Human Resources/Payroll Specialist

Southeast Polk Community School District•Pleasant Hill, IA

12d

About The Position

The Human Resources/Payroll Specialist serves as an operational liaison between the Human Resources and Business/Payroll departments. The role executes cross-departmental HR, benefits, and payroll administrative processes with exceptional accuracy and attention to detail. It helps establish internal controls and separation of duties, supports compliance with federal and state regulations, and provides operational support to district leadership and staff. This is a full-time, non-exempt position in the Human Resources and Business Services department, working Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The position is based at the Southeast Polk District Office and reports to the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer/HR. The posted salary range is $50,000–$60,000, and the position is available as soon as possible.

Requirements

High school diploma required.
At least three years of accounting, payroll, and/or human resources experience required.
Working knowledge of legally required onboarding documents and procedures, such as Form I-9, Form W-4, and the Central Employee Registry.
Working knowledge of federal and state labor and employment laws, such as FMLA, ADA, and FLSA.
Previous experience using accounting, HRIS, and/or ERP software.
Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel, and Google Workspace, including Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Forms.
Exceptional accuracy, organization, data entry, and record-keeping skills, with strong attention to detail.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in writing and verbally.
Ability to develop and maintain positive, professional, and collaborative working relationships.

Nice To Haves

Two years of post-secondary education, such as an associate degree or certificate program, in human resources management, business administration, accounting, or a related field.
SHRM-CP, PHR, or pHCLE certification.
Five years of accounting, payroll, and/or human resources experience.

Responsibilities

Enter new pay rates and maintain existing pay rates, employee anniversary dates, and position history in the system.
Conduct pre-payroll audits by cross-referencing HR personnel entries against payroll processing batches to verify mathematical accuracy and separation of duties.
Maintain position control by ensuring positions are coded to account strings and new hires are assigned to authorized vacancies.
Maintain a database of job descriptions and ensure every active position has an accurate, current job description on file.
Facilitate and retain documentation for FMLA leaves and ADA accommodation requests; maintain confidential medical files separately from standard personnel files.
Coordinate with payroll staff on leave balances, paid or unpaid status, and wage adjustments related to medical leaves or workers' compensation.
Complete employment verification forms from IPERS, Iowa DHS, Iowa DE, and financial institutions.
Respond to unemployment claims against the district and submit supporting documentation.
Generate employee data reports and assist with data gathering for annual audits and state, local, and federal compliance reports.
Assist the Benefits Coordinator with open enrollment, payroll deduction reconciliations, insurance billing audits, and leave accrual tracking.
Verify and authenticate changes to employee direct deposit and tax withholding records under district fraud-prevention controls.
Provide backup support and customer service across HR and Business Services, responding promptly to employee inquiries.
Collaborate with HR, payroll, and technology staff to test, implement, and maintain automated workflows.
Coordinate annual training for district staff responsible for cash handling and deposits, covering security procedures, timing, and recording cash receipts.
Maintain confidentiality regarding employee records, payroll data, and personnel matters.
Participate in professional development, training, and continuing education.
Perform other duties as assigned by the CFO or COO/HR.