Payroll Accountant

SAN-Diego-Community-College-District; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

CalPERS pension

Educational incentive

Tuition assistance

Holiday pay

Job summary

San Diego Community College District is seeking a District Office Accounting Specialist (Payroll Accountant) in the People, Culture, and Technology Services Division, located at the District Office in Mission Valley. hybrid scheduling available; hours Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm, with flexibility to adjust days/hours as needed.

The role involves payroll accounting responsibilities with emphasis on accuracy, compliance, and timely processing under a CalPERS-affiliated benefits program.

Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional ( CPP ) or Fundamental Payroll Certification ( FPC )
• Previous experience in payroll or accounting
• Thorough understanding of payroll taxes (federal, state, and local), benefits, and deductions
• Knowledge of various state and local payroll regulations, including tax rates

Skills

Attention to detail

Payroll processing

Communication

Discretion

Education

CPP or FPC certification

Tools

Excel

Job description

Posting Number

CL01946

Applications are currently being accepted for District Office Accounting Specialist (Payroll Accountant) in the People, Culture, and Technology Services Division, located at the District Office in Mission Valley. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm with hybrid and flexible scheduling available. Selected candidate must be willing to adjust work days/hours based on the department’s needs.

For advertising purposes, the Working Title, Payroll Accountant, is being used. The Classification Title is District Office Accounting Specialist.

Employee may be transferred to any site at the option of the Chancellor.

• New employees will begin on Step C ($5,353.79)
• Salary negotiation is not allowed.
• Promoted or transferred employees will be placed as specified in the Collective Bargaining Agreement ( CBA ).
• This position is FLSA Non-exempt (may accrue overtime).
• Excellent benefits are provided to all Contract employees with assignments greater than, or equal to, 50% (0.50 FTE) and all eligible dependents. See Additional Information for more details.

Benefits:

• 100% employer paid medical, dental, and vision
• $50,000 employer paid group term life insurance
• 16 paid holidays + winter recess off
• Educational incentive
• Tuition assistance
• CalPERS pension plus 403B and 457B options available.

Contract employees become members of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) upon appointment.

SDCCD provides a comprehensive fringe benefit package for its full-time classified employees. The district contributes toward the cost of the premium (including dependent coverage) for the medical insurance plan options. Additional benefits include dental, vision, sick leave, vacation and opportunities for professional development.

Desired Qualifications

Experience & Knowledge:

• Certified Payroll Professional ( CPP ) or Fundamental Payroll Certification ( FPC )
• Previous experience in payroll or accounting
• Thorough understanding of payroll taxes (federal, state, and local), benefits, and deductions
• Knowledge of various state and local payroll regulations, including tax rates

Technical Skills

• Attention to detail – payroll requires accuracy, so a high level of attention to detail is essential
• Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, formulas, VLOOKUP ) is important for analyzing payroll data and reports
• A solid understanding of accounting principles and standards (e.g., GAAP ) for reconciling accounts and ensuring financial accuracy

Soft Skills

• Payroll processing involves handling large amounts of data, so being well-organized helps ensure everything runs smoothly
• Must communicate effectively with both employees and management, especially regarding payroll-related queries
• Ability to quickly identify and resolve discrepancies in payroll is vital
• Handle sensitive employee information; discretion and ethical conduct are key

Applicants with foreign degrees from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have their coursework evaluated by a professional association that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services ( NACES ) or Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, INC. ( ACEI ). A copy of the evaluation must be submitted with your online application.

All applicants must have demonstrated cultural competency and sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty and classified professionals.

Link to the EEO / Diversity / Nondiscrimination – Policies and Procedures: https://www.sdccd.edu/departments/human-resources/eeo-diversity/policies-and-procedures.aspx