Payroll Specialist (Operations)

Maryland Court Reporters; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 74,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

Maryland Court Reporters seeks a Payroll Specialist (Operations) to manage payroll actions for a large employee base in a high‑volume environment.

The role requires accuracy in data entry, strong knowledge of payroll procedures, and the ability to use Lawson and ImageQuest to resolve issues and ensure timely pay. Bachelor’s degree preferred; federal program familiarity is a plus.

Qualifications

• Experience with payroll and benefits programs and related laws.
• Ability to review, code and process payroll transactions.
• Demonstrated accuracy in data entry and payroll calculations.
• Ability to interpret rules and apply them to actions.

Responsibilities

• Examine, verify, and process pay action documents.
• Review data impacting pay, EFT deposits, taxes, and benefits.
• Prepare accounting and payroll related reports and schedules.
• Reconcile discrepancies and provide payroll data to management.
• Enter payroll adjustments and process appointments/terminations.

Skills

Payroll processing

Data entry

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Communication

Research & troubleshooting

PII handling

Deadline orientation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Lawson

ImageQuest

Job description

Payroll Specialist (Operations)

Salary Range: 73,712.00 - 84,271.00

Closing Date:9/22/2026

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.

All employees within CAO are expected to demonstrate the following general competencies: Accountability, Adaptability, Collaboration, Communication, Customer Orientation, Priority Management, and Problem Resolution. This position has access to Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

Grade level at time of appointment is determined by experience and designated level of responsibility. The position does not have day-to-day supervisory/managerial responsibilities.

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.
• Enters 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.

Minimum Qualifications

• 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 course work 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).