Accounting Technician III - COMPAS/Payroll

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Accounting Technician III supports the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Division of Financial Services by performing manual timekeeping and payroll processing for assigned facilities during the transition away from automated processing under the COMPAS system. The position dedicates approximately half its time to COMPAS-related manual data entry and error identification, while also carrying out routine processing in Kronos and the state payroll system. The role serves employees across assigned facilities and performs work within strict payroll-cycle deadlines, escalating complex discrepancies and workload bottlenecks to higher-level Accountants I and II. The position processes employee records and timekeeping actions, including new hires, terminations, leave, punch corrections, and pay-period closings. Payroll duties include entering hours and deductions, preparing hand-drawn checks, updating tax withholding and direct deposit information, reviewing insurance premiums, reconciling payroll, and maintaining required reports and files. Work must comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and Colorado State Personnel Rules. This position is open to current Colorado residents and is based at 3814 W. Princeton Circle, Denver, Colorado. The stated work arrangement is in-office two days per week and remote three days per week; arrangements may change. The target start date is December 2026.

Requirements

Three years of relevant accounting experience that includes timekeeping administration, payroll processing, or closely related work; alternatively, a combination of related education and relevant experience totaling three years.
Experience relied upon for minimum qualifications must be clearly documented on the application, and supplemental questions must be answered.
Must be a Colorado resident when applying and remain a Colorado resident throughout employment.
Must complete the required background and reference checks.
If driving a state-owned vehicle, must meet the applicable motor-vehicle-check and driver’s-license conditions. For positions within 30 miles of the Colorado state border, a valid, non-restricted Colorado or U.S. driver’s license is required; out-of-state license holders must obtain a valid, non-restricted Colorado license within 30 days of the employment start date.
Former state employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose this information on the application, explain why it should not disqualify them, and provide their prior state employee number.

Responsibilities

Enter new hires and create employee records in Kronos; enter pre-hire and new-employee orientation information, W-4 details, and direct-deposit information, and provide employee folders to the payroll officer.
Verify Kronos records for terminated, resigned, or retired employees; complete and sign timekeeping sections of termination checklists and forward completed employee folders for final payment processing.
Process biweekly and/or monthly Kronos closings for employees at assigned facilities.
Enter cost-accounting template updates for assigned biweekly and/or monthly employees.
Enter FML, short-term disability, and injury leave information; forecast applicable leave usage and coordinate with benefits staff, supervisors, and editors.
Enter Kronos information-form changes, missed punches, and late leave slips; assist with employee transfers between biweekly and monthly payroll cycles.
Research employee questions and problems concerning time worked and leave balances; provide Kronos process training to supervisors and unit time managers.
Review Kronos entries and batch and enter hours and deductions into the state payroll system for assigned employees.
Analyze and correct payroll input discrepancies and balance results to final edit reports.
Review work and leave time to ensure work hours, overtime, shift time, and leave are recorded accurately and on time.
Create hand-drawn checks (CHOPS) for assigned employees.
Review, manage, and collect suspended health, dental, and life insurance premiums.
Complete payroll reconciliations and pull direct deposits as needed to prevent overpayments.
Respond to payroll questions from employees, program accountants, supervisors, and managers; distribute information about payroll rules, regulations, and procedures.
Maintain required payroll reports for the payroll unit and program accountants.
Enter and review pertinent data manually for the COMPAS transition and identify errors.
Maintain payroll and timekeeping files for assigned facilities and perform other duties as assigned.
Escalate complex pay discrepancies or volume bottlenecks to higher-level Accountants I and II for review and resolution.

Benefits

PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Employer-supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year, plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
Employee Wellness program
Work-life programs, including flexible schedules and training
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program