Payroll Specialist

The City of Cedar Park

The City of Cedar Park is a vibrant suburb of over 83,000 residents, located 17 miles northwest of downtown Austin and recognized for its quality of life in the fast-growth dynamic Central Texas region. Cedar Park is the fourth largest city in the Austin metropolitan area, shares a border with Austin, and is ideally situated for corporate headquarters with a growing number of high tech and major manufacturing employers. With deep roots as a small community and ability to retain a hometown feel, it is known for its outstanding schools, probusiness climate and relaxed family environment. Named one of the Best Suburbs for Growing Families and Best Small City in America in 2020, Cedar Park offers all the benefits of life in an emerging first ring suburb in a region known for its high tech, innovation and live music, with desirable neighborhoods, an entrepreneurial business environment, and an effective, well managed city government.

We image the City of Cedar Park as a family-oriented community, one of compassion, integrity, diversity and many faiths. We are an attractive destination, a leader in business development and committed to an exceptional quality of life for all.

The Position

Under limited supervision, administers all payroll functions which includes processing bi-weekly payroll for all City employees. May perform specialized duties related to the preparation, remittance, and reconciliation of payroll reports, benefits, and payments. Performs other duties as assigned.

Essential Job Functions :

• Inputs and processes payroll for all employees on a bi-weekly basis;
• Assumes primary responsibility for accurate preparation and compliance of the City payroll process;
• Ensures City complies with Department of Labor standards and Internal Revenue Service legal requirements;
• Regularly communicates with the City Manager's Office, Department Directors, and all organizational staff regarding timesheet entry and submission deadlines, providing payroll reports to departments upon request, and providing payroll information to the Budget team as needed.
• Primarily responsible for ensuring new employees are properly setup to be paid correctly, termed employees are inactivated appropriately, and changes for existing employees are implemented timely and correctly;
• Prepares and posts journal entries related to assigned duties;
• Maintains various files and filing systems, including, but not limited to, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and the like;
• Assists, as needed, with budget preparation, including compiling worksheets, generating monthly reports, and monitoring expenditures;
• Receives and processes assigned documentation and transactions from City departments such as payroll data; verify the data for accuracy and appropriate approvals; resolves / rectifies discrepancies by contacting city employees; and maintains accurate and complete files documenting the transactions;
• Assists in gathering and compiling data for external audits;
• Assists Finance Director and / or Assistant Director of Finance with various special projects, as needed.
• Reconciles bank accounts assigned to ensure segregation of duties are maintained by Finance;
• Reviews and inputs data into computer systems, spreadsheets or logs relating to assigned duties, and reviews data for correctness and accuracy (i.e., payroll);
• Maintains various computer systems, spreadsheets and logs and extracts data from those systems or logs for reporting purposes;
• Processes and / or prepares outgoing hard copy and electronic correspondence, transaction reports and billings / monthly or year-end statements related to assigned duties such as, but not limited to, payroll and leave accounting notices, W-2's, and required federal or state reports;
• Assists in the printing, reviewing, and distribution of payments to employees;
• Trains or assists in the training and oversight and monitoring of Accounting Technician I duties, and
• Performs such other related duties as may be assigned.

Acceptable Experience, Training, Certifications and Licenses

Minimum Requirements :

High school diploma required. Associates Degree preferred. Three years of payroll experience required. Three years of accounting and / or bookkeeping experience preferred. Governmental payroll experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities :

Knowledge : accounting activities and related forms; generally accepted accounting principles, especially related to governmental finance; and state a federal laws and guidelines relating to the assigned area, such as Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service legal requirements.

Skill / Ability : prepare journal entries, maintain data files, and financial statements neatly and accurately; operate standard office equipment, including calculator, ten key, and computer using MS Office and Excel; ability to communicate clearly, thoroughly and accurately, both verbally and in writing; ability to work and communicate effectively with other City employees, management and the public; establish and maintain effective working relationships with local government officials and the general public; experience working with an automated payroll system and financial applications such as Incode and recognize, evaluate, and respond adequately to a variety of financial issues faced by the City.

Supplemental Information

The City of Cedar Park is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. As an EEO employer, the City will conduct its staffing activities, selection, promotion, demotion, transfer, training, and separation in accordance with Federal, State, and Local EEO laws and regulations as they affect the City. The City of Cedar Park will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, veteran status, or disability.