CDHS Only - Accountant III - Leave Payroll Manager

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); Hybride; USD 85 000 - 120 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) seeks a Leave Manager to provide leadership and oversight of payroll and timekeeping leave administration. You will supervise staff, ensure compliant leave programs (FMLA, medical leaves, etc.), and coordinate with HR, Benefits, and payroll to maintain accurate payments and timely designations.

This role requires strong knowledge of applicable laws and dept policies, plus skills in process improvements, audits, and staff development.

Qualifications

• Eight years of relevant experience in payroll, HR, supervision, or related leave work.
• CPA licensure by the Colorado Board of Accountancy counts for six years.
• 27 semester hours in accounting or auditing are required.

Responsabilités

• Supervise assigned staff and provide guidance on payroll and timekeeping duties.
• Ensure compliance with FLSA, IRS, PERA, and state regulations across payroll and leave.
• Review and improve payroll/timekeeping processes and reporting.
• Coordinate with HR, Benefits, and auditors, and support system assessments.

Connaissances

Attention to detail

System interactions

Communications skills

Customer service

Data analytics

Supervisory experience

MS Office Excel/Access

CORE (Advantage)

Public-sector accounting experience

State service

Accounting principles in human‑service

Formation

27 accounting/auditing semester hours

CPA licensure (Colorado) counts for 6 years

Outils

CORE (Advantage)

MS Office (Excel/Access)

Description du poste

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Remote Work/Hybrid: In office 2 days a week, Remote 3 days a week

Fort Logan/1575 Sherman

About this Unit

The Payroll and Timekeeping Unit at CDHS is responsible for processing accurate and timely payroll for over 5,500 employees across the state of Colorado. CDHS operates 12 distinct programs, including executive offices, 2 mental health institutes, 3 regional centers, the Division of Youth Services, the Behavioral Health Administration, and 4 veterans’ homes. We support multiple pay cycles—monthly, biweekly, and 7k schedules—each with its own complexities and requirements.

About this Position

The Leave Manager provides leadership and oversight of the Payroll and Timekeeping Unit's leave administration functions within the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). This position supervises assigned staff and ensures the accurate, timely, and compliant administration of employee leave programs, including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), medical leaves of absence, and other applicable state and federal leave programs.

This position works closely with Human Resources, Benefits, and other agency partners to coordinate leave eligibility reviews, medical certifications, timely leave designations, and related HR determinations. The Leave Manager ensures effective communication and coordination among employees, supervisors, payroll, and HR partners to support accurate leave administration while maintaining compliance with applicable laws, state personnel rules, and departmental policies.

The position also oversees payroll and timekeeping activities associated with employee leave, ensuring accurate employee payments, benefit deductions, payroll adjustments, reconciliations, and reporting. Additional responsibilities include supporting internal and external audits, addressing compliance deficiencies, developing and updating procedures, and implementing process improvements to strengthen operational efficiency and accountability.

As a supervisor, the Leave Manager is responsible for assigning work, monitoring performance, establishing operational standards, providing staff training, and ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery. This position plays a critical role in maintaining effective leave administration practices, strengthening partnerships with Human Resources and Benefits, and ensuring employees receive accurate and timely leave-related services.

Summary of Duties

Supervision

• Supervises assigned subordinates which could include interviewing, training, planning work schedules, leave approval and performance evaluations. Provides payroll and timekeeping guidance and supplies input for job performance evaluation. reviews written communications generated by the department staff for internal compliance and accuracy to assess both performance and training needs. Monitors staff proficiency in assigned duties in order to assess the need for intervention or to recognize success for further skills utilization. Provides guidance to all subordinates regarding policies and procedures. Analyzes changing federal and state rules, selects the most effective and efficient process, implements, and provides direction to necessary staff.

