
Accountant IV, Payroll Specialist
Salem, MA · HybridJobSeen 6 days agoSeen in employer's feed 6 days ago
Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.
You apply on the employer's site, with no Olive account needed.
Watch jobs like this. New roles like this one near Salem, MA, by email.
Don't just apply. Show up ready.
Olive works from this exact posting.
At a glance
Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.
Job overview
The Accountant IV, Payroll Specialist manages and reconciles full-cycle payroll for a complex, multi-bargaining-unit university workforce, ensuring accurate and timely payments. The role maintains compliance with payroll regulations, tax reporting, and year-end filings, and keeps records current and audited in the university ERP system. It also works with Human Resources and Finance on benefits administration and general ledger reconciliation. The position is hybrid in Salem, Massachusetts.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
DO NOT APPLY ON MASSCAREERS.* * *** Applications submitted on MassCareers will not be considered.*** Applicants must apply on the*Salem State Career siteto be considered. Overview Salem State University has built a reputation as one of New England's most accessible and student-centered public universities — and the people who keep its financial operations running with precision are a key part of that mission. If you're an experienced payroll accountant professional ready to take ownership of complex financial processes within a collaborative campus environment, this role is worth your attention. In this role, you'll manage and reconcile full-cycle payroll for a complex, multi-bargaining-unit university workforce, ensuring every payment is accurate and on time. You'll maintain compliance with federal, state, and university payroll regulations — including tax reporting and year-end filings — while keeping payroll records current and well-audited within the university's ERP system. Day to day, you'll work closely with Human Resources and Finance colleagues to support benefits administration and general ledger reconciliation, resolving discrepancies before they become problems. Salem State University is more than a workplace. It's a community with purpose. As the Commonwealth's Civic Engagement University, we're committed to building real, reciprocal relationships with the communities around us, and that starts with the people who work here. We're also a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution dedicated to serving all students, and that same commitment to access and equity extends to how we support our staff. Your work here directly contributes to student success and the vitality of the greater Salem community. We invest in our people the same way we invest in our students: with intention, respect and a genuine interest in your growth. DO NOT APPLY ON MASSCAREERS. * *** Applications submitted on MassCareers will not be considered.*** Applicants must apply on the*Salem State Career siteto be considered. Required Qualifications Applicants must have at least (A) five years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in accounting or auditing, of which at least (B) three years must have been in a supervisory, administrative or managerial capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below Substitutions I. An Associate’s degree with a major in accounting, business administration or business management may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience. II. A Bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting, business administration or business management may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience.* III. A Graduate degree with a major in accounting, business administration or business management may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience and one year of the required (B) experience.* Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed. Preferred Qualifications 1. Five to eight years of payroll processing experience. 2. Experience working with large volume payrolls. 3. Knowledge of and experience working with the Commonwealth of MA's HR/CMS payroll and Mosaic Accounting systems. 4. Previous payroll processing experience at a higher education institution. Working Location This is a hybrid position in Salem, MA with some on-campus, in-person responsibilities. Application Instructions DO NOT APPLY ON MASSCAREERS. * *** Applications submitted on MassCareers will not be considered.*** Applicants must apply on the to be considered. Please apply online at*Salem State Career site*. Resume and cover letter are not required, but are appreciated. Employment is contingent upon a completed background and CORI check satisfactory to the university. This position is not eligible for H1B visa sponsorship. EEO Statement The university considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition or any other characteristic protected by law. ADA Statement Salem State University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. For accommodation information or requests please [email protected]. Recruitment Agencies Salem State University does not partner with or accept candidates from outside staffing agencies. All hiring is managed directly by our internal Talent Acquisition team. Job: *Education Organization: *Salem State College Title: Accountant IV, Payroll Specialist Location: Massachusetts-Salem-352 Lafayette St Requisition ID: 260007N7
How this job compares
Set against the 4,846 open Accounting jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.
- Pay
- This postingNot listed
- Massachusetts median$95–141K/yr125 salary ranges
- US median$25–30/hr412 hourly ranges
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 196 open Accounting jobs in Massachusetts and 4,846 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Massachusetts
- Robert Half13 open
- State of Massachusetts (this employer)12 open
- Amazon7 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 5 years of experience; Accounting postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (3,575 postings).
- Education
- 2,381 of the 4,846 open Accounting jobs (49%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
Prepare for this role
You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.
