GENERAL SUMMARY
Shoreline is an inclusive City that endeavors to build a work culture which embraces diversity, encourages participation, and promotes equity.
DEFINITION
To manage and supervise the organization’s daily payroll operations and ensure that payrolls are processed for all employees in a timely, accurate, and efficient manner; to supervise the payroll technician: to oversee payroll, benefits and retirement processing and reporting in accordance with regulations, policies, and union labor agreements: to provide customer service to internal and external customers, and ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws; to oversee implementation and updates to existing payroll systems.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general supervision from assigned management staff.
Provides supervision over assigned staff.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Essential Functions:
- Manage City’s bi-weekly timekeeping and payroll processes; responsible for overall service delivery, accuracy, including accurate paychecks, leave accruals, retirement and benefits deductions and contributions; research discrepancies of payroll information and/or documentation to ensure accuracy and adherence to procedures prior to processing.
- Serves as an active member of the Administrative Services Department Leadership Team, participating in strategic planning, policy development, and decision making to support organizational goals and priorities.
- Supervise, train, direct and appraise assigned staff.
- Provide customer service for departments, vendors, and outside agencies within area of assignment; support management and staff by providing payroll-related reports; provide technical information and instruction regarding payroll procedures and methods to City staff; interpret and explain payroll rules and regulations; answer questions and resolve problems or complaints.
- Evaluate sustainability, effectiveness, internal controls, and equitable results of policies, procedures and payroll systems; make recommendations for change.
- Evaluate, prepare for, implement payroll, and benefit changes as a result of represented bargaining unit contractual changes and employee policy changes.
- Prepare and audit changes for payment of various group insurance premiums, including medical, dental, vision and life insurances; reconcile invoices; ensure accurate and timely transmittal of retirement contributions.
- Prepare, compute and produce payroll and benefits reports, including quarterly and annual Federal and State tax obligations and deposits.
- Process a variety of payroll related actions including wage garnishments, child support deductions, varying types of premium pay, a variety of benefit deductions and tax withholding.
- Prepare and distribute W-2 forms.
- Manage year-end payroll process and updates, including information and reporting to other government agencies.
- Contribute to an effective Human Resources/Payroll partnership; participate in regular Human Resources – Payroll meetings to exchange information and discuss changes and issues.
- Coordinate with IT division to evaluate and implement new payroll and timekeeping system functionality, upgrades, and applications, implementation of payroll system changes and processes to support changes in labor agreements, laws, and City policy.
QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:
- Principles and practices of payroll and benefits administration.
- Understand, interpret, apply, and explain complex contracts, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
- Reporting requirements for payroll taxes and benefits.
- Pay, hour, taxes, benefit and leave laws and regulations applicable to Washington municipalities.
- FLSA rules and overtime calculations.
- Principles and practices of governmental accounting.
- Benefit liabilities and payment obligations.
- General ledger account structure.
- Methods and techniques of customer service.
- Research methods and data analysis.
- Principles and procedures of financial record keeping and reporting.
- Mathematical principles.
- Automated payroll/financial systems.
- Pertinent Federal, State and local laws and regulations.
Ability to:
- Participate and work effectively in an organization committed to advancing principles and practices of equity and anti-racism.
- Manage and supervise direct reports.
- Provide exceptional customer service. Respond to requests and inquiries from internal and external customers.
- Perform accounting and payroll functions.
- Organize, make decisions and follow through on situations requiring evaluation and judgment.
- Maintain accurate payroll records and prepare related reports.
- Ensure accurate reconciliation of all payroll related accounts and disbursements.
- Maintain deadlines and schedules for all payroll related functions.
- Apply Federal, State laws and regulations and City policies and procedures to the payroll process.
- Interpret and explain payroll policies and procedures.
- Conduct research, analyze and summarize detailed information.
- Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
- Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships and communicate effectively with those contacted in the course of work.
- Maintain a high degree of confidentiality and communicate sensitively and effectively with employees concerning individual payroll matters.
Skills:
- Experience and Training Guidelines: Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain knowledge and abilities would be:
- Experience: Four years of increasingly responsible experience processing payroll in an automated payroll environment, at least one year in supervisory capacity.
- Training: Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting from an accredited college or university. In the absence of a bachelor’s degree, completion of a two-year college program in accounting or related field, or certificate in payroll accounting is acceptable.
Employment is contingent upon successfully passing State/Federal pre-employment background checks
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The City's mission is to fulfill the community’s vision through highly valued public service. Our employees work relentlessly to achieve organizational goals while embracing the City’s values. City Mission, Values, and Goals
Environmental Conditions: Office environment; extensive exposure to computer screen.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
All candidates will be required to establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire. The City is not able to sponsor work visas.
A successful completion of a criminal background check.
All positions require the completion of reference checks, including at least one prior supervisor.
Remote Work Eligibility: This position is eligible for remote work. The City’s remote work policy requires staff in positions eligible for remote work to work onsite a minimum of four days per pay period (every two weeks), the schedule will be mutually agreed upon with the supervisor. Full-time remote work is not an option. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington.
RECRUITMENT TIMELINE
Review of applications: February 4
Panel interviews: Week of February 9
Reference and background checks: Week of February 16
Targeted start date: March first week
Applicants with disabilities who require assistance with the application or interview process will be accommodated to the extent reasonably possible. To request accommodation, please call 206-801-2243.