Compliance and Customer Service

• Applies generally accepted accounting principles, federal, state and department rules and regulations to resolve non-routine issues, disputes and questions concerning hours worked, leave and overtime calculations, and payroll calculations and adjustments for employees. Reviews points in contention, negotiates and mediates a reasonable resolution while assessing if departmental process or procedure changes are necessary. Provides guidance and expertise to subordinate staff and customers in the areas of department assigned duties. Meets with employees and/or supervisors as necessary to explain generally accepted accounting principles, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures that apply to payroll and timekeeping functions. Ensures ongoing compliance with all relevant federal and state legislation, policies, and procedures affecting the assigned areas of responsibility, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA), Colorado Code of Regulations, Colorado WINS agreements, Department of Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director’s Administrative Procedures, and the State of Colorado Fiscal Rules.
• Promotes and maintains positive and effective relationships between the payroll team members, human resources, department timekeepers, supervisors, employees, Central Payroll, and other stakeholders. Acts as a liaison with Human Resources and Benefits/Risk Management. Establishes and implements appropriate procedures to prevent and/or resolve issues.
• Reviews existing and proposed legislation affecting employee benefits, timekeeping, payroll, and fiscal control functions and makes recommendations regarding the district’s position and required actions.

Review and Analysis

Determines compliance/noncompliance of payroll/timekeeping practices by researching federal and state rules, accounting practices and regulations. Identifies and resolves management issues that need improvement. Develops, establishes, modifies and implements procedures to maintain compliance.

• Analyzes problem areas and devises resolutions that assure the integrity of the resulting information. Implements altered or new procedures. Analyzes and formulates needed process changes within payroll/timekeeping, based on attendance at meetings requiring the payroll/timekeeping unit’s input, view point, participation, or concerning topics that may impact payroll/timekeeping functions and staff. Designs and implements appropriate plans of action.
• Participates in system assessment, design and roll out as applicable to assigned duties for both departmental and state wide systems and projects. Provides insight on over all impacts and participates in a leadership capacity within the payroll department

Back up CDHS Leave Supervisors/work leads (Accountant II's) & Payroll Administrator

• Serves as a back up to the other CDHS Leave Supervisors (Accountant II’s). and CDHS Payroll Administrator

Experience Only

• Eight (8) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position, specifically in Payroll, Human Resources, supervision, working with leave (FML, STD, military, FAMLI and donated leave).

Education and Experience

• A combination of related education (coursework requires 27 semester hours completed in accounting or auditing) and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to eight (8) years
• Current, valid licensure as a CPA by the Colorado Board of Accountancy will count for six (6) years of the requirement

Preferred Qualifications (preference will be given to candidates with these qualifications)

• Great attention to detail
• Understanding of details and system interactions
• Excellent communications skills
• Experience dealing with difficult situations and customers
• Great data analytic skills
• 2 years of supervisory experience
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office software, specifically Excel and Access and/or google products
• Demonstrated experience working with CORE (Advantage)
• Preference will be given to candidates with public-sector and/or government accounting experience
• Years of State service
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with program accounting principles and practices with human-services related programs
• Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate having greater depth of experience and knowledge related to accounting principles and practices.

Conditions of Employment

• Standard Background – Name check, TRAILS, CMS and JBITS
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Occasional travel, as needed, to facilities or other offices related to training and department requirements
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must

1. disclose that information on the application
2. provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position,
3. provide the employee number from the applicant’s prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS

Appeal Rights

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.
• You can find the official appeal form
• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

• By email ([e-mail]), or
• Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or
• Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or
• Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

• At [phone], or
• Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

Supplemental Information

• The Assessment Process

CDHS Selection Process Explanation

Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.

• Preferred Qualifications & Competencies
• Relevant years of state service experience

Minimum Qualification Screening Process

A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."

You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Comparative Analysis Process – Structured Application Review

After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve a review and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from an eSkills Test.

Your Work Experience/Job Duties

Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.

If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.

Supplemental Questions

Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

About Us & Benefits

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado.

Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
• Employee Wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.
• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment.

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to [e-mail].

EEO Statement

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL” of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Support For Your Application

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~