Job Details

JOB TITLE: Program Payroll Specialist

DIVISION: Youth Services 

DEPARTMENT: Youth Services 

LOCATION: Youth Reengagement Center – 9215 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48210

REPORTS TO: Youth Services Manager

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt/Hourly

CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time Regular 

APPROVED DATE: 4/16/2025

JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for planning, organizing, and controlling all payroll functions for the Year Round Youth work experience activities including maintenance of payroll system, internal controls, records, and the supervision of the day-to-day payroll processing operations. This role also has an Individual Training Account (ITA) component which assesses youth participant job readiness and employment needs and matches to training opportunities in high-growth, high demand occupations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Coordinates work flow and procedures for payroll.
2. Works with program staff and partners to process payroll for Year Round Youth work experience program participants.
3. Monitors payroll system and evaluates the payroll system’s internal controls and procedures and recommends changes as needed to ensure system integrity.  
4. Processes work experience payments for program participants, approves issuances of stipend payments and reviews and approves pay calculations.
5. Assists in ensuring the program goals and objectives are met as specified by funding sources and the Corporation.  Reports to supervisor on program progress and matters of concern.
6. Interacts with management information systems personnel on a regular basis to ensure accurate and timely processing and distribution of participant stipends.
7. Compiles program statistics and prepares related reports for management and funding source as directed.
8. Contributes to the team effort by performing other duties as assigned such as certifying youth, MIS functions and program support.
9. Refers customer for testing; reviews results with customer to determine training placement.
10. Enrolls customer into high-growth, high-demand training based on assessment results and career plan goals; completes required training enrollment forms and related documentation.
11. Serves as a liaison between customer and training provider.
12. Identifies problem areas and service gaps and assures implementation of service plans; identifies and prepares reports to supervisor on areas identified as barriers to services for customer and prepares a plan of action.
13. Conducts follow-up activities to monitor customer’s progress during training period and after achievement of educational goal; maintains related documentation. 
14. Performs visits to customers’ homes and training providers, as necessary.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Associate degree in Business Administration, Accounting or related field.  Bachelor’s degree preferred.  
2. Two to four years’ experience related to accounting and/or payroll.
3. Experience working with at-risk youth, foster youth, in/out of school youth, and youth agencies.
4. Knowledge of Federal and State tax laws pertaining to payroll function.
5. Bilingual language skills in English/Spanish preferred.
6. Computer skills necessary to effectively maintain a database and generate reports.
7. Interpersonal skills necessary to effectively communicate with staff, participants and partner agencies.
8. Valid Michigan driver’s license.   Incumbent must also have reliable means of transportation to travel to various locations outside of the office.
9. Must be willing to work a flexible schedule (evenings/weekends).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time, and have sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a phone, computer keyboard, and other office equipment. Must be able to lift a minimum of 10 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. -This job operates in a normal school environment with a noise level, which is at times, moderately loud with little discomfort due to noise, dirt, dust and the like. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person assigned to this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties and responsibilities that may be performed by a person so classified. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.