Payroll Specialist — Finance & Compliance Expert

City of Highland Park; Highland Park (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Dental Insurance

Pension Programs

457(b) Deferred Compensation

Paid Vacation Time

Paid Sick Time

Tuition Reimbursement

Wellness Program

Job summary

The City of Highland Park is seeking an experienced payroll professional to join its Finance Department. This position administers the City’s bi-weekly payroll and supports employees with payroll questions and issues.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized and able to manage a multifaceted payroll process with accuracy and independence, including wage records, tax filings, and vendor payments. This salaried exempt role offers IMRF eligibility and a competitive salary range.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or two years of technical/business coursework required.
• Three to five years of professional payroll experience.
• Certification as a Fundamental Payroll Specialist (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Administer bi-weekly payroll including data entry, processing, and reconciliation of time, compensation changes, accrual balances, garnishments, and deductions.
• Prepare and file payroll tax returns and W-2s; process vendor payments and submit reports to agencies (IRS, IMRF).
• Process daily cash receipts and verify accuracy of payments including utilities, permits, and fees.
• Provide front-line customer service at the counter and via phone; assist with memos and correspondence.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Payroll processes

Tax withholding

Microsoft Excel

Munis ERP

FLSA knowledge

Attention to detail

Customer service

Education

Associate degree

Accounting coursework

FPC/CPP preferred

Tools

Eden

Munis

MS Office

Job description

The City of Highland Park is seeking an experienced payroll professional to join its Finance Department. This position administers the City’s bi-weekly payroll and supports employees with payroll questions and issues.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized and able to manage a multifaceted payroll process with accuracy and independence, including wage records, tax filings, and vendor payments. This salaried exempt role offers IMRF eligibility and a competitive salary range.