About this role
ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. This position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian mission of ACU. The Tax and Payroll Compliance Accountant is responsible for coordinating the University's institutional tax compliance and reporting activities, with primary emphasis on federal, state, local, and international tax requirements. The position also provides payroll tax compliance oversight and serves as a trained backup for payroll processing to support continuity during absences, peak periods, and other operational needs. The position works closely with Finance, Payroll, Human Resources, Benefits, Student Financial Services, Athletics, Procurement, and other departments to identify tax implications, maintain accurate filings and payments, support audits, research complex tax matters, reconcile payroll tax activity, and communicate compliance requirements to appropriate stakeholders.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
1. Federal and International Tax Compliance and Reporting
• Prepare schedules and coordinate the preparation, review, and finalization of the University's annual Form 990.
• Prepare schedules and coordinate the preparation and review of Form 990-T, including ongoing evaluation of University activities for potential unrelated business income tax (UBIT) exposure.
• Calculate and coordinate required quarterly and annual federal tax payments, including applicable payments through EFTPS for Forms 990-T and 1042.
• Prepare or oversee required federal and international tax filings, including Form 1042-S, FBAR, and Form 8300 reporting, as applicable.
• Monitor and respond to IRS notices, coordinating with University departments and external advisors as needed.
• Maintain complete documentation supporting federal and international tax filings, calculations, positions, and payments.
2. University Tax Compliance Oversight and Support
• Provide technical guidance and support for the University's Form 1098-T and Form 1099 reporting processes, including system and process issues.
• Identify, evaluate, and coordinate reporting of taxable fringe benefits for employee W-2 reporting.
• Evaluate tuition discounts and educational benefits provided to employees and dependents to determine appropriate tax treatment, including graduate-level tuition benefits.
• Provide guidance regarding the tax treatment of University payments, benefits, transactions, and programs.
• Develop and maintain tax procedures, calendars, workpapers, checklists, and documentation.
• Establish and monitor controls designed to support complete, accurate, and timely tax filings and payments.
3. State and Local Tax Compliance
• Calculate, prepare, and remit the University's monthly Texas sales tax obligations.
• Monitor activities for potential sales and use tax obligations and identify possible requirements in states other than Texas.
• Coordinate annual unclaimed property reporting to the State of Texas.
• Monitor changes in state and local tax laws and recommend appropriate process or procedural changes.
4. Payroll Tax Compliance
• Support accurate and timely federal, state, and local payroll tax withholding, deposits, filings, and payments.
• Prepare, review, or reconcile quarterly and annual employment tax reporting, including Forms 941, W-2, W-3, and applicable state and local filings.
• Reconcile payroll tax liabilities to payroll registers, tax filings, vendor records, and general ledger activity; research and resolve variances.
• Monitor payroll tax requirements for employees working in multiple states and local jurisdictions, including withholding, unemployment, registration, and reporting obligations.
• Research payroll tax implications related to remote work, employee relocations, taxable fringe benefits, educational benefits, nonresident aliens, and other special payments.
• Research and respond to payroll tax notices and coordinate corrections with Payroll, Finance, Human Resources, payroll vendors, and external advisors.
• Maintain payroll tax calendars, workpapers, procedures, records, and controls necessary to support filings, payments, audits, and year-end reporting.
5. Payroll Backup and Continuity Support
• Maintain sufficient knowledge of payroll schedules, procedures, systems, and controls to serve as a reliable backup payroll processor.
• Provide backup payroll processing support during staff absences, peak workloads, emergencies, or business continuity events.
• When serving as backup, review payroll inputs, exception reports, calculations, deductions, tax elections, and payroll totals in accordance with established procedures and controls.
• Assist with payroll balancing, correction of identified discrepancies, and completion of required payroll documentation when providing backup coverage.
• Participate in payroll cross-training, process documentation, testing, and continuity planning to maintain operational readiness.
6. Tax and Payroll Systems, Reconciliation, and Audits
• Maintain and validate tax and payroll tax data within Workday and related systems.
• Assist with system testing, upgrades, integrations, and enhancements affecting tax reporting, payroll tax, or backup payroll processing.
• Support internal and external tax, payroll tax, financial statement, and compliance audits.
• Generate tax, payroll tax, reconciliation, audit, and compliance reports and supporting documentation.
