24/25 SY - PAYROLL SPECIALIST (CC 3270)

Phoenix Union High School District; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Phoenix is seeking a Payroll Specialist to manage payroll processes, tax reports, and staff training. The ideal candidate will have strong accounting knowledge and excellent communication skills, ensuring accurate payroll management and compliance with regulations.

Benefits

Highly Competitive Pay

Comprehensive Employee Benefits

Participation in Arizona State Retirement System

Education Loan Forgiveness

Vacation and Personal Leave Plans

Paid Winter and Spring Breaks

Qualifications

• 5 years of accounting or payroll related experience.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Processes payroll, tax reports, and W-2’s for assigned campuses.
• Balances payroll and check processing, disbursements, and other biweekly jobs.
• Trains Payroll Technicians on standardized guidelines and processes.

Skills

Accounting principles

Computer software utilization

Customer service

Communication

Education

High School diploma or GED

Associate’s Degree in Accounting

Job description

Position Type:
Classified Payroll/ PAYROLL SPECIALIST

Date Posted:
5/8/2025

Location:
CEE- PAYROLL

Closing Date:
05/21/2025

Operates terminal daily to correct and retrieve payroll and voluntary deduction data. Processes personnel action requests to include new hire, job changes, terminations, calculations, and contract adjustments as needed.

Prepares, inputs, and processes payroll requisitions for additional and special pay. Maintains employee files and provides requested documents during annual audit.

Responds to calls and emails; provides information to employees and others as requested; researches and resolves missing pay requests. Assists with filling out payroll forms.

Inputs and enrolls employees in time clock system. Provides information to hourly employees regarding reported hours for pay. Collaborates with Time Clock Technician to ensure hourly employees on unpaid LOA do not receive unearned pay. Provides information regarding absence reporting.

Balances payroll and check processing, disbursements, and other biweekly jobs. Verifies checks are disbursed to appropriate locations and garnishments are calculated accurately. Reviews and approves requests for cancellations and reissue of payroll warrants.

Reconciles and audits all District payroll related checking accounts to include ASRS, Federal/State tax, employee insurance, and direct deposit accounts.

Prepares quarterly 941 reports to ensure proper reconciliation between 941’s and payroll balancing report for appropriate review. Works closely with Payroll Manager in preparing W-2's and ensure proper reconciliation between all four quarters.

Performs clerical and accounting duties of a complex nature in preparing, adjusting, processing and verifying district payrolls. This includes manual calculations to ensure the accuracy of the information. Prepares a proper payroll balancing report for each payroll run (pay period)

Works directly with various software vendors including time keeping vendor to ensure processes run efficiently. Stays abreast of the latest software updates occurring throughout the year.

Assigns, schedules, and supervises the work of assigned staff. Trains Payroll Technicians on standardized guidelines and processes and software updates.

Supports the relationship between the Phoenix Union High School District and the public by demonstrating courteous and professional behavior when interacting with students, parents, visitors, and school staff; maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, client records, and school information; follows Governing Board Policies; performs all other related duties as required or assigned.

Knowledge of accounting principles and practices and automated accounting systems

Ability to utilize computer software to create spreadsheets, databases, and word processing documents

Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines, reassign priorities quickly, and exercise resourcefulness in addressing new problems.

Knowledge of federal and state tax regulations as applicable to payroll.

Ability to interpret District employee handbooks.

Skill in writing professional reports and correspondence from brief instructions.

Ability to type and enter data with speed and accuracy.

Skill in understanding, explaining, and applying relevant rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Skill in researching and compiling data for reports, presentations, and technical documents.

Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and procedures.

Abilityto communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Ability to provide excellent customer experiences, including but not limited to interacting tactfully and courteously with the public.

Commitment to create and sustain a thriving learning and working environment for students and staff.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to use initiative within organizational policies, procedures and guidelines.

Highly Competitive Pay

Comprehensive Employee Benefits

Participation in Arizona State Retirement System

Education Loan Forgiveness (If eligible)

Vacation and Personal Leave Plans (for eligible positions)

Paid Winter and Spring Breaks

Equal Opportunity Employer

PAYROLL SPECIALIST

DEPARTMENT: Accounting & Payroll SALARY SCHEDULE: Classified LOCATION: CEE WORK YEAR: 12 Months

GRADE 12
STARTING HOURLY RATE: $25.68- $26.86 (PLACEMENT DEPENDS ON SIMILAR EXPERIENCE HELD AND EDUCATION)

ThePhoenix Union High School District is proud to serve a diverse population of 28,000 students and 4,000 employees in Arizona’s capital city. With a portfolio of comprehensive schools, small specialty schools, support schools, micro schools, magnet programs, and extensive Career & Technical Education (CTE) offerings, PXU’s schools of opportunity welcome, love, and inspire all students to go places and do things that matter.

SUMMARY:

The Payroll Specialist processes payroll, tax reports, and W-2’s for assigned campuses, reviews the work of the techs, trains them, and processes more of the high-level procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Operates terminal daily to correct and retrieve payroll and voluntary deduction data. Processes personnel action requests to include new hire, job changes, terminations, calculations, and contract adjustments as needed.

Prepares, inputs, and processes payroll requisitions for additional and special pay. Maintains employee files and provides requested documents during annual audit.

Responds to calls and emails; provides information to employees and others as requested; researches and resolves missing pay requests. Assists with filling out payroll forms.

Inputs and enrolls employees in time clock system. Provides information to hourly employees regarding reported hours for pay. Collaborates with Time Clock Technician to ensure hourly employees on unpaid LOA do not receive unearned pay. Provides information regarding absence reporting.

Balances payroll and check processing, disbursements, and other biweekly jobs. Verifies checks are disbursed to appropriate locations and garnishments are calculated accurately. Reviews and approves requests for cancellations and reissue of payroll warrants.

Reconciles and audits all District payroll related checking accounts to include ASRS, Federal/State tax, employee insurance, and direct deposit accounts.

Prepares quarterly 941 reports to ensure proper reconciliation between 941’s and payroll balancing report for appropriate review. Works closely with Payroll Manager in preparing W-2's and ensure proper reconciliation between all four quarters.

Performs clerical and accounting duties of a complex nature in preparing, adjusting, processing and verifying district payrolls. This includes manual calculations to ensure the accuracy of the information. Prepares a proper payroll balancing report for each payroll run (pay period)

Works directly with various software vendors including time keeping vendor to ensure processes run efficiently. Stays abreast of the latest software updates occurring throughout the year.

Assigns, schedules, and supervises the work of assigned staff. Trains Payroll Technicians on standardized guidelines and processes and software updates.

Supports the relationship between the Phoenix Union High School District and the public by demonstrating courteous and professional behavior when interacting with students, parents, visitors, and school staff; maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, client records, and school information; follows Governing Board Policies; performs all other related duties as required or assigned.

The above essential functions are intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities and not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training, and Experience Guidelines:

High School diploma or GED equivalent, Associate’s Degree in Accounting or related field preferred; AND five years or accounting or payroll related experience; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

License and Certification Requirements:

Not Applicable

IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of accounting principles and practices and automated accounting systems
• Ability to utilize computer software to create spreadsheets, databases, and word processing documents
• Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines, reassign priorities quickly, and exercise resourcefulness in addressing new problems.
• Knowledge of federal and state tax regulations as applicable to payroll.
• Ability to interpret District employee handbooks.
• Skill in writing professional reports and correspondence from brief instructions.
• Ability to type and enter data with speed and accuracy.
• Skill in understanding, explaining, and applying relevant rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Skill in researching and compiling data for reports, presentations, and technical documents.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and procedures.
• Abilityto communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to provide excellent customer experiences, including but not limited to interacting tactfully and courteously with the public.
• Commitment to create and sustain a thriving learning and working environment for students and staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to use initiative within organizational policies, procedures and guidelines.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a standard office environment.

WHY WORK AT PXU

The Phoenix Union High School District is one of the state’s largest employers. Our 4,000 education professionals are committed to providing an excellent learning environment for our students while enjoying an inspiring work environment.

• Highly Competitive Pay

• Comprehensive Employee Benefits

• Participation in Arizona State Retirement System

• Education Loan Forgiveness (If eligible)

• Vacation and Personal Leave Plans (for eligible positions)

• Paid Winter and Spring Breaks

The Board is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in relation to race, colo r, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or sexual orientation, as well as gender identity, gender expression and immigration status. This policy will prevail in all matters concerning staff members, students, the public, educational programs and services, and individuals with whom the Board does business.

DIVISION:

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

SUPERVISION GIVEN:

Finance

Payroll Manager

None

Action

Prepared by:

Review by:

Effective Date

Revised

PSPC

GB/CEA/Talent

07/01/2021