Payroll Administrator

City of Chaska•Chaska City Hall, MN

About The Position

The City of Chaska is seeking a knowledgeable, service-focused Payroll Administrator to oversee the City’s payroll operations and ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with federal and state laws, union contracts, and City policies. The role serves as a subject matter expert supporting payroll systems and processes, financial and compliance reporting, audits, and employee compensation and benefit administration. The Payroll Administrator collaborates with Human Resources and Finance and responds to employee payroll questions confidentially and promptly. The position processes the City’s in-house payroll; reviews time and payroll data; administers benefit and retirement contributions; files and reconciles payroll reports and accounts; and supports system administration, integrations, year-end payroll, reporting, and audits. It also supports annual Open Enrollment, provides guidance to cross-trained staff, and performs other duties as assigned. Work is conducted in a general office environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, human resources, or a related degree and 2 years of experience processing full-cycle payroll; OR an associate’s degree in one of these fields or a related field and 4 years of full-cycle payroll experience; OR a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent, 1 or more years of specialized training in finance, payroll, or human resources, and 7 or more years of full-cycle payroll experience.
General knowledge of payroll or HRIS systems, such as Enterprise ERP.
Ability to exercise professional judgment and maintain confidentiality.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently and collaborate with others.
Ability to meet established timeframes and deadlines.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel and Word.
Basic accounting skills.
Demonstrated attention to detail.
Ability to operate a computer, calculator, and basic office equipment; listen and respond to telephone calls; and sit or stand at a desk for long periods.
Ability to occasionally lift 25 pounds, such as storage boxes.

Nice To Haves

Local government or union experience preferred.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Process and administer the City’s in-house payroll accurately and on time, in accordance with City policies, union contracts, and applicable federal and state regulations.
Review and verify timesheets and payroll data, including calculations of wages, overtime, deductions, and benefits.
Distribute benefit and retirement plan contributions, such as HSA, VEBA, PERA, and 457b contributions.
File and reconcile required federal and state payroll reports, including W-2s, quarterly 941s, and unemployment reports.
Reconcile payroll deductions, general ledger accounts, and vendor billings.
Ensure compliance with union contracts and payroll and employment laws, regulations, and best practices; collaborate with HR on policy development and compliance matters.
Serve as system administrator for Enterprise ERP (Payroll/HRIS), Time and Attendance, and Employee Self Service modules.
Implement and support new software programs and system integrations.
Manage year-end payroll processes and maintain system control settings.
Prepare payroll-related financial reports and analysis for internal review, including personal services budget reporting.
Compile required reports for government agencies.
Prepare workpapers and documentation for annual financial and workers’ compensation audits.
Respond to employee payroll inquiries and resolve concerns in a timely and confidential manner.
Provide support to the annual Open Enrollment process.
Train and provide backup guidance to cross-trained staff.
Perform other duties as assigned.