Payroll Specialist (Operations)

US House of Representatives; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 74,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. House of Representatives is seeking a Payroll Operations Specialist in the Office of Finance, CAO. The role focuses on processing payroll actions for over 10,000 employees, validating data, and ensuring accurate benefit and tax deductions in compliance with laws and regulations.

You will use Lawson and ImageQuest software, handle various pay actions, and collaborate with Payroll Counseling to resolve issues and update records. Full‑time, on‑site in Washington, DC.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED plus two or more years related experience with federal employee benefits desirable.
• Knowledge of payroll and accounting procedures; ability to code within automated systems and process payrolls.
• Ability to read various documents and prepare correspondence and reports using prescribed formats.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work under pressure; data integrity focus.

Responsibilities

• Examine, verify, and process pay action documents including overtime, taxes, and appointments.
• Review data affecting pay, EFT deposits, taxes, benefits, deductions, and master payroll records.
• Investigate and resolve payroll issues across different appointment types.
• Interface with payroll staff and HR to resolve issues and ensure accuracy.
• Prepare payroll-related reports, schedules, and reconcile differences.
• Enter payroll adjustments for benefits and retirement plans; process changes as required.

Skills

Payroll processing

Data entry accuracy

Communication

Research & troubleshooting

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Lawson

ImageQuest

Job description

Summary

This position is located in the Payroll and Benefits Department, Office of Finance, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), U.S. House of Representatives (House). The purpose of the Office of Finance is to provide financial management services to Leadership, Members, Committees, Officers, and Offices of the House. The Payroll and Benefits Department is responsible for the administration of staff payroll and benefits in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

Learn more about this agency. This job is open to the public U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. Clarification from the agency: open to the public.

Duties

Job Summary: This position is located in the Payroll and Benefits Department, Office of Finance, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), U.S. House of Representatives (House). The purpose of the Office of Finance is to provide financial management services to Leadership, Members, Committees, Officers, and Offices of the House. The Payroll and Benefits Department is responsible for the administration of staff payroll and benefits in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations. This position serves as the Payroll Operations Specialist. The position is responsible for data entry of personnel actions for over 10,000 employees which include appointments, terminations, salary adjustments, leave without pay, student loans, health and life insurance, and retirement forms. Validation, research, and correction of personnel actions and benefit forms. Ability to use speed and accuracy to complete PAFs within our deadline periods. Able to adapt to Lawson and ImageQuest software to perform duties. Also, process pay changes and both standard and nonstandard pay actions for regular, supplemental, and/or one-time payrolls.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities

• Examines, verifies, and processes a wide variety of pay action documents, such as overtime reports, levies against salaries or wages for taxes and other purposes, accessions, separations, promotions, and demotions.
• Reviews, verifies, and processes a variety of data impacting pay, electronic funds transfer (EFT) payroll deposits, leave, taxes, benefits, other deductions, and master payroll record information.
• Investigates and resolves payroll issues associated with various and unrelated types of appointments, such as permanent, temporary, part-time, student employment, etc.
• Interfaces verbally and online with other pay personnel and human resources staff to resolve payroll issues such as missing time, leave conversion, special pays, or miscellaneous inquiries.
• Reviews documents for accuracy, propriety, completeness, and conformance with guidelines, and/or prepares change documents to reflect changes for others to post.
• Establishes, maintains, and closes individual pay accounts; determines and verifies net pay changes or net amounts due; and verifies accuracy and agreement of payroll totals with accounting controls and reconciles differences.
• Prepares and verifies accounting and mathematical accuracy of a variety of lists, registers, statements, vouchers, summaries, reports, and schedules associated with payroll and tax deductions and related matters.
• Examines, audits, and verifies accuracy, propriety, and completeness payroll records; prepares and maintains payroll certification or other subsidiary accounting controls.
• Reconstructs pay actions.
• Reconciles discrepancies and compiles and provides payroll data to management.
• Performs other payroll duties and additional workload as assigned and as necessary. This includes executing reviews of both leave and pay, including retroactive reviews, when requested by the supervisor or management official.
• Other reviews may include Fair Labor Standards Act, overtime, military leave, and jury duty certification.
• Works with the appropriate Payroll Counseling team member to clarify information, correct errors, and update official records and personnel actions.
• Follows both oral and written instructions and communicates clearly with internal/external customers.
• Researches, interprets, and accurately applies relevant laws, rules, regulations, polices, processes, and procedures.
• Analyzes data using appropriate methods and tools.
• Uses financial systems/software to research and troubleshoot issues.
• Enter payroll adjustments related to Thrift Savings Plan, health, or life insurance, when required.
• Processes appointments and terminations.
• Performs salary, title, and withholding and information changes.
• Disburses pay and earning statements.
• Prepares, reconciles and distributes various payroll related reports and statistical compilations; researches and answers correspondence.
• Instructs, trains, and mentors peers as instructed by supervisor.
• Performs other official duties and special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or G.E.D. plus two or more years related experience (experience with federal employee benefits and compensation programs - particularly Legislative Branch programs, desirable) or equivalent combination of education and/or experience required.
• Completion of specialized training in relevant human resources subject areas (e.g. federal benefits) (may be completed as part of college coursework or as OPM or independent courses) or comparable on-the-job training preferred.
• Knowledge of payroll and accounting procedures, operations, and processing; ability to review, clarify, and code within designated automated systems/software and complete pay calculations and process payroll transactions as needed.
• Ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, statements, etc. and to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, evaluations, statements, etc. using prescribed formats.
• Ability to deliver information, explain procedures, and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or specialized areas, such as insurance, personnel, and governmental terminology.
• Ability to interact with people beyond giving and receiving instructions; ability to perform under pressure and handle emergency situations.
• Ability to analyze, code, and validate data, ensuring data integrity.
• Accuracy, attention to detail, and quality assurance.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply relevant laws, rules, and regulations.
• Research and troubleshooting skills.
• Knowledge of and ability to record, process, and approve personnel transactions.
• Knowledge of and ability to analyze and monitor the interrelationship between accounts that are affected by varied transactions.
• Knowledge of rules, regulations, standard procedures, and technical instructions used to enter, modify, retrieve, and delete payroll and accounting data/information in an automated system.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactorily completing a criminal history records check (or other applicable security clearance) and a pre-employment drug-test (pre-identified position only).

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. You will be evaluated using a structured interview process.

Required Documents

Resume.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Agency contact information

CAO Human Resources Phone [phone] Address CAO 441 2nd St Washington, DC 20515

Salary

Salary $73,712 - $84,271 per year

Pay scale & grade HS 6 - 8 Promotion potential 8. Learn more about pay scale and grade. Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule

Full-time

Travel Required

Not required - Not required.

Appointment type

Permanent

Occupations and job series

0544 Civilian Pay

Supervisory status

No Federal service type

Security clearance

Drug test No Security clearance Not Required

Announcement number

req5593 Control number 883756500.