues.

We are seeking candidates who embrace diversity, equity and inclusion in a workplace where everyone feels valued and inspired.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Process bi-weekly payroll using Lawson software. Analyze standard system reports, payroll registers, and custom reports for accuracy. Review data and identify inconsistencies prior to payroll processing and between payroll periods. Research and determine cause of inaccuracies and inconsistencies. Determine the most optimal way to carry out corrective measures by analyzing and understanding how each correction may impact other areas/departments. Carry out corrective measures and notify identify areas/departments that will need to perform adjustments due to the correction. Requires a thorough understanding of payroll processing procedures and how the payroll subsystem posts to the Lawson general ledger.

2. Responsible for tax preparation, remission, and payment functions. This includes noting any changes or updates in federal, state, and local tax regulations, and performing system testing to ensure that withholdings are adjusted accurately and in a manner that is compliant with the applicable tax law. Prepare, process, and transmit federal, state, and local tax deposits in a timely manner. Ensure tax related checking accounts are properly funded.

3. Thoroughly review associate payroll direct deposit files to ensure they are successfully loaded, balanced, and ready for posting prior to each scheduled payroll date. Research direct deposit amounts in excess of $10,000 to determine the cause based on job position and status.

4. Responsible for managing associate garnishments. Set up, calculate, and process voluntary, involuntary, and employer deductions. Research and prepare responses to interrogatories for wage garnishments. Coordinate with the designated Retail Bank Operations unit to ensure payments for insurance, garnishments, child support, and levies are processed and distributed in a timely and accurate manner. Issue checks and electronic payments for wage garnishments.

5. Prepare general ledger entries, including allocation and reclassification of funds.

6. Review and enforce IRS Tax Withholding notices. Notify associates of the notice and manually lock and unlock associate ability to make withholding changes as directed by the IRS.

7. Respond to inquiries from associates, Human Resources, and regulatory agencies regarding tax withholdings. This requires a thorough understanding of federal, state, and local tax withholding laws.

8. Document, research, and propose entries to clear reconciling items.

9. Create and process any necessary special payroll runs as needed for manual checks to pay terminated associates, gross-up awards, stock options, deferred comp payments, bonuses, or make adjustments from previous payrolls.

10. Ensure severance agreements and other highly-sensitive paid contracts have all required authorizations. Administer payment based on authorized agreements and contractual terms while maintaining a very high level of confidentiality.

11. Understand and comply with bank policy, laws, regulations, and the bank’s BSA/AML Program, as applicable to your job duties. This includes, but is not limited to: complete compliance training and adhere to internal procedures and controls; report any known violations of compliance policy, laws, or regulations and report any suspicious customer and/or account activity.

TEAM ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Support and uphold the Arvest Mission Statement.

• Uphold the Arvest Code of Ethics and ensure that confidential information is safeguarded.

• Maintain a high level of cooperation and rapport with all associates in order to ensure accurate and efficient operations and service.

• Formulate and communicate new ideas and suggestions that will improve profitability and efficiency for the company’s overall operation.

• Foster and promote the proper company image at all times.

Responsibilities:

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business or equivalent related or military experience required.

• 4 years of payroll accounting or related experience required.

• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local tax withholdings and garnishment laws required.

• Experience with multi-state payroll tax withholding required.

• Proficiency with payroll software preferred.

• Certified Pay Professional (CPP) certification preferred.

Relevant military experience is considered for veterans and transitioning service members.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Must be able to arrive at work on time, work on site and have regular work attendance

• Must be able to work cooperatively with other co-workers regardless of personality, presence or communication style

• Must be able to provide cordial customer service regardless of customer personality, presence or communication style

• Must be able to perform several tasks at once

• Must be able to work in a stressful atmosphere

• Must be able to rotate job tasks

• Must be able to greet others cordially

• Must be able to coordinate multiple and changing priorities

• Must be able to verbally communicate with all other associates

• Must be able to operate telephone, scanner, copier and FAX machines

• Must be able to occasionally work outside of normal business hours

• Must be able to move from department, division, or bank to department, division or bank to attend meetings

• Must be able to operate personal computer keyboard in order to create reports, schedules and other appropriate documentation

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and to talk and hear. The associate must occasionally reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, or crouch.

The associate may occasionally be required to lift or move up to 25 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.