Salary : $4,657.47 - $5,950.53 Monthly
Location : Torrance, CA
Job Type: Permanent Full-time
Job Number: 24031213
Department: Finance
Opening Date: 03/27/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
DESCRIPTION
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO READ THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION.
The City of Torrance recognizes the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to the City of Torrance today.
The City of Torrance is recruiting for a Payroll Specialist to join the Finance Department's Payroll Team!
The De partment
The Finance Department is a dynamic organization whose mission is to protect the City's assets while providing and supporting the Torrance community with sound financial advice in a timely, cost effective and professional manner. Managing the department's $6.3 million General Fund budget, $28.5 million Self-Insurance budget and day-to-day operations is skillfully executed by 42 staff members. The Finance Director assists the City Manager with the Operating and Capital Improvement Plan budgets, serves as advisor to the Land Management Team and Investment Committee, and presents to the City Council an annual audited statement of the City's financial condition prepared in accordance with governmental reporting standards promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
Responsibilities of the Finance Department includes:

• Accounting
• Accounts Payable
• Audit-External/Internal
• Billing/Collection
• Budget-Operating/Capital
• Business License
• Central Cashiering
• Debt Financing
• Financial Reporting
• Payroll
• Purchasing
• Revenue
• Risk Management
• Worker's Compensation

The Position
Under general supervision, performs specialized technical and administrative work in the preparation and processing of payroll. Reviews, prepares, processes, reconciles and maintains payroll and timekeeping documents and accounting records and reports; assists employees with payroll related questions and problems.

A Payroll Specialist is distinguished from an Accountant in that incumbents perform specialized payroll work and not professional level accounting work. A Payroll Specialist is distinguished from an Accounting Technician in that the incumbent provides technical skills in the payroll function of the accounting clerical series.

Receives supervision from the payroll unit manager or supervisor.
Examples of Essential Duties
The following duties represent the principal job duties; however, they are not all inclusive.

• Prepares, processes, reviews, reconciles and maintains payroll records and documents;
• Performs data entry and maintains payroll records related to employee payroll changes, deductions, direct deposits, leave banks, tax adjustments, retirement benefits, etc.;
• Provides effective customer service and communication to all employees, departmental timekeepers, and City management on payroll related matters in a timely and accurate manner;
• Responds to inquiries regarding employee paychecks;
• Coordinates with Human Resources and other City Departments regarding changes in employee status;
• Interprets complex written information such as legal regulations; City policies, and labor contract provisions for payroll compliance requirements;
• Explains applicable personnel and payroll rules and procedures consistent with bargaining agreements, personnel policies, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines and other employment related guidelines;
• Verifies data entry to ensure correct calculation of payroll transactions and troubleshoots discrepancies.

For more information about the duties of the position,
QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES

Education and Experience
Any combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge and abilities required is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
High school graduation or equivalent, preferably including or supplemented by courses in accounting or financial record keeping and two years of progressively responsible experience in performing payroll, statistical or other financial work.
Experience working with automated payroll systems is preferred.
Successful candidates will possess the following:

• Understanding of timekeeping and payroll functions;
• Experience working with automated financial and payroll systems;
• Problem-solving, professionalism and strong organizational abilities;
• Excellent editing and proofreading skills;
• Ability to pay close attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy;
• Results-oriented and ability to perform effectively in a deadline environment; and
• High energy, enthusiasm, and motivated demeanor.

HOW TO APPLY & EXAM PROCESS

Interested candidates must submit an online application and supplemental questionnaire at www.TorranceCA.Gov/Jobs . Application submissions will be accepted on a continuous basis until the position is filled. First review of applications will be those received by Monday, April 8, 2024. If a sufficient number of qualified applications are received by the first review date, there is the possibility that the recruitment may close at that time.
Only those candidates whose experience best meets the needs of the City and the Department will be invited to participate in an interview (weighted 100%).

The interview process will be conducted virtually and is tentatively scheduled for April 16, 2024 ,
The tentative test date will be based on a sufficient number of qualified applications received by the first review date. If a sufficient number of applications are not received by the first review date, there is the possibility that the test date may change to a later date.
SPECIAL NOTES
Visit to find out information about our community.
Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources prior to the examination date(s). If you have a disability for which you require an accommodation, please contact us at (310) 618-2915 prior to the test date.

As a condition of employment, candidates must pass a background check.

The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract, and any provisions contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.
City of Torrance Inclusion Statement
The City of Torrance is a welcoming and culturally-rich community. As a pillar of public service, we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting and retaining a talented workforce where people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, religions, and lifestyles are valued. Our mission is to create an inclusive environment where our staff are empowered to perform at their highest level and contribute towards making a positive impact.
The City is an equal opportunity employer and works towards building collaborative teams from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. Come join us to help cultivate a workplace that welcomes and celebrates the diversity of our employees!
BENEFIT SUMMARY FOR ENGINEERS & TORRANCE FISCAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION (TFEA)
Note: Not all benefits listed may be applicable to all positions with in the unit. Please refer to the MOU for specifics.
Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance (sec.4.9)
The City's monthly contribution for health insurance effective 1/6/19 is as follows:

EE Only EE 1 EE 2 or more
Full time EE's $597.68 $1,140.36 $1,595.96
Part- time
(hired prior to 1/1/08) $493.11 $924.91 $1,277.43
Part-time
(hired after 1/1/08) $362.57 $628.31 $847.19
The City's monthly contribution for vision insurance is $3.33
The City's monthly contribution for dental insurance is $33.71/EE only and $67.42/EE 1 or more
The City provides a Cash In-Lieu payment of $400 per month for eligible full-time employees for as long as the employee opts-out of medical coverage
City provides a $50,000 life insurance policy
Premium Pay (sec. 3.1)
Varies by position and assignment. (See section 3.1 and 3.2)

Night Shift Differential (sec.3.2.1 and 3.5.1)
Full time employees paid 5% above base hourly pay when ½ or more of the shift is scheduled to work after 5:00 p.m. or before 7:30 a.m.

