Senior Payroll Operations Specialist - hybrid in Minnetonka, MN

UnitedHealth Group is a health care and well-being company that's dedicated to improving the health outcomes of millions around the world. We are comprised of two distinct and complementary businesses, UnitedHealthcare and Optum, working to build a better health system for all. Here, your contributions matter as they will help transform health care for years to come. Make an impact with a team that shares your passion for helping others. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Sr. Payroll Operations Specialist is responsible for payroll payments to employees, general deduction management and coordination of effort with other HC departments, vendors and business units to ensure accurate and timely results.  The Sr. Payroll Operations Specialist will act as an SME for the department and will mentor and train others as needed.

This position follows a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Identify new processes or changes to existing payroll business processes
• Responsible for accurate and timely payroll entries, including STD payments, termination pay, relocation and other payline adjustments
• Act as an SME for payroll-related questions and issues
• Manage Tier 2 cases and assignment of case volume to rest of team, adding resolution notes as needed.    Communicate SLA guidelines to managers and employees as well as track trends to prevent future issues
• Manage group email box and perform the necessary actions in the given timeframe
• Manage timecard transactions from MyHR and GTS to ensure the team has the necessary information for final pays or off cycles
• Review leave of absence paychecks and work with vendor to ensure that employees are paid with accuracy
• Conduct user acceptance testing for new functionality and defect fixes within MyHR
• Run audits and resolve all issues for the bi-weekly payroll run while partnering with the Payroll Systems team
• Add data to mass loaders for the bi-weekly payroll and then audit all transactions
• Create off-cycle payments to employees as a result of HRHD cases, termination pay, reductions in force, etc. and adhere to state regulations and company policy
• Process manual check adjustments to ensure employee's taxes and wages are accurate
• Work with outside vendors to load accurate data for relocation, disability payments and other taxable earnings and deductions; troubleshoot any issues that arise
• Research outstanding checks for the escheat process
• Review overpayment transactions and ensure data is accurate
• Work with current and former employees to pay back money owed to the company; communicating effectively, collecting funds and reporting results
• Work with collections vendor when accounts have been turned over for collections
• Communicate with employees to collect credit card payments
• Manage general elements for employees, including financial fitness, benefit deductions/refunds
• Create and document new processes as needed for mergers and acquisitions
• Research errors, determine root cause and make recommendations for on-going process improvements
• Use knowledge and judgment to troubleshoot issues and problems
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of employees
• Collaborate with Benefits, Wealth, Compensation, TAM and HR communities in the support of payroll changes
• Maintain effective relationships with key internal and external customers and vendors
• Other projects as assigned

You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• 3+ years of functional payroll experience
• Knowledge of internal systematic controls related to Sarbanes-Oxley requirements
• Understanding of how to build efficient payroll processes
• Intermediate level of proficiency with MS Word, Excel
• Proven ability to work various hours as needed to support payroll processing  
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple tasks with hard deadlines simultaneously
• Proven excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proven project documentation discipline
• Proven analytical, problem solving skills, including query skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• BA or BS
• FPC or CPP
• Healthcare experience

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The hourly pay for this role will range from $23.89 to $42.69 per hour based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone-of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income-deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug - free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.