TCEQ - Payroll Specialist (TCEQ Employees Only)

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Health insurance

Dental and Vision coverage

Flexible spending account

Job summary

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is seeking a Payroll Specialist (Accountant V) to join the Financial Administration Division in Austin, TX. You will manage payroll processing, audits, and related compliance to support the agency’s mission of protecting public health and natural resources.

Responsibilities include CAPPS data integrity, government payroll reporting, and interagency coordination, with a focus on accurate calculations, deductions, and timely payments.

Qualifications

• Experience in payroll processing or auditing in government or private sector.
• Experience using CAPPS, USPS, and USAS or similar systems.
• Experience with leave accounting systems such as CAPPS Timekeeping or equivalents.

Responsibilities

• Audit CAPPS data entry and process payroll and time details, wage calculations, and deductions.
• Verify prior state service information and provide year-to-date payroll info for interagency transfers.
• Prepare Travel Partial Per Diem report and assist employees with CAPPS ESS entries.
• Prepare reports for state and federal entities and assist with 941, W-2, and year-end processing.
• Reconcile payroll deductions, maintain records, and support payroll process improvements.

Skills

Payroll processing

Auditing

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/economics/business/public administration

Tools

CAPPS

USAS

USPS

Job description

Job Description

Are you an experienced Payroll Specialist (Accountant V), ready for a unique opportunity to grow with an environmental state agency? Join TCEQ! We bring passion and drive to carry out our mission of protecting our state's public health and natural resources.

YOUR FUTURE TEAM

As part of TCEQ Administrative Services, you would help support the logistical and operational structure for TCEQ statewide -- the business foundation for the whole agency. See details about what we do.

This position is a member of our Financial Administration Division.

Here’s What You’ll Be Doing

• Audit CAPPS data entry and process payroll and time details, wage calculations, including Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) cash outs, additional part-time pay, leave without pay (LWOP) and lump sums. Review accounting payroll and financial Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System (CAPPS) documents for compliance and accurate calculation & entry of deductions (tax levies, child support, bankruptcy, and student loans) as required by court order in accordance with state and federal regulations. Confirm calculations of personnel actions including new hires, mid-month actions, and terminations. Confirm calculations of net pay and salary paybacks.
• Verify prior state service information received from Human Resources and provide year-to-date payroll information for interagency transfers and/or new employees with prior State of Texas service; verify total state service years and longevity amounts. Monitor dual employment reports and coordinate state-paid benefits, ensuring state maximums are not exceeded.
• Prepare the Travel Partial Per Diem report for payroll processing into CAPPS. Monitor the Direct Deposit daily report for errors and serve as the agency liaison between the Comptroller's Office and other financial institutions. Assist employees with Employee Self Service (ESS) in CAPPS for entry of direct deposit, charitable contributions, benefit replacement pay (BRP), and other self-service items. Respond to payroll inquiries with internal and external customers regarding payroll issues.
• Prepare reports for state and federal entities. Prepare monthly payroll control reconciliation to assist in preparation of 941 Quarterly, W-2's, Calendar and Fiscal Year-End processing. Verify all payroll tax deposits and reconciling with monthly tax liability.
• Prepare and assists with monthly payroll filing. Monitor cancellations and special payments. Monitor and check return money in USAS. Assist in planning and scheduling payrolls that meet deadlines established by the Comptroller's Office.
• Reconcile payroll deductions and distribute warrants & payments to vendors; maintain employee records to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Assist in updating internal, external, and desk procedure manuals regarding payroll, and make recommendations for improvements to payroll processes. Participate in agency presentations to Administrative Services Coordinators (ASC's).

Key Qualifications

• Experience in payroll processing/auditing:
  • State of Texas Government,
  • Another Governmental Entity, or
  • Private Industry
• Experience using a payroll/ accounting system:
  • Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System (CAPPS)
  • Uniform Statewide Payroll/Personnel System (USPS) and/or
  • Uniform Statewide Accounting System (USAS);
  • Another government accounting system; or
  • A private industry accounting system.
• Experience working in leave accounting systems:
  • CAPPS Timekeeping System;
  • Another government leave accounting system; and/or
  • A private industry leave accounting system.

Required Education & Experience

A bachelor's degree with a major in accounting, finance, economics, business, or public administration from an accredited college or university, plus two years of experience where the majority of time was spent in accounting, auditing, or budgeting.

A graduate degree in accounting, finance, economics, business, or public administration may substitute for two years of the required experience.

OR

Six years of experience where the majority of time was spent in accounting, auditing, or budgeting.

OR

Certification as a public accountant (CPA).

TRANSCRIPT / COLLEGE HOURS or COURSE WORK

See instructions on how to attach documents. A copy of your official college transcript or evaluation of foreign credentials in CAPPS is required if needed to meet the qualifications listed above.

WORK SCHEDULE

Standard business hours are M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Individual and work group schedule determined by the TCEQ Financial Administration Division.

Benefits

• Optional 401(k) and 457 plans
• Insurance: Health, Vision, Dental, and optional FSA
• Paid day(s) off from work on national holidays and holidays that the state observes
• Professional development opportunities