Accounting Technician (Payroll)

Santa Clara Valley Water District; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Valley Water is seeking a detail-oriented Accounting Technician (Payroll) to join the General Accounting Unit within the Financial Planning and Management Services Division. You will support the biweekly payroll process, review timesheets, maintain payroll records, and handle deductions and wage garnishments.

Ideal candidates will have 3 years of accounting/payroll experience, familiarity with Infor/Dayforce/PeopleSoft/SAP, strong Excel and customer service skills, and the ability to resolve

Qualifications

• 3 years of accounting/payroll or related experience, preferably in the public sector.
• Experience with automated financial systems such as Infor, Dayforce, PeopleSoft or SAP.
• Experience providing payroll-related customer service and resolving inquiries.

Responsibilities

• Set up and maintain employee direct deposit information and payroll deductions.
• Review and process timesheets, leave-related entries, and wage garnishments.
• Process payroll adjustments and respond to employee payroll inquiries.
• Distribute payroll checks and direct deposit slips; ensure compliance.
• Handle leave donations and file payroll-related documents.

Skills

Payroll inquiries handling

Customer service

Communication

Attention to detail

Time management

Education

12th grade + 2 years college in accounting/related field

Tools

Infor

Dayforce

PeopleSoft

SAP

Job description

Overview

Valley Water is seeking a detail-oriented and dependable Accounting Technician (Payroll) to join our General Accounting Unit within the Financial Planning and Management Services Division. This position plays an essential role in ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while supporting the smooth operation of Valley Water’s biweekly payroll process.

In this role, you will perform a variety of technical payroll functions, including reviewing and processing timesheets, maintaining employee payroll records, processing payroll adjustments, and managing deductions, wage garnishments, and leave-related transactions. You will also assist employees with payroll inquiries, resolve discrepancies, and help ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures, and regulations.

We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively. By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protections, and environmental stewardship.

Valley Water’s mission is to provide Santa Clara County with safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment, and economy. The FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget of $1.284 billion supports approximately 876 employees. With headquarters in San José, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.

Who We Are

To learn how Valley Water provides safe, clean water and environmental stewardship for the Santa Clara community, please click here.

Key Responsibilities

• Set up and maintain employee direct deposit information, tax data, allowances, and other payroll deductions. Process and maintain wage garnishment orders and related payroll deductions.
• Complete missing timesheets for biweekly payroll. Review leave without pay timesheets and holiday-related entries. Process Accounts Payable check requests for returned direct deposits, process leave donations, and file payroll-related documents.
• Enter plant operators' paper timesheets and leave-of-absence timesheets into the payroll system.
• Review and process prior-period timesheet adjustments, including on-call and jobsite pay.
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries, answer payroll hotline calls, and distribute payroll checks and direct deposit slips.

Ideal Candidate’s Background Includes

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience

• 3 years of increasingly responsible accounting, payroll support, accounts payable or financial records experience, preferably in the public sector.
• Experience in using automated financial systems such as Infor, Dayforce, PeopleSoft, SAP or similar enterprise-systems.
• Experience providing customer service to employees and managers related to payroll, timesheet, leave-related questions, or other payroll-related inquiries.

Ideal Skills and Abilities

• Ability to proficiently use Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and web-based programs, or equivalent.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally.
• Ability to interpret and apply payroll procedures, policies, collective bargaining agreement provisions, and applicable federal and state requirements.
• Ability to identify discrepancies, research issues, and process corrections within established payroll deadlines.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple recurring tasks in a deadline-driven biweekly payroll environment.

Ideal Knowledge

• Knowledge of basic accounting and payroll principles, practices, procedures, and terminology.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state payroll, tax-withholding, and wage-garnishment requirements.

Ideal Training and Education

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by two years of college level course work in accounting, business administration or a related field.

No License is required for this position.

General Accounting Unit (Position Code 213)

Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite, after completion of the probationary period (one year).

(1) The selection process may include one or more of the following: application review, application assessment, performance exercise, written exercise and/or interview.

(2) The Employment Application, Qualifying Information Questions and/or Supplemental Questions will be evaluated based on the ideal candidate criteria listed above. Resumes are highly recommended.

NOTE: Position and start date is subject to availability of funds. Valley Water retains the right to repost this position as deemed necessary.

Consideration may be given to existing applicant pools within the same classification.

Valley Water's Equal Opportunity Non-Discrimination Policy is available for review upon request.

Valley Water will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please advise Human Resources in advance of any special needs by calling 408-630-2260.

Please be aware that once submitted all application materials become the property of Valley Water and will not be returned. Human Resources staff are not authorized to make copies of application materials for applicants.