Payroll/HR Technician - Internal Only

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

PAYROLL/HR TECHNICIAN

Where People, Precision & Public Service Come Together

The City of Rockport is looking for an organized, detail-oriented professional to join our team as a Payroll/HR Technician. This position combines the accuracy and accountability of payroll with the people-focused responsibilities of Human Resources. If you enjoy working with numbers, helping employees, solving problems, and keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes, this may be the position for you.

What You’ll Do

• 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.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who is dependable, accurate, professional, and comfortable balancing both payroll and human resources responsibilities.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
• Knowledge of payroll processing, reconciliation, payroll taxes, deductions, and reporting.
• Knowledge of human resources practices, employee benefits, personnel records, and leave administration.
• Strong mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and meet strict deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work professionally with employees, supervisors, retirees, vendors, and governmental agencies.
• Proficiency with computers, HR/payroll systems, and job-related software.
• The ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain strict confidentiality.

Work Environment

This position is primarily performed in a professional office environment and involves frequent computer use and interaction with employees, supervisors, department directors, applicants, retirees, benefit providers, financial institutions, and governmental agencies.

The position requires the ability to manage recurring payroll and reporting deadlines while maintaining a high degree of accuracy, organization, professionalism, and confidentiality. Work is generally performed while sitting or standing at a desk or table, with occasional lifting of light objects.

Minimum Requirements

• Associate degree in Human Resources, 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.

Ready to put your payroll skills and people skills to work? Join the City of Rockport team!