Payroll Clerk

DOC Central Office•Wethersfield, CT

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC) is seeking candidates for two Payroll Clerk opportunities within the Payroll Unit at Central Office. These positions support a variety of payroll processing, data entry, reconciliation, issue resolution, and reporting activities that ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll operations for approximately 6,000 DOC employees. This recruitment will be used to create a larger pool of candidates for future positions within the Payroll Unit as additional vacancies arise. The Connecticut Department of Correction is a diverse agency with a wide variety of employees from Correction Officers, to Educators, to Managers and Skilled Professionals. We value differences that make us stronger as a team and support our mission statement. The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is the agency responsible for corrections in the U.S. State of Connecticut. The agency operates 13 correctional facilities. It has its headquarters in Wethersfield. The DOC protects public safety by ensuring offenders serve their sentences of imprisonments in facilities that are safe, human, and provide re-entry programming. The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction is a unified system; all sentenced and un-sentenced offenders are supervised by the DOC. The Department also provides supervision for offenders on parole, community release, and other discretionary release programs.

Requirements

Three (3) years of experience in bookkeeping, accounts payable or clerical work involving finances.
One (1) year of the General Experience must have involved payroll preparation.
Knowledge of payroll terminology, practices and procedures.
Knowledge of basic accounting and bookkeeping principles and procedures.
Knowledge of general office procedures.
Interpersonal skills.
Oral and written communication skills.
Skills in performing arithmetic computations.
Ability to read, understand and apply applicable contract guidelines and regulations.
Ability to maintain records and files.
Ability to follow complex oral and written instructions.
Ability to operate office equipment which includes computers, tablets, and other electronic equipment.
Persons having responsibility for supervising or observing the behavior of inmates or custodial individuals will be required to possess a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certification by the time of permanent appointment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with PeopleSoft Payroll/HR (CORE CT) or similar payroll systems.
Experience with UKG Pro (Kronos), or other payroll platforms.
Experience independently compiling and analyzing payroll data and preparing payroll reports.
Experience with Microsoft Excel (tracking, formulas), Word (document preparation), and Teams.
Experience communicating effectively with diverse groups of people while providing excellent customer service.
Experience working independently and meeting deadlines.
Ability to problem-solve and adapt to changing work priorities.
Experience preparing or reviewing documents for accuracy, including verifying data and maintaining organized records.

Responsibilities

Enter W 4s, direct deposits, credit union deductions, retirement contributions and other payroll related updates in payroll systems.
Calculate payouts and enter payments into payroll software.
Process current or prior pay period adjustments.
Identify issues in the state payroll systems and work with supervisors to resolve discrepancies.
Produce and review time and attendance payroll audits, reports; correct issues before deadlines.
Compile and analyze payroll data and prepare payroll reports.
Review payroll information for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
Support documentation, filing, and audit-ready record maintenance.
Work with diverse groups of DOC staff across multiple facilities to resolve payroll questions.
Provide professional, clear, timely communication to employees and supervisors.
Prepares biweekly regular, overtime, and supplemental payrolls.
Reviews employee time cards and/or timesheets for accuracy and completeness and posts hours worked to master payroll cards.
Reviews personnel and/or payroll change notices and posts changes and/or adjustments to master files, e.g. new hires, transfers, reclassifications, terminations, retirements, overpayments and/or underpayments, wage increases, deduction changes (health insurance, union dues and/or fees, credit union payments, charitable contributions, bond or sheltered tax annuity payments, group life insurance payments, etc.).
Calculates gross wages.
Notes deductions on worksheets and deduction summary sheets.
Prepares and balances prelists for Central Payroll (Office of State Comptroller), noting both salary and deduction data OR codes standard payroll action forms in conjunction with computerized payroll system.
Prepares and totals various deduction worksheets, e.g., Credit Union, Medical and/or Insurance Providers, etc.
Prepares and submits summary sheets and transmittal certificates OR detailed analysis of expenditure reports and expenditure certificates to Central Payroll.
Verifies check register and printouts from Central Payroll against worksheets and records.
Performs various clerical accounting functions such as calculating balances and posting charges to expenditure accounts.
Prepares supplemental payrolls such as longevity payments, vacation pay, promotional adjustments, etc.
Calculates and processes retroactive payments, collective bargaining increases and annual increments.
Verifies provider checks issued by Office of State Comptroller against own records.
Verifies providers' bills in same manner.
Keeps abreast of collective bargaining contract requirements and restrictions as related to payroll (dates for salary increases, overtime, shift differential and holiday pay restrictions, etc.).
Responds to employee inquiries regarding paychecks and payroll practices and procedures.
Maintains various records and files for payroll data and forms.
May calculate workers compensation and/or retirement payments.
May calculate and monitor payroll deductions for court ordered wage executions (garnishments).
May consult division or facility supervisors regarding employee time recorded.
Performs related duties as required.