Senior Payroll Systems Technician

Los Angeles Community College District•Los Angeles, CA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Independently performs the complete cycle of data entry, transaction processing, compilation and audit of data, preparation of reports and responses to inquiries, and resolution of system and employee issues for a more complex and specialized function or area of payroll or retirement operations and assists in providing work instruction and direction to lower-level staff in the unit. This class is distinguished from the class of Payroll Systems Technician by the level of responsibility assumed, complexity of duties assigned, and independence of action taken. A Payroll Systems Technician performs clerical-technical duties related to the processing of payroll and retirement data and records, review of salary payments, deductions, benefits accruals and balances, and related records for compliance with rules and regulations; updating and maintaining payroll data in a computerized payroll system, and resolving discrepancies in salary payments, deductions, benefits accruals and balances, and records. A Supervising Payroll Systems Technician plans, schedules, and supervises the work of a specialized clerical unit engaged in processing payroll/retirement system data and records, and personally resolves the most complex and difficult payroll data discrepancies of the unit; participates in the work of the unit and in resolving the more complex operational and systems work of the unit. Immediate supervision is received from a payroll supervisor or manager. Work direction may be received from a Supervising Payroll Systems Technician. May provide work direction to lower-level payroll and clerical staff.

Requirements

Graduation from high school or its equivalent AND two years of full-time, paid experience in the preparation of payrolls using a computerized payroll system, including computation of salary payments and deductions and resolution of discrepancies.
Graduation from high school or its equivalent AND one year of full-time, paid experience with the Los Angeles Community College District in the class of Payroll Systems Technician.
Knowledge of: Processes, procedures and terminology used in technical payroll preparation, processing, and reporting.
Processes, procedures, and terminology used in the processing and reporting of retirement system data, forms, and reports.
Board Rules, Personnel Commission Rules, and union contracts related to payroll and retirement processing and reporting.
Basic Federal and State laws, rules, and regulations related to employee salaries, payroll deductions, and income reporting.
Operational policies, rules, and regulations of the State Teachers’ Retirement System, Public Employees’ Retirement System, and Public Agency Retirement Services System.
Technical-level accounting principles and practices.
Capabilities of computer systems, software, and hardware used in payroll and retirement processing and operations.
Business English, punctuation, spelling, and grammatical usage.
Customer service techniques for public contact in person, on the telephone, and in written communication.
Skill in: Use of computer and standard office equipment.
Ability to: Generate payroll and/or retirement data sets and computer reports related assigned work.
Detect discrepancies in data and records.
Revise, enter, record, and verify information with speed and accuracy.
Apply information system coding protocols related to payroll/retirement operations.
Make arithmetical computations rapidly and accurately.
Effectively utilize computer hardware and specialized software applications in the performance of duties.
Understand, apply, and explain payroll/retirement related policies, rules, regulations, and procedures related to assigned work.
Work under the pressure of recurrent deadlines.
Prepare accurate reports and correspondence.
Maintain accurate records and files.
Follow written and oral directions.
Work effectively and cooperatively with a diverse pool of District staff and representatives of outside organizations such as CalSTRS and CalPERS.

Nice To Haves

May provide work direction to clerical payroll and other clerical staff assigned to the unit.
May assist in testing configuration of payroll system additions and changes.
May participate in payroll and retirement system workshops sponsored by the Payroll Branch.

Responsibilities

Performs the complete cycle of data entry, transaction processing, compilation and audit of data, preparation of reports and responses to inquiries, and resolution of system and employee issues for a more complex and specialized function or area of payroll or retirement operations such as quota management, workers’ compensation, STRS reporting, or PERS reporting.
Assists in identifying and resolving problems in the SAP Payroll system or processing procedures by examining data and reports for the purpose of recommending system modifications.
Assists in training unit personnel in work procedures and processes.
Assists in providing work instruction and oversight for lower-level staff in completing special processing or projects.
Identifies parameters and runs reports from HRIS payroll or time and attendance modules for use in audits and preparing reports.
Reviews personnel assignments and payroll and retirement data files from computerized and non-computerized sources to verify accuracy and/or identify errors such as underpayments, overpayments, and other variances.
Utilizes computerized payroll and related systems to calculate, code, and simulate payments, taxes, leave, differentials, quotas, garnishments, deductions, step advancements, union dues, retirement contributions, service credit and other payroll/retirement data in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Determines the causes of errors and discrepancies in data such as salary, hourly rates, regular hours and overtime hours, payments, deductions, quota accruals and balances, and service credit; computes and prepares data for correction; and makes corrections to master records and systems.
Prints paychecks and pay stubs; verifies the accuracy and completeness of outcomes.
Processes special transactions such as vacation payouts, workers compensation checks, jury duty check deductions, catastrophic leave transfers, and emergency pay.
Sets up and reconciles voluntary payroll deductions such as 403(b) and 457(b) deductions; prepares reports; identifies exceptions and remits payment to vendors.
Submits monthly retirement reports to CalSTRS, CalPERS, and/or PARS.
Assesses eligibility and enrolls new and continuing employees into the appropriate retirement system based on factors such as assignment, eligible service requirements, and prior membership; monitors workflow notices; and makes adjustments, corrections, or changes to retirement system enrollment and status as required.
Assists college payroll staff with resolving system issues related to time entry, transmittal, and adjustments and with solving individual employee problems by reviewing warrants and computerized payroll and personnel system records, identifying the source of problems, and providing explanations and instruction on appropriate corrective action.
Answers inquiries and prepares third party correspondence and reports for federal, state, and other private and agencies such as Social Security Administration, Employment Development Department, Public Employees Retirement System CalPERS, State Teachers Retirement System CalSTRS, workers compensation administrators, and insurance companies.
Assists employees with payroll and retirement questions and issues by: responding to questions; providing applicable applications and forms; compiling information associated with application for retirement, post-retirement earnings, service credit reviews, and other related needs for documentation.
Prepares correspondence to employees regarding overpayments, repayment plans, taxes, union dues, and other payroll/retirement related topics.
Applies applicable provisions of collective bargaining agreements, Laws and Rules of the Personnel Commission, and Rules of the Board of Trustees to the processing of payroll and retirement transactions.
Maintains files and records related to assigned work.
May assist in testing configuration of payroll system additions and changes.
May participate in payroll and retirement system workshops sponsored by the Payroll Branch.
Performs related duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical and dental insurance and vision care plans are provided for employees and their dependents.
A $50,000 life insurance policy is provided free of charge for each employee.
New employees receive 12 full-pay days and 88 half-pay days of illness leave.
19 paid holidays per year.
Vacation days accrue annually beginning at 10 days and increasing incrementally to 24 days depending on years of service with the District.
Vacation days for management and confidential positions begin at 15, 20, or 24 days.
Other paid time off includes: bereavement leave, personal necessity leave, court subpoena, and jury duty.
Employees become members of the Public Employees Retirement System.
Employees are also covered by Social Security.
Employee Assistance Program