Auditor's Payroll Technician - Confidential

Starting salary up to $43.85/hour ($91,520/year), plus an additional $1.50/hour confidential premium, and a competitive total compensation package.

Responsibilities

• Conducting analyses and evaluating difficult and complex payroll problems
• Auditing payroll data/transactions/accounts to ensure compliance with regulations and procedures
• Maintaining confidential employee files
• Acting as a liaison to County departments, employees, insurance carriers, and service suppliers to ensure correct administration of employee salaries and benefits
• Correctly applying a broad knowledge of state and federal tax laws and regulations and the County's Civil Service Rules
• Providing excellent customer service to employees and other agencies
• Reading, interpreting, explaining, and implementing aspects of 11 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), the Salary Resolution, and a variety of County policies and procedures

Requirements

The ideal candidate will be a payroll professional with at least two years of payroll/accounting and/or auditing experience. They will also possess many of the following:

• A passion for guiding others through the county payroll process and being comfortable presenting to departments and other Payroll Clerks
• The ability to exercise considerable discretion and judgment in resolving payroll issues
• Attention to detail to ensure accuracy for auditing incoming payroll data
• Experience performing research, data compilation, and taking corrective action as needed
• Excellent customer service skills, with the ability to communicate professionally with a wide range of customers
• Familiarity with human resources and financial data systems such as HRIS, UKG Dimensions, and EFS (Enterprise Financial Systems)

About the Office

The Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector's (ACTTC) Office provides a broad range of quality accounting, financial reporting, auditing, collection, financing, and investing services to County departments, agencies, districts, and the public. Its mission is to provide reliable and relevant financial services in an efficient, ethical, and effective manner to the citizens of Sonoma County while promoting fiscal responsibility and accountability.

The Office is composed of nine divisions, overseen by an executive management team that includes the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector and three Assistants. ACTTC is staffed by 107 full-time employees and has an annual budget of approximately $167 million.

Benefits

• Confidential Premium - Positions designated "Confidential" receive an additional $1.50/hour premium on top of the hourly pay rate
• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $1250 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Incentive Retirement Savings Plan (IRSP) and 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation - 1.9% of salary County contribution to a 401(a), in addition to the County matching up to 1% of base salary in 401(a), based upon employee contribution
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief – County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

Qualifications

Experience: Any combination of work experience which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, two years of recent payroll experience, preferably with a public agency, would provide such opportunity.

Education: Any combination of education which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, academic courses in business administration, legal practices, bookkeeping, auditing and/or accounting would provide this opportunity. A Certified Payroll Professional Certificate (CPP) is desirable.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position. The position advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Skills

Considerable knowledge of:

• Legal statutes, civil procedures, federal and state taxing regulations, including liability and penalties for non-compliance
• Memoranda of understanding with unions, unrepresented and contract employees
• Penalties which may be levied for failure to follow court-ordered payroll deductions
• Principles and practices of payroll administration
• Modern office principles and procedures

Working knowledge of:

• Accounting principles and practices
• Research methodology and basic statistics
• The operations and functions of County government, including budget methods, problem analysis, and employee relations
• Computer programs used to process payroll
• Current and pending tax and benefit legislation as applied to payroll

Ability to:

• Investigate difficult and complex payroll problems and process correcting entries
• Manage and maintain complex payroll records to ensure legal requirements are met
• Be sensitive to political issues that arise within the context of payroll, litigation, and settlement determination
• Assist in developing effective policies and procedures to meet all payroll requirements
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, ordinances, and regulations within the context of payroll
• Plan, organize, and research statistical work relating to various aspects of payroll management
• Establish and maintain cooperative and harmonious working relationships with co-workers, staff, and other departments and employees who are seeking information
• Operate electronic information system equipment at a speed of 40 words per minute