• Identify control or process gaps and recommend practical improvements to strengthen accuracy, compliance, efficiency, and continuity.
7. Consultation, Training, and Department Support
• Serve as a technical resource for institutional tax and payroll tax questions.
• Respond to employee and department questions regarding tax withholding, taxable benefits, and related tax matters, as appropriate.
• Provide guidance and training to Payroll, Human Resources, Finance, and departmental staff regarding tax requirements, documentation, and procedures.
• Maintain the confidentiality and security of employee payroll, tax, and personal information.
• Perform other duties as assigned that are consistent with the purpose and level of the position.
Supervisory Responsibilities
None. The position may provide training, technical guidance, and functional support to payroll and HR staff, as well as departmental administrators, on tax, payroll, and compliance requirements.
Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, taxation, business administration, or a related field.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in tax compliance, payroll administration, employment tax, accounting, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience preparing or supporting tax filings, payroll tax reporting, account reconciliations, and compliance documentation.
• Ability to learn and perform established payroll processes as a backup resource.
• Experience working with confidential employee and financial information.
• Strong analytical, research, reconciliation, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and enterprise financial or payroll technology.
Preferred Qualifications
• Five or more years of relevant tax and payroll compliance experience.
• Experience with nonprofit organizations, higher education, or other complex multi-entity environments.
• Experience serving as a backup payroll processor or supporting payroll continuity.
• Experience with multi-state payroll and employment tax compliance.
• Workday Financials or Workday Payroll experience.
• CPA, Certified Payroll Professional, master's degree in taxation, or another relevant professional credential.
• Experience supporting audits, taxable fringe benefit reporting, nonresident alien taxation, and faculty, adjunct, or student payroll populations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge
• Federal, state, local, and international tax requirements applicable to higher education and nonprofit organizations.
• Form 990, Form 990-T, Form 1042/1042-S, Form 1098-T, Forms 1099, Form 8300, FBAR, sales tax, unclaimed property, and taxable fringe benefit requirements.
• Federal, state, and local payroll tax withholding, reporting, deposits, and reconciliations.
• Accounting principles, audit support, internal controls, documentation, and record retention.
• General payroll processes and controls are sufficient to provide backup processing support.
Skills and Abilities
• Research and interpret complex tax laws, regulations, payroll requirements, IRS guidance, and state requirements.
• Process and review detailed tax and payroll data with a high degree of accuracy.
• Identify compliance risks, investigate discrepancies, and develop practical solutions.
• Manage multiple recurring deadlines and shifting priorities.
• Exercise sound judgment, work independently, and collaborate across organizational functions.
• Communicate technical information clearly to employees, managers, administrators, and external advisors.
• Maintain confidentiality, data integrity, and complete documentation.
Core Competencies
• Accuracy and Attention to Detail
• Tax and Payroll Compliance
• Accountability and Reliability
• Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Data Integrity and Confidentiality
• Customer Service and Communication
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Continuous Improvement
• Technical Proficiency
• Stewardship
Professional Development and Training
• Annual continuing education regarding University financial reporting, payroll, tax compliance, and internal controls.
• Workday training applicable to financial, payroll, reporting, and employee data responsibilities.
• Continuing education regarding international student and employee taxation and multi-state payroll compliance.
• Training on systems used by the University for payments, cashiering, commerce, payroll, tax reporting, and related activities.
Physical and Work Environment Requirements
• Work is generally performed in an office or hybrid work environment.
• Extensive use of computers, financial systems, payroll systems, and office technology.
• Ability to sit for extended periods and perform detailed computer-based work.
• Frequent interaction with employees, managers, Finance, Human Resources, and external advisors.
• Occasional extended hours may be required during payroll processing cycles, tax filing periods, audits, quarter-end, or year-end activities.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions.
Time Demands
The position must remain available during critical payroll processing cycles, tax filing deadlines, quarter-end and year-end activities, and the annual financial statement audit. Vacation availability may be limited during peak compliance and audit periods based on operational needs.
ACU does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, genetic information, national or ethnic origin in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal law.
ACU is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment and protecting the university's financial and physical assets. Therefore, Abilene Christian University conducts background checks on all candidates for employment in security sensitive positions. As a current employee, it will be determined if you need an additional background check upon your hire.