Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Cooperstown Central School District; Village of Cooperstown (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cooperstown Central School District is seeking a detail-oriented payroll and benefits specialist for the District's Business Office. This full-time, 12-month role offers an attractive salary and benefits package; salary commensurate with experience.

The candidate must be able to pass the Otsego Civil Service payroll and benefits specialist exam. The position involves administering payroll, health insurance, and other employee benefits, preparing payroll files for processing, and assisting

Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher in Business Administration or Accounting with payroll experience.
• Experience maintaining complex financial records and familiarity with COBRA and 403(b) programs.
• Ability to pass Civil Service payroll and benefits exam and maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Administer payroll, health insurance, and other employee benefits.
• Prepare payroll files for processing by payroll clerk and address payroll errors with department heads.
• Assist with new hires and changes in employment status; perform related clerical tasks and maintain records.

Education

Associate degree in Business Administration or Accounting

High school diploma with payroll experience

Tools

Spreadsheets (Excel)

Word processing

Accounting software basics

Job description

• Position Type: Secretarial/Clerical/ Payroll and Benefit Specialist
• Date Posted: 10/26/2026
• Location: Cooperstown Jr Sr High School

The Cooperstown Central School District seeks a detail-oriented and accurate candidate for the position of payroll and benefit specialist in the District's Business Office. This position is a full-time, 12-month position with an attractive salary and benefits package. Salary commensurate with experience. This is a competitive position, so individual is required to take and pass the Otsego Civil Service payroll and benefits specialist exam.

Distinguishing Features of the Class:

The position involves specialized work administering payroll, health insurance, and other employee benefits, handling process details in order to free the time of the administrator. It includes preparation of payroll files for the processing by the payroll clerk, contacting department heads regarding payroll errors; administration of health insurance and other employee benefit programs; and assisting with processing related paperwork for new hires and other changes in employment status for employees. There is public contact in the carrying out of certain responsibilities of the job. Performs clerical duties such as scheduling appointments, preparing correspondence, typing job specifications, and other related duties as required. Work is performed under overall supervision of the Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations.

Required skills and abilities:

Good knowledge of modern methods used in maintaining financial accounts and records; on the use of the computer and software associated with spreadsheets, word processing and account keeping programs; payroll procedures; and office terminology, procedures and equipment; working knowledge of COBRA law and 403(b) elective. The candidate will have the ability to understand collective bargaining agreements; ability to understand and carry out oral and written directions; ability to make arithmetic computations rapidly and accurately; ability to prepare correspondence and reports; ability to effectively deal with the public. This position requires a high degree of accuracy and consistency in carrying out functions of the job; the ability to work with others as part of a team, the exercise of good judgment, clerical aptitude, mental alertness, neatness, integrity, tact, and confidentiality.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered two-year college with an associate's degree, or higher, in Business Administration, Accounting or closely related field and one (1) year of full-time experience, or its part-time equivalent, in maintaining complex financial accounts and records including the use of financially or fiscally related types of computer software programs OR

Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and previous payroll experience preferred including three (3) years of experience as defined above, OR an equivalent