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Payroll and Benefits Coordinator

Internal

Job Location:

Bellingham, MN - USA

Monthly Salary: m 4652 - 6257

Posted: 6 October 2026 (Yesterday)

Application Deadline: 3 January 2027

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Position Title	Payroll and Benefits Coordinator
About the University	Western Washington University with over 15000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school is nationally recognized for its educational programs students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham Washington a coastal community of 90000 overlooking Bellingham Bay the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes Bremerton Everett Port Angeles and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes such as being named one of the top public masters-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report. Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success increasing our Washington impact and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship research and creative activity. Westerns greatest strength is the outstanding students faculty staff and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can pursuit of this excellence individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff faculty administration student and external constituents. Further individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic societal environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.
About the Department	Human Resources supports Westerns mission which states that together with our students staff and faculty we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women people of color people with disabilities veterans and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.
About the Position	The Payroll and Benefits Coordinator performs technical payroll work supporting accurate and timely university payroll processing. The position enters audits reconciles and corrects payroll and employee data; administers payroll deductions and benefit-related transactions; researches discrepancies across interconnected systems; and provides clear guidance to employees and departments. The position applies established laws rules collective bargaining agreements policies and procedures to varied payroll situations and coordinates complex issues with payroll benefits HR finance agencies and service providers. Duties Include: Payroll Processing and Technical Support Perform assigned components of the universitys regular payroll cycle for employees across multiple employee groups and bargaining units following established schedules procedures contracts and regulatory requirements. Enter retrieve audit reconcile and validate employee timekeeping leave deduction and payroll data in HR payroll financial document-management and external agency systems. Review source documents calculations reports system messages and rejected transactions; identify errors determine appropriate corrections within established authority and coordinate complex adjustments with the appropriate subject-matter expert. Process and maintain voluntary and involuntary payroll deductions including benefit and retirement deductions union dues garnishments supplemental retirement changes and other authorized withholdings. Research payroll discrepancies by tracing transactions across systems and pay periods; reconcile records and explain the effect of corrections to employees and departments. Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation; support recurring audits reconciliations reporting records retention and compliance activities. Provide backup and collaborative support for payroll processing functions to maintain continuity during deadlines and peak workload periods. Benefits and Retirement Support Process and validate benefit and retirement enrollment eligibility coverage-change qualifying-life-event and deduction transactions that affect payroll. Reconcile internal payroll and HR records with benefit retirement and provider systems; research and resolve eligibility enrollment coverage and deduction discrepancies. Explain established eligibility requirements deadlines documentation payroll impacts and available next steps to employees; refer plan interpretation or advisory questions to the appropriate benefits or retirement specialist. Support new employee enrollment open enrollment leave transfers retirement consultation follow-up pre- and post-payroll benefit processing and recurring eligibility reports. Maintain accurate and confidential records and apply established requirements including applicable PEBB retirement COBRA HIPAA and ACA procedures Employee Service Outreach and Cross-Functional Support Provide timely accurate and approachable assistance to employees and departments by phone email virtual meeting and in person. Explain payroll benefits and retirement processes in clear language and connect employees with appropriate resources or subject-matter experts when needed. Support employee outreach through orientations presentations open enrollment activities informational materials and other education efforts. Develop and deliver informative training sessions and presentations to campus groups on key topics such as payroll processes benefit enrollment timekeeping and employee self-service tools Provide cross-functional support and perform related duties as assigned including participation in special projects process improvements and compliance-related tasks to support the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the HR department Participate in system testing process documentation cross-training special projects compliance work and continuous improvement activities supporting payroll and HR operations. The State HR classification for this position is HR Consultant 1.
Required Qualifications	Bachelors degree in Human Resources Business Administration Accounting or related field OR equivalent education/work experience 1-3 years of experience in payroll benefits administration or a related HR support role Familiarity with payroll and HRIS systems Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills Strong interpersonal and communication skills Ability to handle confidential information with integrity and discretion
Preferred Qualifications	Experience working in a fast-paced organization Experience working in higher education or public sector Basic understanding of accounting principles related to payroll Strong knowledge of federal and state payroll and benefits regulations
Conditions of Employment	All employees must comply with our Immunization policies including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.
Salary	$4652 - $6257/month depending on qualifications and experience
Benefits Information	Benefits Overview for Classified Positions
Bargaining Unit	This position is part of bargaining unit A and is covered by the collective bargaining agreement with Washington Federation of State Employees.
Application Instructions	Application materials should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.
Closing Date Notes	Position open to current permanent (no longer on probation) WFSE employees only; position closes 10/08/2026 at 11:55 pm.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity compliance with applicable laws WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race ethnicity color national origin age citizenship or immigration status pregnancy use of protective leave genetic status sex sexual orientation gender identity gender expression marital status creed religion veteran or military status disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal (including a service animal in training) by a person with a disability or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local law in its programs or activities including employment admissions and educational programs. See WWUs Policies onProhibiting Discrimination Based on A Protected Class and Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sex. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance Title IX and ADA Coordinator Western Washington University Old Main 126 (MS 9021) 516 High Street Bellingham WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay);

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation please contactHuman Resources Disability Services 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (The Clery Act). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Westerns campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use crime prevention the reporting of crimes sexual assault and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of Student Life at . The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.

Required Experience:

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About Company

Internal

Western Washington University (WWU), located in Bellingham, WA, welcomes students at the front door of discovery. We invite you to connect, create and join in community with others who thrive on learning.

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