Payroll Specialist

City & Borough of Sitka Alaska; Sitka (AK); On-site; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

City & Borough of Sitka Alaska is seeking a Payroll Specialist to ensure accurate and timely wage payments for employees and Assembly members, while applying union contracts and policies.

Under the Controller, you will process payroll, maintain records, and handle confidential information, using Excel, Word, and Outlook and payroll software.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in accounting or related field, bachelor's degree preferred.
• Two years of experience in bookkeeping, payroll, or accounting, or equivalent.
• Ability to interpret policies, union contracts, and apply to payroll processing.

Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate and prompt payment of wages to employees and Assembly members.
• Apply union contract provisions, personnel policies, and laws to payroll processing.
• Maintain financial records and communicate effectively with Finance Director and department heads.

Skills

Payroll processing

Confidential information handling

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Associate degree in accounting or related field

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Excel

Word

Outlook

Payroll software

Job description

Primary Purpose of Job

The primary purpose of this position is to ensure accurate and prompt payment of wages to employees and Assembly members and ensure that payroll practices follow union contract provisions, personnel policies handbook, and state and federal laws.

Under the direct supervision of the Controller, the employee works independently on assigned duties and responsibilities.

The Payroll Specialist is a management employee who assists and acts in a confidential capacity to the Finance Director, Municipal Administrator, Assembly, Municipal Attorney, and other department heads who formulates, determines, or effectuates management policies.

• Current payroll principles, practices, processes
• Federal and state wage and hour law
• Financial office procedures, practices, and internal controls

• Operating a personal computer using standard software, such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, and customized financial, accounting, and auditing software
• Organizing, maintaining, and managing a wide variety of records and files, including financial and legal records, both in paper and electronic form
• Prioritizing work while focusing on multiple tasks that require meticulous attention to detail
• General mathematics

• Recognize and maintain confidential information
• Apply complex salary and compensation calculations in processing payroll when necessary
• Interpret policies and collective bargaining agreements and apply to payroll processing
• Produce high quality work that has been self-reviewed for accuracy
• Work independently based on general instruction and in compliance with policies and procedures.
• Communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language
• Understand and follow oral and written policies, procedures and instructions
• Use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and oral instructions
• Perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines
• Quickly learn and put to use newly acquired skills and knowledge

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree in accounting or related field, bachelor's degree preferred; and
• Two years of experience in bookkeeping, payroll, or accounting; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work

Other Job Requirements or Expectations

• Possession of, or ability to obtain within 18 months of hire, payroll certification approved by the National Association of Certified Bookkeepers or equivalent

Working Conditions

• General office setting

Specific Physical Requirements

• Operating office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination using a computer and keyboard on a daily basis
• Stand or sit for prolonged periods of time either in front of computer
• Occasional bending, climbing, stooping, reaching, and twisting
• Occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull objects up 50 pounds with or without the assistance of proper equipment

General Physical Requirements

• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities which permits the employee to communicate well with other employees and the general public
• Sufficient vision or other powers of observation which permits the employee to use a computer screen and process numeric data
• Sufficient manual dexterity which permits the employee to operate a computer keyboard and access files
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes which permits the employee to move about in an office environment