Assistant Manager - Engineering Manpower Resources - Payroll

Assistant Manager - Engineering Manpower Resources - Payroll

Job Title : Assistant Manager - Engineering Manpower Resources - Payroll

Department : Engineering

MTA Agency : LIRR

Primary Location(s) : Queens, NY

Salary Range / Additional Compensation Details : $90,908 - $136,362

Union Affiliation : MPA

Closing Date (if applicable) : Open Until Filled

Shift (if applicable) : Regular

About your agency :

Chartered in 1834, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is the largest, busiest, and oldest continuously operating commuter railroad in the United States. In 2024, this 24 / 7 / 365 operation served 75.5 million riders on a system that stretches nearly 120 miles - from Penn Station and Grand Central Madison in Manhattan to Montauk on the eastern tip of Long Island.

Job Summary

Responsible for assisting with the managing, coordinating, administering, and planning of the payroll functions of the Engineering Department for both Division 1 and Division 5 payroll / employees. This position acts as back-up for reviewing, adjusting, and approving employees' timecards in CTAMS. Assists in ensuring the consistency of payroll-related administrative processes including those related to leaves, accrued time, and the handling of pay rules, reports, and queries in the payroll / time and attendance system. Responsible for providing input into internal departmental policy and procedural manuals related to payroll to ensure consistency among the various disciplines. Ensure proper application of collective bargaining agreements (CBA), implement changes for new contractual agreements, and provide guidance to Engineering operational departments and senior management to ensure compliance with payroll-related processes and procedures. This position directs and manages the day-to-day activities of the Resource Analysts and Payroll Specialists and ensures that payroll is processed on a weekly basis.

Duties And Responsibilities

Coordinate requests for and create / distribute biometric reports to Engineering managers. Maintain distribution lists based on promotions and transfers / awards.

Oversee processing of weekly Divisions 1 and 5 (CTAMS) payrolls.

Review all division 1 timecards in CTAMS to ensure that hours, pay rules, and calculations are correct. Review all entry in CTAMS for division 5 employees to verify attendance / pay is correct. Process pay adjustments for both divisions.

Direct administrative staff in department disciplines on application of union rules, CTAMS functions, and related departmental procedures.

Process, print, and verify all payroll reports and notate reports for distribution to the relative internal departments and external departments (HR, Payroll, etc.).

Review and prepare all payroll adjustments and reversals. Investigate and research all discrepancies and recommend appropriate payment / adjustment.

Review PAR submission spreadsheets for accuracy and submit changes through PeopleSoft.

Assist in managing the daily activities of staff with respect to payroll and administrative functions. Assist in evaluating current administrative processes within the department to ensure consistency amongst all Engineering disciplines and make recommendations to streamline processes to be more efficient.

Manage the payroll staff to ensure high level of production / performance to meet department goals. Manage and motivate staff. Approve and coordinate all time off and direct staff under all circumstances to ensure deadlines are met.

Develop and maintain an Engineering administrative and labor distribution procedural manual to develop consistent standards among the various disciplines.

Identify, analyze, and recommend viable solutions to payroll system problems.

Interface with the Engineering disciplines concerning the CTAMS payroll systems for Divisions 1 and 5 payrolls and establish working relationships with all disciplines.

Liaison with Payroll & Information Technology in the maintenance of CTAMS by communicating all necessary changes that affects the weekly / annual payroll by interpreting contractual changes and requesting addition of new rules / shifts that will affect payment to all division 1 and 5 employees. Evaluate and approve access to the system and determine the security access level for users.

Ensure all annual accruals (vacation, sick, personal days) are accurate and being charged correctly in the CTAMs system and coordinate with Human Resources to reconcile any discrepancies. Ensure accruals for (Military & FMLA) time are set-up and being charged correctly. Send weekly communication to Corporate Payroll for their final review of represented and non-represented payroll. Manage the LIRR Military Leave Policy and Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) within the Engineering Department. Ensure that employees are properly paid for related absences.

Serve as coordinator and trainer for CTAMS.

Select, develop and motivate personnel within the department. Provide career development for subordinates. Provide prompt and effective coaching and counseling. Responsible for discipline of employees under supervision.

Promote safe work practices and provide safe working conditions. Create a professional environment that respects individual differences and enables all employees to develop and contribute to their full potential. Review direct reports and approve performance appraisals.

Oversight and management of personnel changes. Ensure timely updating of PARs for wage progression, status changes, terminations and retirements. Assist in managing and tracking short-term / long-term disabled Engineering employees ensuring all required paperwork is completed in a timely manner and all status change information is accurately maintained in database / spreadsheet. Provide guidance to administration staff in department disciplines regarding LIRR policy and Engineering Department procedure on status changes.

Ensure that employees requesting / approved for leaves under these policies meet all requirements and provide appropriate documentation.

Maintain employee files and database / spreadsheet and ensure all required paperwork and information is obtained and distributed to necessary departments.

Provide guidance to administration staff in department disciplines regarding all leaves of absence.

Assist in managing vacation, personal and sick leave accruals for all Engineering employees.

Oversight of daily validation of all SLA-28 forms received and input in Department spreadsheet. Spreadsheet used to verify that an SLA-28 was submitted prior to processing the No Forms Submitted (NFS) adjustment. Process the weekly NFS adjustments in CTAMS relative to designating points for the Absence Control Process.

Perform other assignments as requested by Senior Management.

Required Education And Experience

Must possess a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related business / financial field. An additional four years of demonstrated, directly related, equivalent experience and education may be considered in lieu of the degree.

Must possess a minimum of four years of related administrative / payroll experience.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Must possess working knowledge of labor / payroll distribution systems (e.g., Kronos / CTAMS or related system).

Must possess supervisory experience, preferably with a clerical / office administration staff.

Must possess strong analytical skills and problem-solving skills.

Must possess strong and effective communication and interpersonal skills with ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.

Must have the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and establish priorities to meet deadlines.

Must possess demonstrated ability to develop and implement administrative procedures and processes.

Must possess experience with and / or understanding of collective bargaining agreements.

Must possess strong computer skills, with working knowledge of various software packages (i.e., Word, Excel, and Outlook).

Must possess a strong work ethic, demonstrated professionalism, and a high degree of integrity, as well as a strong awareness of confidentiality.

Must be a self-motivated individual with the ability to motivate and influence others in a positive and productive manner to meet departmental / corporate goals.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in an LIRR operating department.

Strong knowledge of LIRR divisional operations and corporate policies and procedures.

Benefits

Commuting Assistance - based on operating MTA agency (complimentary transportation pass within the MTA's jurisdiction and tax-advantaged accounts)

Low Premium - High Quality Health Insurance Plans (lifetime coverage for eligible retirees and their dependents)

Pension plans and retirement savings accounts for eligible employees

Generous Paid Time Off and Holidays provided.

Tuition Reimbursement for eligible employees

Employee Assistance Programs

MTA Exclusive Employee Discount Programs

Work Life Services team and Office of the Chaplains unit

Employee Resource Groups