Payroll and Accounting Specialist

Primary Purpose

The Payroll and Accounting Specialist under the direct supervision of the Director of Business Services is responsible for administering the school district's payroll functions and supporting the district's accounting and bookkeeping operations. This position ensures payroll is processed accurately and timely, maintains payroll-related records, supports financial reporting and reconciliation processes, and helps ensure compliance with district procedures, internal controls, and applicable federal, state, and regulatory requirements.

Essential Functions

• Processes district payroll in accordance with established practices, ensuring accurate program, fund, account, and employee distributions for timely and accurate payment of district employees.
• Enters, updates, and maintains payroll information in the payroll processing system, including wages, salaries, stipends, deductions, benefits, retirement, federal and state taxes, direct deposit information, and other payroll-related data.
• Reviews payroll data for accuracy, completeness, and compliance prior to payroll processing.
• Maintains employee payroll records and documentation in accordance with district policies and applicable record retention requirements.
• Sets up and maintains direct deposit information to ensure proper deposit of payroll payments.
• Authorizes and processes manual payroll checks or payroll adjustments, as approved, for the purpose of resolving errors or meeting special compensation requirements.
• Researches and resolves payroll discrepancies, employee questions, and documentation issues to ensure accuracy and timely correction.
• Collaborates with district personnel, supervisors, Human Resources, and benefit providers to maintain accurate payroll, leave, benefit, and deduction information.
• Prepares, reviews, and distributes annual tax documents, including W-2 statements.
• Inputs, reviews, and reconciles attendance and leave information.
• Aids with federal, state, retirement, benefit, and other payroll-related reporting requirements.
• Fulfills payroll reporting procedures and internal controls to ensure timely and accurate completion of district, state, federal, and other required reports.
• Supports bookkeeping and accounting functions, deposits, reconciliations, and other financial transactions as assigned.
• Reviews, codes, enters, and reconciles financial transactions in accordance with the district chart of accounts and established accounting procedures.
• Aids with monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing processes, including payroll reconciliation, liability reconciliation, benefit reconciliation, and general ledger review.
• Maintains accurate financial records and supporting documentation for audit, reporting, and internal control purposes.
• Implements assigned programs, procedures, and projects to support compliance with administrative, district, state, and federal requirements.
• Maintains confidentiality of payroll, personnel, financial, and district information.

Additional Duties

Performs other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective operation of the Business Services Department and the district's accounting system.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of payroll processing procedures, wage and hour laws, payroll deductions, benefits, taxes, and related federal and state regulations.
• Knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping principles, including account coding, reconciliations, internal controls, and general ledger procedures.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to process payroll and financial transactions accurately and timely.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and supporting documentation.
• Ability to reconcile payroll, benefits, deductions, accounts, and financial data.
• Ability to identify, research, and resolve payroll and accounting discrepancies.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, perform complex arithmetic operations, and use calculators and spreadsheets.
• Ability to understand, apply, and use computers and software applications, including Word, Excel, Google Sheets, payroll systems, accounting systems, and financial software.
• Ability to problem-solve job-related issues and recommend corrective action when appropriate.
• Ability to process paperwork accurately according to standardized procedures.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of payroll, personnel, financial, and other district information.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, vendors, benefit providers, auditors, and others contacted in the course of work.

Qualification Profile

Any combination of education and experience providing the required skills and knowledge for successful performance would be qualifying. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to: Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business, Finance, Bookkeeping, or a related field preferred; Coursework or experience in business, math, accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, and record keeping preferred; Bookkeeping, accounting, reconciliation, or school finance experience preferred; Experience with payroll, accounting, timekeeping, and spreadsheet software preferred.

Application Information

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To apply, please complete the district application through the employment tab at re-2.org.

Contact Information

Questions regarding this position may be directed to Jessica Fillmore at jfillmore@re-2.org.