Payroll & HR Specialist — Public Service

City of Rockport; Rockport (TX); On-site; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Rockport is seeking a Payroll/HR Technician to join our municipal team. This role blends payroll accuracy with front-line HR duties, including recruitment support, onboarding, benefits administration, and HRIS maintenance.

You’ll ensure timely payroll processing, accurate tax reporting, and confidential handling of personnel data in a public service environment. Ideal candidates will have an associate degree or equivalent experience, strong numerical skills, and the ability to meet

Qualifications

• Associate degree in HR, Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• In lieu of an Associate degree, a minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in payroll, human resources, accounting, benefits administration, or a related field may be considered.
• Municipal or governmental payroll and human resources experience is preferred.
• Experience with payroll tax reporting, payroll reconciliation, employee benefits, TMRS, TWC reporting, and HR/payroll systems is preferred.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive payroll, personnel, benefit, medical, and employee information.

Responsibilities

• Process and reconcile bi-weekly payroll for City employees and City Council, ensuring accuracy and timely completion.
• Coordinate recruitment, pre-employment requirements, new hire onboarding, orientation, HRIS setup, and employee separation processes.
• Process employee and payroll changes, including new hires, transfers, promotions, compensation changes, stipends, certification pay, retroactive pay, deductions, and vacation sell-backs.
• Administer employee benefit transactions, Open Enrollment, qualifying life events, TMRS, FSA, HSA, 457 deferred compensation, and other City-sponsored benefits.
• Prepare payroll tax payments and required reporting, including Forms 941 and W-2, TWC reports, Department of Labor reporting, and TMRS contributions.
• Administer and maintain employee leave records, including monthly accruals, FMLA, Workers' Compensation, catastrophic leave, and other applicable leave programs.
• Process payroll journal entries, direct deposits, wire transfers, child support payments, retirement contributions, grant-funded payroll, and other payroll transactions.
• Maintain accurate and confidential personnel, payroll, benefit, and HRIS records throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Reconcile health and life insurance premiums, payroll deductions, and retiree benefit invoices; research and resolve discrepancies.
• Provide employees and supervisors with guidance regarding payroll, benefits, leave, personnel policies, and HR procedures.
• Support employee relations, performance and disciplinary documentation, job descriptions, policy updates, salary research, training, and other HR initiatives.
• Assist with payroll, benefit, Workers' Compensation, financial, and other required audits while maintaining strict confidentiality of employee information.

Skills

Payroll processing

Payroll reconciliation

Payroll taxes

Payroll reporting

HR practices

Benefits administration

Analytical skills

Confidentiality

HR/payroll software

Communication

Education

Associate degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or related field

Tools

HRIS

Job description

The City of Rockport is seeking a Payroll/HR Technician to join our municipal team. This role blends payroll accuracy with front-line HR duties, including recruitment support, onboarding, benefits administration, and HRIS maintenance.

You’ll ensure timely payroll processing, accurate tax reporting, and confidential handling of personnel data in a public service environment. Ideal candidates will have an associate degree or equivalent experience, strong numerical skills, and the ability to meet