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Management Professional Supervisory Support
Accounting Budget Finance Investments Payroll Procurement Tax
Management Professional Supervisory Support
Penn State Job Catalog
Labor Accounting Analyst – Intermediate Professional (PSU0133)
Job Summary and Representative Duties
The Labor Accounting Analyst is responsible for ensuring the accuracy, compliance, and integrity of labor and payroll charges across enterprise financial systems; reviews, reconciles, and resolves labor distribution and payroll discrepancies, ensuring costs are allowable, properly allocated, and compliant with institutional policies, sponsor requirements, and reporting deadlines; serves as a key internal control point for labor-related financial data and supports accurate sponsor billing and financial reporting; analyzes cross-system labor data, determining appropriate corrective actions, and advising stakeholders on labor and timekeeping compliance.
- Review and monitor labor distribution and payroll reports within the human resources information system (HRIS) and the financial system to ensure labor charges are accurate, complete, and timely
- Prepare, submit, and validate labor corrections and uploads to ensure accurate financial reporting and sponsor billing prior to month-end close
- Perform month-end labor reconciliation by analyzing variances and discrepancies between payroll and financial systems; determine root causes and implement corrective actions
- Verify employee hourly rates, overtime calculations, and leave payouts to ensure accurate costing and compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements
- Review and monitor pay accounts to confirm labor costs are appropriately charged and distributed
- Ensure labor charges comply with University, ARL, sponsor, and state-mandated requirements
- Identify compliance risks related to labor distribution, payroll processing, and sponsor billing; take corrective action to mitigate financial and audit exposure
- Complete required labor-related compliance reporting, including mandated activity and effort reporting
- Analyze and resolve payroll-to-financial system interface errors by reviewing posting error reports, identifying root causes, and collaborating with accounting staff to correct transactions
- Serve as a subject-matter resource regarding labor distribution, timekeeping requirements, deadlines, and compliance expectations; provide guidance on corrective actions needed to resolve labor discrepancies and prevent future issues
- Communicate labor and payroll requirements clearly and effectively to a broad range of stakeholders
- Assist with labor expenditure reporting and analysis to support financial oversight and sponsor reporting needs
- Evaluate labor data trends and recurring issues to recommend process improvements and strengthen internal controls
Level Matrix
- Level:
- – Intermediate Professional
- Base Description:
- – Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.
- Level Summary:
- – Demonstrates ability to perform intermediate tasks in defined skill areas. Demonstrates intermediate knowledge of internal procedures. Works under general supervision, performing assignments that may be varied and sometimes difficult. Supports team decisions and follows through with team responsibilities. Interprets and communicates information clearly and accurately. Demonstrates intermediate problem–solving skills.
- Supervisory Responsibilities:
-
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers or volunteers
- Fiscal Responsibilities:
-
– May validate and pay invoices
- Problem Solving:
-
– Encounters generally routine problems; occasionally faces more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows recommended course of action and procedures to resolve problems
– Applies knowledge of larger unit goals, priorities, and related procedures in determining course of action
- Independence of Action:
-
– Work is generally monitored by supervisor
– Detailed instructions and procedures are generally provided
– Uses available guidelines to make appropriate adaptations to routine situations and refers other situations to supervisor
- Communication and Collaboration:
-
– Communicates internally within working unit and/or the University
– May communicate with external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly and accurately both verbally and in written materials intended for distribution
Salary Structure
- Comp Grade – 8
- Minimum – $51,000.00
- MidPoint – $62,500.00
- Maximum – $74,000.00
Critical Skills
FLSA Exemption Status
Non-Exempt
Minimum Education
Bachelor's Degree
Minimum Experience
1+ years of relevant experience
Equivalency
An equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
Job Profile last updated on 2025-12-18