Educational Incentive Premiums (sec. 3.6.1)
ENGINEERS : (Premiums paid above base pay, per hour. Total educational premiums not to exceed 12% combined)

• International Code Council (ICC) certificate: 4%
• 2% for each additional certificate, maximum of 12%
• Loss of 2% for each year's delay for failure to maintain certification
• LEED AP certificates (LEED AP, LEED AP BD C, LED AP Homes, LEED AP ND): 2.5%
• Build It Green Certification (Green Point Advisor, Green Point Rater): 2.5%

Holidays (Sec 4.1)
13 paid holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday directly following Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve)
Vacation/Annual Leave (Sec. 4.2)
Engineers (Accrual rate per month):
Year 1: 6.58 hours; Year 2: 7.21 hours; Year 3: 7.87 hours; Year 4: 8.54 hours; Years 5-6: 10.54 hours; Years 7 -9: 11.21 hours; Years 10 -20: 14.56 hours; Years 21 - 24: 15.88 hours; Year 25 : 18.54 hours
TFEA (Accrual rate per month):
Year 1: 6.57 hours; Year 2: 7.51 hours; Year 3: 8.17 hours; Year 4: 8.84 hours; Years 5-9: 10.84 hours; Years 10 -20: 14.19 hours; Years 21 - 24: 15.51 hours; Year 25 : 16.17 hours
Sick Leave/ Personal Leave (sec.4.3)
Accrual rate is 6 (six) hours per month to a maximum of 600 hours accrued sick leave. *Two work shifts of sick/vacation leave may be used for personal leave.

Bereavement Leave (sec 4.6)
Three (3) working shifts with pay (Additional leave, up to 2 additional working shifts for travel 300 miles or more for eligible family members)

Disability Insurance (sec 4.9)
Employee receives 2/3 base pay after elimination period (14 consecutive days for STD and 180 consecutive days for LTD)

Retiree Insurance (Sec. 4.9)
TFEA only : City will pay $51/month for retirees who continue health insurance coverage in one of the PERS health insurance plans
Retirement (sec. 4.10)
PERS 2%@55 ,
Employees hired before 1/11/2011, City pays 7% EPMC*
Employees hired on or after 1/11/2011 pay 7% EPMC*
*Employer Paid Member Contribution (EPMC)
PERS 2@62
"New members" hired on or after January 1, 2013, pay (50%) of normal cost with three year average final compensation.
Uniform Allowance (sec. 4.11.1)
FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER & SENIOR FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER ONLY:
$107.50 every 6 months (Paid June and December).

Tool and Educational Materials Allowance (sec.4.12.1)
ENGINEERS ONLY:
$175 per year (Paid in February).
Licenses and Certificates (sec. 4.14.1)
ENGINEERS ONLY:
$220/year for license/certificates with recurrent fees: Registered Professional Engineer, Licensed Land Surveyor, and American Institute of Certified Planners.
Shoe Allowance (4.15.1)
ENGINEERS ONLY:
$135 per year (Paid in September) for employees required to wear safety shoes or boots
Deferred Compensation Plan (Sec. 4.13.B)
A voluntarily 457 plan is available to all employees.
Employees are automatically enrolled in the 401(a) plan upon completion of one year service.

Retirement Health Savings Plan (sec 4.13.C)
Any hours under or equal to 600 (sick) and 600 (vacation) will be deposited into the ICMA-RC RHSP Plan, for retiring and separating employees. The remaining balance up to limits allowed by law will be disbursed into the City's 457 plan or be paid in cash.
01

The following supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Resumes are encouraged but will NOT be used in lieu of the application or supplemental questions. Please read each question carefully and provide a thorough and complete response. Do NOT state "see resume" or "see application" to respond to any of the following questions. Failure to respond to all questions will be considered an incomplete application and may not be considered for further processing. Do you understand the foregoing?

• Yes
• No

02

I UNDERSTAND that I am required to describe IN DETAIL my qualifying experience in the Work Experience Section of my application. In addition to including my qualifying experience, I UNDERSTAND that I should list ALL JOBS, regardless of duration, including part-time jobs, military service and any volunteer experience during my entire work history.I UNDERSTAND that when providing my work history, ALL DATES should be UPDATED, starting with my most recent job.I UNDERSTAND that answers that I provide to the supplemental questions should be reflected in the Work Experience Section of my application.I UNDERSTAND that if I am currently employed by the City of Torrance, I MUST provide my appropriate job classification/title and provide a description of my duties in the Work Experience Section of my application.I have read these statements in their entirety and understand them completely and to their fullest.

• Yes
• No

03

What is your highest level of education completed?

• High School Diploma or GED
• Some College Coursework
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or above

04

Have you taken college courses in accounting and/or finance.

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in performing payroll, statistical or other financial work?

• Yes
• No

06

Briefly describe your experience in performing payroll functions? (type N/A, if not applicable)
07

Are you familiar with automated payroll systems and employee timekeeping?

• Yes
• No

08

Briefly describe your experience in working with automated payroll systems and employee timekeeping? (type N/A, if not applicable)
Required Question