Payroll Specialist

Benton County•Corvallis, OR

About The Position

The Payroll Specialist works in Benton County’s Financial Services Department as one of two specialists and independently manages countywide payroll for approximately 500 or more employees. The role is the subject matter expert on payroll matters and maintains accurate, secure payroll records to support system integrity and compliance with federal and state laws, collective bargaining agreements, personnel policies, and other applicable regulations. The position reviews, verifies, and processes payroll data for employees across all departments; generates personnel, payroll, tax, and benefits reports; and collaborates with Financial and Budget Analysts to prepare salary projections for budgeting and labor contract negotiations. Limited hybrid or remote work may be considered after successful completion of the six-month probationary period, subject to department needs and supervisory approval.

Requirements

Associate’s degree or two-year technical certificate in accounting or business, and five years of progressively responsible experience in payroll processing; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted, with at least six months of actual work experience required to be considered for equivalency.
Five years of experience with primary responsibility for payroll administration for a unionized workforce in an organization of similar size and complexity.
Experience administering multiple bargaining-unit payroll rules, contract pay provisions, payroll compliance requirements, and payroll and human resource information management systems.
Submit a cover letter describing relevant work, education, and payroll administration experience, including organizational size, number of employees supported, and specific collective bargaining unit payroll processing experience.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree in accounting or business.
Five years of payroll administration experience in a unionized environment.
Intermediate experience with Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, and Outlook.
Strong client-service-oriented customer service skills.
Experience with payroll and human resource information management systems, particularly MUNIS.
Experience with local government payroll and collective bargaining units.
Strong analytical skills.
Knowledge of state and federal wage and hour laws.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) designation.

Responsibilities

Independently manage the countywide payroll function for approximately 500 or more employees.
Serve as a subject matter expert on payroll-related matters.
Maintain accurate and secure payroll records to ensure system integrity and compliance with applicable laws, agreements, policies, and regulations.
Review, verify, and process payroll data for employees across all departments.
Generate required personnel, payroll, tax, and benefits reports.
Collaborate with Financial and Budget Analysts to prepare salary projections for budgeting and labor contract negotiations.

Benefits

11 paid holidays and 2 floating holidays.
Eight hours of vacation accrual per month, increasing with years of service.
Sick leave.
$0 health insurance premium for medical, dental, and vision coverage, including eligible family members.
County contribution of up to $1,400 per year to a Health Savings or Reimbursement account; Health Savings Account funds roll over from year to year.
Dependents covered through age 26.
After six months of employment, a 6% of salary employer contribution toward Oregon PERS.
After six months of employment, a 3% of salary employer contribution to a deferred compensation 457(b) plan.
Free wellness program with seminars, challenges, activities, monetary incentives, and prizes.
100% employer-paid AD&D coverage ($100,000), life insurance ($10,000), and long-term disability coverage.
Supplemental insurance plans available at reasonable rates.
Two salary raises during the first year, after the six-month probationary period and at the one-year anniversary, subject to performance being in good standing and until the salary range maximum is reached.