Payroll & Compliance Specialist

St. Joseph Missouri; Saint Joseph (MO); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of St. Joseph is seeking a Payroll Administrator to manage accurate payroll processing, documentation, distribution, and reconciliation within the Human Resources department.

You will ensure compliance with city, state, and federal payroll regulations, review tax filings, and respond to employee inquiries, while maintaining up-to-date knowledge of applicable laws. Responsibilities include processing monthly and annual payroll, generating deduction reports, and supporting annual audits.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required, with 3–5 years payroll experience preferred.
• Knowledge of payroll tax laws, W-4s and W-2s, and taxable vs non-taxable income.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Ability to balance and prepare payroll reports and reconcile to the general ledger.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the City's primary resource for detailed payroll-related information.
• Update and report employee payroll data.
• Process payroll deductions and ACH payments.
• Prepare and balance payroll deduction reports and tax withholding reports.
• Submit monthly and annual payroll reports to federal and state authorities.
• Maintain payroll records and assist with year-end audit schedules.
• Assist employees and managers with payroll procedures and inquiries.

Skills

Payroll procedures

Payroll tax laws

Communication skills

Reporting

Office software

Overtime flexibility

Accounting principles

Follow instructions

Independent work

Customer service

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

3-5 years payroll experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The City of St. Joseph is seeking a Payroll Administrator to manage accurate payroll processing, documentation, distribution, and reconciliation within the Human Resources department.

You will ensure compliance with city, state, and federal payroll regulations, review tax filings, and respond to employee inquiries, while maintaining up-to-date knowledge of applicable laws. Responsibilities include processing monthly and annual payroll, generating deduction reports, and supporting annual audits.