Payroll Supervisor

City of Mountain View (CA); Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Mountain View (CA) seeks a Payroll Supervisor to oversee payroll for the entire City workforce, including police, fire, and seasonal staff. You will ensure compliant, timely payroll from timekeeping through the general ledger, interpret labor agreements, and support CalPERS reporting.

You will lead a small team, drive process improvements, and coordinate with Finance leadership and HR. The role is hybrid, based at Mountain View City Hall, with onsite onboarding and some remote work days.

Qualifications

• Extensive public-sector payroll experience required.
• Ability to interpret labor agreements and FLSA rules.
• Lead a small team; provide coaching and guidance.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field; CPA/CPP desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day payroll processing from timekeeping to GL.
• Ensure accurate, timely payroll and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with Finance leadership and HR on policy changes.
• Oversee system updates and pay table changes after negotiations.

Skills

Public payroll experience

Leadership

Financial analysis

FLSA compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field

CPA/CPP desirable

Tools

Central Square Financial Enterprise

GL interfaces

Job description

Keep the promise behind every paycheck.

Your team runs payroll, and they run it well. You bring the expertise, exercise sound judgment, resolve complex issues, and continually look for ways to improve operations. A bargaining unit representative wants to know how a new side letter will be applied before it ever shows up in a paycheck. A police sergeant’s holiday overtime question has come back twice and needs a final answer. The general ledger interface has thrown the same error three pay periods in a row, and you want to know why. Your team brings you the tough questions. You provide direction, support the decisions, and address the root causes so issues don't keep coming back. If you have been the go-to payroll expert who does it all and you are ready to lead, or you already lead a payroll team and want greater opportunities to improve operations, this is your next step.

You will oversee payroll for the entire City workforce. That includes police and fire personnel working non-standard schedules, full-time staff in every department, and the hourly and seasonal employees who staff our pools, libraries, and recreation programs. You are accountable for the whole process, from timekeeping through the general ledger. That covers FLSA compliance, how labor agreements are interpreted and applied, payroll tax and CalPERS retirement reporting, and the payroll to GL interface. Your team handles day-to-day payroll processing , while you provide oversight, review and approval, step in and resolve the hard issues, and lead ongoing improvements.

A team to lead. A system to improve.

You will supervise a smallexperienced team consisting of 2.5 positions. Team members are experienced, capable, work well together, and keep day-to-day operations running smoothly. They don't need someone to micromanage their work; they need a leader who understands the work, supports them, maintains high standards, and helps them continue to grow.

As the team's subject matter expert, you will provide guidance on complex or unusual payroll matters, troubleshoot challenges, and help staff navigate issues beyond routine operations. Your expertise and judgment will be essential in ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing.

Beyond maintaining effective day-to-day operations, you will have the opportunity to strengthen internal controls, streamline processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and foster a team environment where employees feel supported, confident, and empowered to deliver high-quality work.

The City uses Central Square Financial Enterprise, an established financial management system. While the system has served the City for many years, there are opportunities to streamline workflows, reduce manual workarounds, strengthen controls, and improve overall efficiency. Outside technical consulting support is available for more complex system issues.

We are looking for someone who does more than maintain the status quo - someone who recognizes the opportunities for improvement and takes the initiative to make them happen.

A front-row seat to bargaining.

Beginning in January 2027, the City anticipates entering negotiations with its bargaining units, with some potential changes taking effect as early as July 1, 2027. The Payroll Supervisor will play an important role in supporting this process by helping Finance leadership evaluate the financial and operational impacts of proposed compensation changes. Following the completion of negotiations, you will lead the payroll implementation of new agreements, including updates to pay tables, pay codes, retroactive calculations, and system testing.

This is an opportunity to contribute directly to significant Citywide decisions and help ensure negotiated changes are implemented accurately and effectively.

Independence, with people you can turn to.

Reporting to the Accounting Manager, you will have the autonomy to manage payroll operations, lead your team, and make decisions within established policies and procedures.

You will also have the support of Finance leadership, an experienced payroll team, and technical resources when needed.

The position offers regular interaction with Finance leadership, Human Resources, and departments throughout the City. It is a visible role that provides opportunities to develop leadership skills, expand technical expertise, and contribute to broader organizational improvements.

What you will bring

The ideal candidate has substantial experience administering payroll in a public agency, preferably a city, county, special district, or other government organization.

You understand the complexities of public-sector payroll, including FLSA requirements, nonstandard work schedules, labor agreements, and retirement reporting. You are comfortable interpreting complex compensation provisions, resolving unusual payroll issues, and providing clear guidance to employees and management.

Equally important, you are a supportive and effective leader who takes ownership, exercises good judgment, pays close attention to detail, and looks for ways to improve operations.

Experience with payroll accounting, general ledger interfaces, and reconciliations is particularly valuable.

Minimum qualifications include four years of progressively responsible accounting and auditing experience, including some lead experience, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Any equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered. A CPA, Certified Payroll Professional (CPP), or master’s degree is highly desirable, as is experience with Central Square or a similar public sector system such as Tyler Munis.

Where and how you will work

This is a hybrid position based at Mountain View City Hall, 500 Castro Street.

During the initial onboarding and training period, generally three to six months, the position is expected to work onsite to become familiar with City operations, labor agreements, payroll processes, and systems.

Following successful onboarding, the City's telecommute schedule provides for up to two remote workdays per week.

Additional onsite days may occasionally be necessary during year-end processing, major system changes, or other operational needs.

The position requires the ability to commute to City Hall regularly.

Thinking about a move?

If you are considering relocating for this role, we would love to hear from you. Mountain View sits in the heart of Silicon Valley and is one of the most desirable places to live in the country. Think mild weather, a walkable downtown on Castro Street, Caltrain and light rail at the edge of downtown, and open space from Shoreline at the Baylands to the nearby foothills.

It is also one of the most expensive places to live in the country, and we want you to go in with clear eyes. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Mountain View is about $4,655 a month (RentCafe, October 2026), and the typical home value is about $1.93 million (Zillow, September 2026). Many City employees live in neighboring communities and commute. Before you apply, please take a realistic look at housing and commute options so the numbers work for you and your family. Pay for this role was recently reviewed and sits above average among neighboring cities, and we want the person we hire to be able to say yes with confidence.

A few more honest things

• Your work makes a difference.Payroll is one of the most important services we provide to our employees. Your leadership helps ensure people are paid accurately and on time, while building trust in the Finance team.
• A role that supports work-life balance.Our payroll operations are structured to provide a manageable workload and reasonable work-life balance. We recognize the importance of working efficiently while making time for life outside of work.
• This is not a back-office job. You will work directly with Finance leadership, Human Resources, department managers, and employees who want to understand their paychecks.

Good governance shows up in every paycheck.

In 2026, Mountain View City Manager Kimbra McCarthy became the inaugural recipient of ICMA’s Good Governance Award, which recognizes ethical leadership, transparency, accountability, and the partnership between the City Council and City Manager. In payroll, you help put those principles into practice. That means applying labor agreements in good faith, keeping careful and transparent records of how public dollars are spent, and making sure employees can trust that their pay is right.

Firefighters on shift, librarians at the desk, and crews out in a storm count on the City to protect their safety and their livelihood. A correct paycheck should never be an additional worry. Every accurate payroll is one way the City takes care of the people who take care of Mountain View.

Accessibility and Accommodations

The City of Mountain View is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive recruitment process. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in any stage of the selection process, please contact Human Resources at [phone]. Advance notice helps us make timely arrangements, but accommodation requests may be made at any stage of the process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Mountain View is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered based on job-related qualifications without regard to any status protected by federal, state, or local law.