Payroll Supervisor

King County•Seattle, WA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The King County Sheriff’s Office is hiring a Payroll Supervisor to lead five payroll support staff and Payroll Specialists and oversee bi-weekly payroll processing for more than 1,100 employees. The supervisor manages the full payroll cycle, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with union contracts and federal and state laws. The role handles sensitive financial data, provides high-level customer service to commissioned and non-commissioned personnel, and works directly with management at all levels. It also performs complex, non-routine payroll work, exercises discretion and independent judgment when processing payroll data, and supports special assignments and projects. This civil service classified position is open only to current King County employees. The selected candidate must pass a comprehensive background investigation, including fingerprinting and a polygraph examination. The role is eligible for a hybrid work model, with at least three days per week onsite at the King County Courthouse in Seattle; onsite requirements may change based on business needs. The work schedule is Monday through Friday. The position is FLSA exempt and not eligible for overtime.

Requirements

At least five years of professional, comprehensive accounting and payroll operations experience; an equivalent combination of education and professional experience in financial operations within a large organization may be considered.
At least five years of experience in labor contract administration and interpretation.
Extensive experience with payroll production processing.
Experience with labor contract implementation and administration.
Experience conducting complex payroll research and gathering information.
Strong interpersonal, communication, conflict-resolution, and delegation skills.
Supervisory or lead experience in payroll operations or a related area.
Strong organizational and collaboration skills.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or DACA recipient.
Must be able to read, speak, and write English fluently.
Must meet KCSO background standards and not meet any KCSO Automatic Disqualifying Behavior requirements.
Must pass a comprehensive background investigation, including fingerprinting and a polygraph examination.
Must submit a complete online employment application with employment history going back at least ten years, if applicable, and answer all supplemental questions; resumes are not accepted in lieu of the completed application.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential.
Experience with public-sector practices, including labor relations.
Experience with PeopleSoft or a similar payroll processing system.
Experience with Oracle/EBS financial system.
Previous experience in law enforcement or public safety agencies.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, supervision, direction, and training in payroll and related operations.
Supervise payroll staff by directing and monitoring workflow and work product.
Manage employee performance to ensure payroll work is accurate and completed by assigned deadlines.
Serve as a subject matter expert on payroll matters and projects.
Participate in strategic planning and develop or revise payroll policies and procedures for the work unit as needed.
Research and analyze financial data and payroll issues, including overtime, special duty, salary earnings history, labor contract settlements, and retroactive payments.
Develop, plan, and manage work-unit special projects.
Direct and assist staff in researching and resolving difficult or unusual payroll issues through interpretation of policies, contracts, and procedures.
Manage daily payroll decisions related to contractual labor obligations and their effects on the Sheriff’s Office budget and expenditures.
Work with external auditors, labor negotiators on 11 KCSO union contracts, public disclosure requests, and central payroll staff on complex, time-sensitive payroll questions.
Testify at labor arbitration hearings as the department’s payroll subject matter expert when needed.
Work with management to interpret payroll administrative policies and procedures and resolve complex labor-contract payroll problems.
Coordinate with Central Finance and labor relations on contract implementation, COLA, payroll calendar development, future policies, and computer-system conversions.