Accounting Clerk - Payroll

Panama City, City of•Panama City, FL

About The Position

The Accounting Clerk is an administrative and technical position within the Accounting Department, working under the general guidance and leadership of the City Clerk-Treasurer. A key component of the role is payroll administration, including processing employee wages, verifying timesheets, calculating deductions, and supporting compliance with tax regulations. The position maintains payroll records, prepares reports, responds to employee inquiries, and coordinates with internal and external resources to support accurate and efficient payroll processing. It also applies fundamental accounting principles and provides payroll documentation and reports to stakeholders and auditors.

Requirements

Graduation from high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma.
Basic knowledge of governmental accounting practices and principles.
Basic knowledge and skills in payroll processing within acceptable accounting standards, including gross and net pay calculations, tax withholdings, deductions, and payroll reconciliations.
Ability to understand the relationship between payroll, benefits, tax reporting, auditing, and other payroll-related accounting practices.
Knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations governing purchasing processes and procedures.
Computer proficiency with Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Basic arithmetic skills and ability to analyze data for accuracy.
Skills with purchase orders, invoicing, accounts payable, check reconciliation, auditing, and other basic daily business accounting practices.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work effectively, cooperatively, and positively with internal and external customers.
Problem-solving and multitasking skills.
Ability to compose, create, and edit correspondence, documentation, and reports.
Ability to work independently and in a team setting, adapt to direction, and maintain effective working relationships.
Knowledge of basic office equipment and computer applications.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree in accounting or business.
Three years of experience in payroll.

Responsibilities

Process employee payroll, including verifying timesheets, calculating wages, and ensuring accurate deductions.
Process manual payroll adjustments and off-cycle payments.
Prepare and process regular and special payroll runs.
Assist with preparing and submitting payroll tax filings and reports, including W-2 processing.
Coordinate with internal and external resources to ensure payroll is processed accurately and efficiently.
Apply fundamental accounting principles, including matching, consistency, cash versus accrual, and full disclosure principles.
Communicate with employees, regulatory agencies, and external entities regarding payroll-related inquiries.
Maintain payroll records and documents in compliance with records retention laws and general practice guidelines.
Prepare and present payroll-related reports to stakeholders.
Provide payroll reports and documentation for City auditors.
Assist in preparing payroll-related reports for internal and external agencies.
Research and resolve payroll discrepancies in a timely manner.
Work cooperatively with team members to explain payroll processing and timekeeping issues.
Perform other duties as assigned.