HR Systems Intern

At Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI), we are dedicated to providing our customers with friendly, personalized, high-quality financial services and products. Our retail division, Community Bank, N.A., operates more than 200 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts. Beyond retail banking, we also offer commercial banking, wealth management, investment management, insurance and risk management, and benefit plan administration.

Just as our employees are committed to helping our customers manage their finances, we're committed to our employees. After all, they make it happen for our customers every day.

To ensure our people can enjoy long and successful careers here at CFSI, we offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and professional development and advancement opportunities. As an equal-opportunity workplace and affirmative-action employer, we celebrate and support a diverse workplace for the benefit of all: our employees, customers and communities.

The HR Systems Intern will support the technical side of HR by working primarily with our Human Capital Management (HCM) systems and related tools. This role is ideal for someone with strong technical curiosity and aptitude who enjoys working with data, systems, and emerging technologies such as AI assistants and agents.

The intern will focus on entry-level aspects of the work performed by our HR Systems Specialist-supporting HR system configuration, data quality, user support, reporting, and documentation-with limited traditional HR administrative work. You do not need an HR background; students or early-career professionals in Information Systems, Computer Science, Data/Business Analytics, or related fields are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

HR Systems / HCM Support (Primary Focus)

• Perform data entry and updates in the HCM system (e.g., changes to employee information, organizational data), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
• Assist with basic system support for HR, Payroll, and Benefits users by:
  • Helping troubleshoot simple navigation or access questions
  • Documenting user issues and routing more complex problems to HR Systems, IT, or vendors
• Support data integrity and quality by:
  • Running standard reports or queries to identify missing, duplicate, or inconsistent data
  • Reviewing and correcting straightforward data issues under supervision
• Participate in system testing and validation activities for upgrades, enhancements, and integrations by:
  • Executing test scripts and documenting results
  • Logging defects or unexpected behavior for review
• Assist with system configuration and documentation, such as:
  • Updating reference tables, dropdown values, or simple rules as directed
  • Documenting configuration decisions, process flows, and step-by-step procedures
• Help generate and refine reports and analytics using the HCM system and other tools.

AI & Automation Support

• Collaborate with HR Systems and HR team members to explore opportunities to use AI assistants and agents to improve HR processes and user experience.
• Assist in designing and documenting prompts, workflows, and knowledge bases that AI tools can use to support HR, employees, and managers.
• Help test AI-powered solutions (such as chat-based assistants, automated responses, or workflow agents), document issues, and suggest refinements.
• Support the creation of guides and training materials help HR and end users effectively interact with AI tools.
• Research and summarize best practices and emerging trends in applying AI within HR and business operations, as requested.

Light HR Administrative Support (Secondary / As Needed)

• Provide limited support for HR administrative tasks related to systems work, such as:
  • Helping with onboarding tasks that connect to the HCM system (e.g. verifying system-triggered tasks)
• Support preparation of HR-related communications and documentation that explain system changes, new features, or AI tools to employees.

General Responsibilities

• Maintain strict confidentiality of employee and company information and adhere to data privacy and security standards.
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail and a commitment to data accuracy and system reliability.
• Collaborate with HR, Payroll, Benefits, IT, and vendors, reflecting company values of integrity, teamwork, excellence, and humility.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve system usability, data quality, and automation and share observations with the HR Systems team.
• Support other HR technology projects and duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Data/Business Analytics, Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent technical experience/aptitude).
• Strong technical curiosity and comfort learning new systems, tools, and concepts quickly.
• Interest in AI technologies, AI assistants/agents, and how they can be applied to real business processes.
• Solid analytical and problem-solving skills, especially working with structured data.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Word; familiarity with databases, scripting, or reporting tools is a plus.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document processes and explain technical concepts in simple terms.
• High level of attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy, security, and compliance.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across HR, IT, and other stakeholders.
• All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Hours: Approximately 32 hours a week, Monday-Thursday

Compensation: Commensurate with experience plus potential for annual merit increase. In addition to your competitive salary, you will be rewarded benefits including: 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, Medical, Vision & Dental insurance, 401K with generous match, Pension, Tuition Reimbursement, Banking discounts and the list goes on!

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to stand, walk or sit. Use hands and fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands or arms, and speak and hear. The employee may occasionally be required to lift and or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to focus.

The Company is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

The Company will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with a disability. If you have a physical or mental impairment and would like to request an accommodation with respect to the application process, please contact the Human Resources Department.