Payroll & Accounting Associate

REPORTS TO: Controller

POSITION SUMMARY: The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is seeking a detail-oriented, collaborative, and service-minded Payroll & Accounting Associate to join our Finance team. This is a hands-on role with responsibility for three essential areas of our operations: payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable. The position is ideal for someone who enjoys working with numbers and systems, but also enjoys helping people, solving problems, and finding better ways to get things done. As a performing arts organization, our work includes staff, musicians, artists, and contractors. Accuracy, timeliness, confidentiality, and strong customer service are essential.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Payroll & Employee Support

• Process payroll accurately and on schedule using Paylocity Payroll.
• Review timesheets, payroll inputs, deductions, employee changes, and other information to ensure payroll is complete and accurate.
• Partner with managers and team members to resolve timesheet and payroll questions.
• Train new team members and managers on payroll submission, timesheet procedures, deadlines, and related processes.
• Perform payroll reconciliations and assist with payroll reporting, tax filings, year-end activities, and audits.
• Review and maintain 1099, 1042 and 945 artist and contractor information, including contract terms, rates, dates, and payment requirements.
• Ensure artists and contractors are paid accurately and on time in accordance with their contracts.
• Work closely with internal teams to resolve discrepancies or missing information before payments are due.
• Support payroll and payment processing for our IATSE-represented stagehand team, ensuring compliance and consistency with applicable union agreements and contract terms.
• Maintain organized documentation supporting artist, contractor, and union payments.

Accounts Payable

• Manage the accounts payable process from invoice receipt through payment.
• Review invoices for accuracy, appropriate approvals, coding, and supporting documentation.
• Process vendor payments and maintain accurate vendor records.
• Reconcile vendor statements and research and resolve discrepancies.
• Respond to vendor and internal department questions with a high level of professionalism and service.
• Assist with 1099 reporting, month-end close, reconciliations, audits, and other finance activities.
• Train new team members on the accounts payable process, procedures, and systems.

Accounts Receivable

• Manage the accounts receivable process from invoice creation through receipt.
• Review invoices for accuracy and appropriate coding.
• Process customer payments and maintain accurate customer records.
• Send dunning notifications as necessary.
• Respond to customer and internal department questions with a high level of professionalism and service.
• Train new team members on the invoicing process, procedures, and systems.

Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Use financial systems to maintain accurate and efficient processes.
• Support the implementation and adoption of new financial systems and processes.
• Look for opportunities to simplify workflows, reduce manual work, improve accuracy, and strengthen internal controls.
• Document procedures and create clear, easy-to-follow resources for staff.
• Participate in system testing, process improvements, and other Finance initiatives.
• Approach problems with a continuous-improvement mindset: How can we make this more accurate, efficient, and easier for the people we serve?

REQUIREMENTS

• 5+ years of experience in payroll, accounts payable, accounting operations, or a combination of these areas.
• Payroll processing experience; Paylocity experience preferred.
• Experience with an accounting/financial system.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage recurring deadlines.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Strong Excel and general computer skills.
• Ability to handle confidential employee and financial information with discretion.
• Strong communication and customer-service skills.
• Comfortable working collaboratively with employees, managers, artists, vendors, and other partners.
• Interest in learning systems and finding ways to improve processes.
• Experience with union payroll, 1099 contractors, artist payments, or performing arts organizations is a plus.