Payroll Technician

/ College of the Canyons • Santa Clarita, CA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Santa Clarita Community College District/College of the Canyons is hiring a full-time Payroll Technician in the Business Services and Information Technology division. This is an in-person position at the Valencia campus, with a 12-calendar-month work year and a normal 40-hour workweek. A regular schedule will be assigned, with occasional flexibility possible with supervisor approval. Salary is Range 30 of Classified Salary Schedule B; new employees are customarily placed at step 1, 2, or 3, corresponding to $5,767.00, $6,115.00, or $6,453.00 per month. New Classified Represented employees serve a six-month probationary period.

Under the direction of the Director of Payroll Services, in conjunction with the AVP, Business Services and the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Administrative Services, the Payroll Technician performs technical payroll functions, including analysis, reconciliation, and reporting for the District’s payrolls. The payrolls are currently processed using the Los Angeles County Office of Education computerized payroll system. The role is responsible for payroll-related entries and reporting in County, District, and other institutional or government-agency systems; supports Payroll Coordinators and the Director with complex payroll functions; prepares employee historical payroll and employment reports as directed; follows applicable regulations and procedures; and performs specialized office support and clerical tasks.

The District describes itself as an inclusive, creative, flexible, innovative, and equity-focused educational community. It seeks candidates who value diversity and collaboration and are committed to closing equity gaps and supporting student success. The position requires successful completion of fingerprint background clearance, a pre-employment physical examination, and TB screening; proof of U.S. work eligibility; a loyalty oath; applicable CalPERS or CalSTRS eligibility; and Board of Trustees approval. Official, sealed transcripts are required upon offer of employment.

Requirements

• At least two years of full-time-equivalent experience in a general office with increasing responsibility, including at least one year of payroll-processing experience.
• Experience using a computerized payroll system.
• Education equivalent to an Associate’s degree (60 semester units); two years of direct experience beyond the experience requirement may substitute for each year (30 units) of college.
• Ability to learn, interpret, and apply legal mandates, policies, regulations, guidelines, and operating procedures.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service and multitask in a high-stress, team-oriented environment.
• Accuracy and efficiency in repetitive work and responsibility for clerical detail; ability to adapt to changing payroll and procedural requirements.
• Ability to analyze data and solve non-routine problems using good judgment and generally accepted accounting principles.
• Ability to work independently, meet schedules and timelines, and take verbal and written direction.
• Ability to maintain comprehensive, accurate files and records and assist with concise, complete reports.
• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively, orally and in writing, with students, faculty, staff, the public, and other contacts.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive and privileged information.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, faculty, staff, temporary employees, and others.
• Computer proficiency and currency with advanced technology used to provide services; ability to use automated payroll systems, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases, type accurately, and perform arithmetic calculations.
• Knowledge of modern office practices and equipment, record management and filing systems, receptionist and telephone techniques, correspondence and report writing, and proper English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff, and the community.
• Successful completion of fingerprint background clearance, pre-employment physical examination, and TB screening; proof of U.S. work eligibility and signing of a loyalty oath; applicable CalPERS or CalSTRS eligibility; and Board of Trustees approval.

Nice To Haves

• Payroll experience in an educational institution or public-agency system.
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel.
• Experience with an administrative database such as Human Capital Management (HCM), Datatel, Colleague, or PeopleSoft.

Responsibilities

• Organize, plan, and perform payroll activities; reconcile payrolls to ensure accurate, timely preparation, distribution, maintenance, and legal reporting while meeting payroll schedules.
• Contribute to ongoing development and implementation of employment- and payroll-related systems.
• Prepare, process, audit, and balance payroll transactions from print, electronic, and other time-reporting sources; review time records and reconcile reports for accuracy.
• Enter time worked and employment-related documents into computerized payroll systems and maintain accurate employee records.
• Process budget account codes and specialized tax status, retirement codes, tax withholdings, Social Security and Medicare status, Unemployment Insurance, and payroll deductions.
• Ensure compliance with record-retention policies and procedures and maintain the security and accessibility of records.
• Assist Payroll Coordinators and the Director of Payroll Services with payroll processing and audits; perform additional data entry and reporting as needed.
• Calculate, record, and maintain leave-plan accruals, usage, and balances; audit timesheets and manual leave forms and synchronize procedures with the District Online Leave System.
• Maintain payroll deduction vendor accounts, review deduction requests, enter and maintain deductions, reconcile employee deductions to vendor invoices, process payment warrant requests, and handle refunds and corrections.
• Compile and process payroll tax deposits and assist with quarterly and annual Federal, State, and Unemployment Insurance payroll tax reporting and reconciliation.
• Provide salary history and position information for State EDD audits and other authorized governmental or regulatory requests.
• Coordinate with Human Resources and other departments on employment and payroll matters; provide payroll information and documents to authorized requestors.
• Prepare information and reports for public-records requests.
• Ensure payroll transactions are charged to the correct funding accounts and enter corrections for funding-account errors.
• Perform administrative and clerical tasks, including typing correspondence, reports, and forms; copying, filing, faxing, maintaining files, distributing County reports, and attending meetings.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information and work effectively with limited supervision and frequent interruptions.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Paid holidays, discretionary time, and sick time.
• Ten vacation days accrue during the first year of employment.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including dependent coverage, disability and life insurance, and Section 125 options; benefits commence on the first of the month following the date of hire.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Educational incentive for eligible Classified Represented and Confidential employees.
• Participation in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), a defined-benefit retirement plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree