Payroll Assistant I: Hybrid Chicago Loop Office

Join NORC at the University of Chicago as our newest Payroll Assistant I. This position is responsible for assisting with all payroll-related activities required to produce, balance, distribute and post the NORC hourly and staff payroll.

Location: This is a hybrid role based in our Chicago Loop office, with a minimum of six days per month in the office.  Work hours are typically 8am-5pm.

The Finance and Accounting departments contribute to NORC’s financial success by supporting the research departments with skill and integrity. The Accounting department navigates complex government regulatory and accounting environments while ensuring that the day-to-day operations of NORC’s financial matters are conducted in a timely and efficient manner.

• Process and transmit biweekly payroll for all NORC employees.
• Coordinate weekly labor posting; maintenance and upkeep of Time & Expense; and distribution of various labor reports
• Download master files, project tasks and labor codes into Time and Expense.
• Assist managers and budget monitors in resolving various labor related issues.
• Assist regional/field managers in setting up FI’s in various time-sheet groups which changes with each project.
• Assist regional/field managers and HR in activating new hires and rehires.
• Maintain all payroll files and reports.
• Monitor and maintain payroll related general ledger accounts.
• Analyze several accounting/payroll related accounts monthly.
• Monitor completion of electronic timesheets and weekly time-cards for staff and field employees.
• Handle all garnishments, wage assignments and child support including setup, notification, answer and file upkeep.
• Prepare related internal control reports.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience processing high-volume payroll, 1 year preferred.
• Proficiency with ADP Enterprise EV6 preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and spreadsheet preparation skills.
• Excellent communication skills, must be customer service oriented.
• Attention to detail, tact, discretion, and dependability, and excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to follow-up on complex and detailed work activities.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Ability to troubleshoot problems, multi-task, and prioritize in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of sensitivity to payroll-related deadlines and commitment to ensure that all deadlines are met.
• Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

The pay range for this position is $24/hr – $27.88/hr.

This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to:  

• Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment 

• Dental and vision insurance  

• A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program  

• Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance 

• Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

NORC is committed to equity and transparency in its pay practices. We publish salary ranges and benefit information for every job. The listed hiring range reflects what we, in good faith, expect to pay at the time of posting, though actual compensation may vary and may be adjusted over time. A candidate’s placement within the range depends on factors such as competencies, education, qualifications, experience, skills, performance, and organizational needs.

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.

For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.

NORC is an equal opportunity employer. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, and other legally protected characteristics.