Payroll Specialist

About the role

The Payroll Specialist administers the payroll process for the City, including processing payroll, filing local, state, and federal tax returns, managing voluntary deduction reports, and maintaining fringe benefit accumulations. This role ensures compliance with tax laws, rules, and regulations for all department payrolls under the general supervision of the Deputy Director of Finance.

Responsibilities

• Reviews and processes personnel action forms for completeness and enters them into the payroll system; ensures compliance with Human Resources policies, City ordinances, union contracts, IRS, and Department of Labor regulations.
• Answers employee questions and telephone inquiries regarding payroll.
• Audits and balances payroll reports from all departments before entry into the computer system.
• Reviews and balances computer data reports.
• Confers with management staff regarding proposed payroll-related policy changes.
• Ensures compliance with all payroll tax activities, voluntary and involuntary deductions.
• Processes and reviews employee records for direct deposit and payroll checks.
• Processes and transmits direct deposit to the bank and follows up on related problems.
• Documents reports and check-runs for audit trails; confers with auditors regarding payroll processing, deductions, and files.
• Verifies employment for past and current employees.
• Complies with subpoenas for payroll records.
• Processes federal, Medicare, and state tax deposits.
• Compiles wage information and pension contributions for retirement purposes.
• Compiles, balances, and reports local government taxation reports, OBES labor statistics, state tax reports, OBES supplemental payroll reports, federal tax reports, EEO-4 reports, tax reports for school districts, Medicare 941, and W-2s.
• Balances and closes out the end of the payroll year.
• Reviews new laws relating to payroll and initiates changes to applicable rules and regulations.
• Creates accurate W-2s for all employees.
• Acts as liaison between City Hall and The Recreation and Wellness Campus for receipts, invoices, deposits, seasonal hire files, and other ad hoc duties.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or equivalent from an accredited two-year college or technical school.
• Two to four years of progressively responsible related experience.
• Any combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP).
• Knowledge of CMI, Oracle, and Right Stuff (timekeeping system).