SPECIALIST, PAYROLL

Denver Public Schools•Denver, CO

3d•$57,069 - $68,484

About The Position

The Payroll Specialist manages payroll activities for assigned schools and departments with minimal guidance and a high degree of independence. The role processes employee transactions, time cards, contract pay, health leave management, and payroll for district employees. It partners with school leaders and other departments to ensure payroll data is correct and accurate, and completes post-payroll audits, corrections, and overpayment processing. The position independently analyzes payroll data, maintains data integrity, resolves employee pay issues, and supports payroll process improvements and system optimization. It serves as a liaison and subject matter expert for schools, central office, and cross-functional teams, while maintaining confidentiality and compliance with labor laws and district procedures. Applicants must maintain a permanent home address in Colorado while working for Denver Public Schools and be able to meet the position’s physical demands, with or without accommodations. Applications are accepted until November 13, 2026; if the position remains open, later applications may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least three years of progressively responsible experience in payroll administration and processing.
Permanent home address in Colorado while working for Denver Public Schools.
Ability, with or without accommodations, to meet the physical demands of the position.
Commitment to racial and educational excellence, dismantling systems of oppression and inequity, and supporting students so they feel seen and heard and have access to high-quality education.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree in Accounting or a related field preferred.
Experience in a large school district or public-sector employer preferred.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) designation desired, but not required.

Responsibilities

Perform independent analysis of payroll data and use judgment to identify, correct, and prevent payroll errors across assigned employee groups.
Audit employee records and time-card transactions daily to maintain payroll data integrity.
Collaborate with Human Resources, Benefits, Compensation, and Finance to research, resolve, and correct discrepancies across systems.
Resolve employee pay concerns, overpayments, garnishments, and tax adjustments while maintaining confidentiality and compliance with labor laws and district procedures.
Respond to employee inquiries by interpreting pay calculations, explaining procedures, and communicating payroll policies.
Liaise with schools, central office, and cross-functional teams, providing payroll guidance and supporting consistent operations and customer service.
Analyze and implement payroll process improvements that support system optimization, data accuracy, and efficiency.
Conduct post-payroll audits and prepare adjustments, off-cycle corrections, and manual transactions.
Analyze pay discrepancies, determine root causes, and apply corrective actions using the payroll processing system.
Maintain current knowledge of payroll systems, laws, and best practices.
Support payroll-related projects, including system transitions, testing, and training.
Perform other duties as assigned.