Sr. Payroll Specialist

City of Raleigh Finance; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Raleigh Finance Department is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to ensure accurate and timely payroll operations for the city’s workforce. You will apply your payroll knowledge to support runs, reconciliations, and employee transactions.

This role emphasizes compliance with payroll policies and laws, audit support, and process improvements, with opportunities to grow skills through collaboration and cross-training within a mission-driven public service environment.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree or 2 years of college in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or related field, and 1 to 3 years' experience in billing, accounting, payroll, or a related field
• Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted

Responsibilities

• Perform end-to-end payroll processing, data verification, audits, and corrections to ensure accurate, timely pay
• Manage garnishments, child support orders, terminations/separations, and retirements with precision
• Support payroll-related account reconciliations and resolve discrepancies
• Prepare payroll spreadsheets, reports, and documentation that are audit-ready
• Respond to employee and department inquiries about payroll matters and escalate when needed
• Assist with internal audits and compliance reviews of payroll policies and laws
• Maintain confidential payroll records in line with retention policies
• Take on related fiscal and administrative duties supporting the Payroll Division and city financial goals

Skills

Payroll principles

Data analysis

Recordkeeping

Customer service

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Education

Associate's degree or 2 years of college in business/finance

1–3 years of payroll or related experience

Tools

Payroll software

General accounting software

Job description

Are you a payroll professional with a strong foundation and a desire to grow your expertise in a public service environment? The City of Raleigh is looking for a Senior Payroll Specialist to join our Finance Department, where you’ll play a key role in supporting accurate and timely payroll operations for the city’s workforce.

In this role, you’ll apply your working knowledge of payroll processes to assist with payroll runs, reconciliations, and employee transactions such as garnishments, separations, and benefit deductions. You’ll also help identify and resolve routine payroll issues, support audits, and contribute to process improvements. While we are looking for someone to bring valuable experience to the table, this position also offers opportunities to expand your skills through collaboration, cross-training, and exposure to broader fiscal functions.

This is a great opportunity for someone who’s confident in their payroll abilities, detail-oriented, and ready to take the next step in their career within a mission-driven team.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

As a Senior Payroll Specialist in the Payroll Division, you’ll be a key contributor to delivering accurate, timely, and compliant payroll services for the City. You’ll:

• Ensure every paycheck counts: Perform end-to-end payroll processing, including data verification, audits, and corrections to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time
• Handle the complex with confidence: Manage specialized payroll functions such as garnishments, child support orders, terminations/separations, and retirements with precision and care
• Keep the books balanced: Support payroll-related account reconciliations—identifying discrepancies and working collaboratively to resolve them
• Turn data into clarity: Maintain and prepare payroll spreadsheets, reports, and documentation that are accurate, up to date, and audit ready
• Be the first line of support: Respond to employee and department inquiries about payroll matters - resolving issues or escalating them when needed
• Champion compliance: Assist with internal audits and compliance reviews, ensuring adherence to payroll policies, labor laws, and reporting requirements
• Protect what matters: Maintain organized, confidential payroll records in line with retention policies and audit standards
• Support the bigger picture: Take on related fiscal and administrative duties that contribute to the smooth operation of the Payroll Division and the City’s broader financial goals

Typical Qualifications

Education and Experience

Associate's Degree or 2 Years of College in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or related field, and 1 to 3 years' experience in billing, accounting, payroll, or a related field

OR

Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted

Knowledge of

• Principles and practices of general accounting and financial management
• Payroll principles, practices and procedures
• Principles of customer service
• Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, and regulations
• Applicable City policies and procedures
• Financial and payroll software platforms
• Modern office practices and procedures including the use of standard office equipment and computer applications such as word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications

Skill In

• Managing fiscal processes
• Gathering data, analyzing findings and applying logic and reason
• Interpreting, monitoring and reporting financial information and statistics
• Authoring and preparing original reports, documents and presentations
• Monitoring project schedules, status and compliance
• Organizing and maintaining fiscal program/process documentation, schedules, records and files
• Coordinating deadlines and prioritizing competing demands
• Interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, regulations and standards
• Utilizing communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, the general public and others to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction

Ability to

• Conduct meetings and present information to technical and non-technical audiences
• Maintain fiscal program/process documentation, schedules, records and files
• Track and organize data, financial statements and transactions
• Maintain confidentiality of information
• Use technology and software programs to extract and share data with staff
• Build positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders