Job Summary

The Accountant 2 supports the full payroll function for the university by balancing payrolls, maintaining reconciliation spreadsheets, and collaborating with Human Resources to resolve discrepancies. Responsibilities include entering employee deductions, maintaining accurate payroll and employee records, processing vendor payments, and entering key payroll data such as direct deposits and W 4 information. The role also reconciles the insurance billing from the State of Tennessee Edison system against the payroll deduction register, researches and resolves variances, calculates state insurance withdrawals, and initiates required bank transfers. Additional duties include supervising student workers, transmitting FSA and HAS deductions to vendors, monitoring departmental payroll communications, reconciling general ledger accounts, preparing journal vouchers, coordinating office equipment maintenance, and processing orders through the electronic procurement system. Other related duties are performed as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of policies, practices, and procedures as they relate to personnel and payroll
• Knowledge of computers and database systems
• Skill in making mathematical computations
• Skill in using personal applications for word processing, spreadsheets, and databases
• Ability to meet daily, weekly, and monthly deadlines
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitive information
• Ability to maintain tasks of a highly detailed and technical nature
• Ability to prioritize and multitask with frequent interruptions
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of employees
• Ability to function and communicate effectively with individuals and in groups
• Ability to respond to customers tactfully and courteously
• Ability to work in stressful situations where deadlines are required

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business supplemented by 24 semester hours of accounting and two years of accounting experience
  OR
• An equivalent combination of education and work experience

(Will consider those applicants pursuing their degree with a conferred date no later than 6 months after the hire date).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a Higher Education institution
• 1-2 years of experience in payroll
• Experience with Oracle HCM Cloud Payroll

Compensation and Benefits

• Job Family - Financial Professional 1
• Salary – Market Range 7 (Salary Schedules)
• For information on employee benefits, please visit Instructions
  • Exempt positions are only required to be posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. The closing date for this posting is subject to change without notice to applicants.
  • Copy of transcripts (may be unofficial)
  • (3) three references (available upon request)
  • Employment is contingent on a satisfactory background check.

  ETSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer

  University Overview

  East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is an institution with over 14,000 diverse students,, highly ranked graduate and undergraduate programs. Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Tennessee, ETSU serves as a hub for community, discovery, and service. Aligned with the institution's mission, we value efforts to engage in teaching, scholarship, creative activities, and service that involve community partners and address significant societal needs in our region and beyond. Recognized in 2024 as a Great College to Work For, recent strategic initiatives prioritize the institution’s focus on community engagement.

  Disclaimer: The Job Summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work individuals perform in this classification. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Management reserves the right to revise the job or require different tasks to be performed as assigned to reflect changes in the position. Employees must be able to perform the position’s essential functions satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.

The Accountant 2 supports the full payroll function for the university by balancing payrolls, maintaining reconciliation spreadsheets, and collaborating with Human Resources to resolve discrepancies. Responsibilities include entering employee deductions, maintaining accurate payroll and employee records, processing vendor payments, and entering key payroll data such as direct deposits and W 4 information. The role also reconciles the insurance billing from the State of Tennessee Edison system against the payroll deduction register, researches and resolves variances, calculates state insurance withdrawals, and initiates required bank transfers. Additional duties include supervising student workers, transmitting FSA and HAS deductions to vendors, monitoring departmental payroll communications, reconciling general ledger accounts, preparing journal vouchers, coordinating office equipment maintenance, and processing orders through the electronic procurement system. Other related duties are performed as assigned. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of policies, practices, and procedures as they relate to personnel and payroll. Knowledge of computers and database systems. Skill in making mathematical computations. Skill in using personal applications for word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. Ability to meet daily, weekly, and monthly deadlines. Ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitive information. Ability to maintain tasks of a highly detailed and technical nature. Ability to prioritize and multitask with frequent interruptions. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of employees. Ability to function and communicate effectively with individuals and in groups. Ability to respond to customers tactfully and courteously. Ability to work in stressful situations where deadlines are required Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business supplemented by 24 semester hours of accounting and two years of accounting experience. OR An equivalent combination of education and work experience (Will consider those applicants pursuing their degree with a conferred date no later than 6 months after the hire date). Preferred Qualifications Experience working in a Higher Education institution 1-2 years of experience in payroll. Experience with Oracle HCM Cloud Payroll Compensation and Benefits. Job Family - Financial Professional 1 Salary – Market Range 7 (Salary Schedules)For information on employee benefits, please visit

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