Payroll Technician

The Position

Why join the Contra Costa Auditor-Controller’s Office?
The Auditor-Controller’s office is seeking qualified individuals to fill one (1) Payroll Technician vacancy.

The Office of the Auditor-Controller’s primary mission is to ensure the fiscal integrity of the County’s financial records and to provide service, assistance, and information to the Public, Board of Supervisors, County Administrator’s Office, County Departments, Employees, Special Districts, and some regional non-county agencies. They are committed to providing exemplary professional service to all of our customers, while at all times treating them with fairness, integrity, respect, and trust.

The Payroll Division is responsible for the timely and accurate processing of payroll records for County departments and some special districts. The Payroll Technician performs specialized and complex clerical accounting work in reviewing, processing, and recording payroll-related transactions; they also resolve and process payroll corrections and adjustments, and perform other duties as assigned.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Organized . You will need to be detail-oriented and have the ability to prioritize and multitask effectively to manage your workload.
• A great communicator . You will need to have excellent oral and written communication skills to collaborate within the department and with employees and other departmental contacts.
• Ethical . We value integrity and honesty in the role and as individuals.
• Diligent and hard-working . We have deadlines based on payroll cycles and you will need to be mindful of those deadlines and work hard to process everything timely.
• Adaptable and approachable . We work in a team environment and need to be flexible in helping others and assisting when needed.
• Friendly . You will need to maintain positive working relationships with multiple parties including departments, employees, and outside vendors.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Setting up and maintaining employee master file records
• Processing personnel transactions completed by Human Resources
• Calculating pay and making adjustments as needed for overtime, shift and hazard pay, vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Reviewing payroll input and output for accuracy
• Calculating deductions manually for off-cycle checks
• Adding and modifying direct deposit for employees
• Reviewing and calculating wage garnishments
• Processing wage verification for employees

A few reasons you might love this job:

• Your work will have a direct impact on the employees of the County who provide critical services to our community
• You will have ample learning opportunities that will allow you to develop your skills and abilities
• We have a strong and supportive team environment
• You will be challenged daily to build upon your knowledge

A few challenges you might face in this job :

• You will need to learn to navigate through complex and sometimes conflicting rules, policies, or labor agreements in order to complete tasks and objectives
• Your customers will include some people with strong personalities and/or high expectations, as well as those who may not have a strong payroll foundation
• You will be working in an environment with time constraints and reporting deadlines

Competencies Required:

• Fact Finding : Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question
• Mathematical Facility : Performing computations and solving mathematical problems
• Reading Comprehension : Understanding and using written information
• Professional & Technical Expertise : Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Using Technology : Working with electronic hardware and software applications
• Adaptability : Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Attention to Detail : Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Establishing Credibility : Doing what he/she commits to doing and respecting the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others
• Listening : Fully comprehending spoken communication
• Oral Communication : Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Writing : Communicating effectively in writing
• Building & Maintaining Relationships : Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Customer Focus : Attending to the needs and expectations of customers
• Teamwork : Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Valuing Diversity : Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace

To read the complete job description, please click here.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future openings for up to twelve (12) months.

Minimum Qualifications

License: Possession of a valid California motor vehicle operator's license. Out of state valid motor vehicle operator's license will be accepted during the applicant process.

Education: Possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate.

Experience: Four (4) years of full-time (or the equivalent of full-time) experience in the preparation, processing, and maintenance of accounting documents and records, at least one (1) year of which included processing payroll documents.

Substitution for Experience: Education: 1) Completion of 12 semester or 18 quarter units in accounting from an accredited college or university can be substituted for one year of the required experience; additional education units in business administration, finance, accounting, auditing or a college degree in a closely related field may be substituted for the required experience on year-for-year basis; 2) Possession of a current Certified Payroll Professional credential issued by the American Payroll Association may be substituted for two years of required experience.

No substitution is allowed for the required payroll processing experience.

Selection Process

• Application Filing and Evaluation : Applications will be evaluated to determine which candidates will move forward in the next phase of the recruitment process.

• Online Multiple-Choice Assessment : Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in an online Multiple-Choice Assessment. The assessment is designed to measure candidates' competencies as they relate to the classification. These may include but are not limited to Mathematical Facility, Reading Comprehension, Using Technology, Attention to Detail, Writing, and Building and Maintaining Relationships. (Weighted: 100%)

• Hiring Interview : These will be scheduled by the department once the eligible list is established.

  Tentative Dates:

  Online Multiple-Choice Assessment: Week of November 27, 2023.

  The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with the Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.

  CONVICTION HISTORY
  After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with Contra Costa County. If you accept a conditional job offer, the Human Resources Department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.
  
  DISASTER SERVICE WORKER
  All Contra Costa County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

  EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

To find more information on Benefits offered by Contra Costa County, please go to https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/1343/Employee-Benefits