Senior Payroll Specialist

Arizona Department of Administration•Phoenix, AZ

37d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Payroll Specialist is the second level of a two-level Payroll Specialist series. The incumbent serves as back-up for the Accounting Manager to perform the functions of AZ360 maintenance and the direction of payroll staff. Has authorization of all internal and GAO critical functions, including the approval of manual warrants when the Payroll Manager is out of the office. Position acts as a resource for payroll questions, reports, and concerns from management and staff by researching and interpreting a variety of general and complex information through ASDB, SAAM, GAO, FLSA Federal, state statute policy, and procedures. Reviews, analyzes, verifies, and monitors payroll documents, reports, and entries for accuracy; makes necessary adjustments or corrections through established payroll/policy procedures. Helps develop, maintain, bi-weekly spreadsheets, calendars and audits deferred pay (Spread Pay) for 10-month staff. Maintain, update, review payroll records, and verify staff member HR data entry, tax exemptions, ASRS status, transfers, and resignations/terminations. Employee is responsible for auditing and correcting leave plans and deferred pay (Spread pay). Creates and monitors electronic and physical files. Responsible for effectively communicating payroll processes, changes interpreting payroll data. This position is responsible for providing effective customer service for all internal and external customers, as well as communicating effectively with team members within the Payroll, Finance, and Human Resources Departments. Helps review staff members' and supervisors' ETE entries for timeliness and accuracy, and provides technical support during the pay period ending. Provides assistance, support, and training to Payroll/Travel Specialists and employees. Employee creates payroll reports, audits errors, observes trends, suggests new payroll strategies, supports the budget team, the grants team, and Medicaid. Assures the quality control of all payroll transactions, paychecks, payroll accounting, and leave balance accrual, RASL and ASRS. Attend State and agency trainings. Position will be responsible for some or all of the listed duties and/or additional duties that occur from time to time.

Requirements

Associate's degree or vocational training in a related field
Previous payroll work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
Administrative and clerical procedures: word processing, filing and record keeping, designing forms, Excel, and experience in data entry and MS Office skills.
Governmental economic and accounting principles and practices.
Analysis and reporting of financial data.
Auditing of records
Record retention
Payroll legal codes, state and federal regulations, agency policy, and rules.
Finance accounting function and budgeting process.
Customer and personal services.
Using mathematics, reason, and consistency to solve problems.
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to complete a job.
Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design template.
Managing one's own time.
Developing reports and querying computer programs for various purposes.
Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Determining the causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Use a 10-key and a calculator to check calculations.
Work as a team to complete projects and create new systems.
To be at the workstation on time and management of breaks and lunch.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Must be able to pass FBI and State background checks
Must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Nice To Haves

Must complete Defensive Driver Training Program if driving on State business.
Must possess a valid Driver's License if driving or using a vehicle is an essential function.

Responsibilities

Serves as back-up for the Accounting Manager to perform AZ360 maintenance and direct payroll staff.
Authorizes internal and GAO critical functions, including manual warrant approval when the Payroll Manager is out.
Acts as a resource for payroll questions, reports, and concerns by researching and interpreting complex information.
Reviews, analyzes, verifies, and monitors payroll documents, reports, and entries for accuracy, making necessary adjustments.
Develops and maintains bi-weekly spreadsheets, calendars, and audits deferred pay for 10-month staff.
Maintains, updates, and reviews payroll records, verifying HR data entry, tax exemptions, ASRS status, transfers, and resignations/terminations.
Audits and corrects leave plans and deferred pay.
Creates and monitors electronic and physical files.
Communicates payroll processes, changes, and interprets payroll data effectively.
Provides effective customer service to internal and external customers.
Communicates effectively with team members in Payroll, Finance, and Human Resources Departments.
Reviews staff members' and supervisors' ETE entries for timeliness and accuracy, providing technical support.
Provides assistance, support, and training to Payroll/Travel Specialists and employees.
Creates payroll reports, audits errors, observes trends, and suggests new payroll strategies.
Supports the budget team, the grants team, and Medicaid.
Ensures quality control of all payroll transactions, paychecks, payroll accounting, and leave balance accrual, RASL and ASRS.
Attends State and agency trainings.