Payroll Specialist 1

State of Montana•Helena, MT

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Operations & Financial Services Division (OFSD) is responsible for administration and coordination of accounting and payroll related matters throughout the agency. The payroll section in OFSD provides agency-wide guidance regarding payroll, vacation, sick leave/sick leave donation, holiday, and comp time benefits for more than 700 full-time employees and more than 350 seasonal employees. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is spread throughout Montana and is made up of 7 Divisions and 7 Regional Offices. This position performs and reconciles payroll. Guarantees that appropriate updates and corrections are processed properly through the system. Analyzes payroll support documents to determine compliance with State and Federal laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. In addition, compliance must also be maintained with bargaining unit agreement/union contracts.

Requirements

Must reside in Montana (or move to Montana) to accept this position.
Ensure all confidential information remains safe, accurate, and only shared with authorized individuals.
Consistently demonstrate keen attention to detail, organizational skills, time management, and prioritization skills.
Ability to explain and/or translate payroll policies, benefits, and timesheet requirements.
Ability to work with customers, employees, and managers.
Strong aptitude for numbers.
Ability to use computers.
Completion of a vocational accounting program and two years' experience, or a high school diploma plus four years' experience in a payroll or human resource related job. Alternative combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of bookkeeping or accounting software and Excel is especially valuable.

Responsibilities

Review and process biweekly payroll to ensure all time reported is reasonable
Maintains and updates payroll information in SABHRS. Enters and maintains employee personal and payroll data. Processes pay changes and terminations.
Enforces the terms and conditions of collective bargaining agreements and union contracts to process all pay-related changes/payments required under the collective bargaining agreements.
Initiates and/or completes interagency transfer of funds when required.
Correct differences through preparation of journal vouchers or prior pay period adjustments on the SABHRS HR system. Audits sick and annual leave records and ensures excess leave and compensatory time payouts are completed in compliance with policy.
Computes final leave balances for termination payoffs and employee transfers to other agencies.
Enter necessary adjustments such as differential pay, retroactive pay, longevity and leave accelerator adjustments, prior pay period adjustments to reported time and other miscellaneous adjustments. Process off cycle checks when required.
Create and run various system reports to research and compile appropriate payroll, budgeting, accounting, or auditing information.
Review and verify data in reports to ensure a variety of payroll allocations and other transactions are properly recorded using computer software. Take corrective actions as needed.
Assist managers and employees by processing payroll documents such as sick leave, annual leave, or compensatory time reports.
Research employee inquires on payroll matters.
Prepare estimations on final pay for retirees considering different tax deferred/pre-tax options. In conjunction with the HR Manager, enforces payroll and benefit policies and procedures, auditing principles, state and federal regulations and statutes to resolve issues and problems.
Propose new policies, procedures or processes or revisions to current policies, procedures, and processes when necessary; responsible for ensuring that payroll policies, procedures and processes are implemented and followed.
Work as a team member with the HR Manager and other staff to formulate policies and procedures that affect the entire Agency. Initiate responses and suggestions as needed to correct or resolve issues that affect the Agency.
As a Team member, assists in developing the Bureau’s goals and objectives as they relate to the Department’s goals and objectives. Assist department personnel in meeting their fiscal year end obligations and calendar year end obligations. Provides ongoing training and technical assistance regarding payroll and procedures and requirements.
Process all adjustments required for MPERA payments or reimbursements. Works with MPERA staff to answer pay questions, correct PERS eligibility, and run audit report to ensure employees working >960 hours are enrolled in PERS.