Introduction
Are you looking to advance your payroll career and seeking to join state service?
The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC) is seeking to hire a dynamic candidate to join our agency in the role of Payroll Clerk.
If you have three or more years in bookkeeping, accounts payable or clerical work involving finances and one year of experience in payroll preparation, we invite you to apply!
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• This position will be located within our fast-paced Payroll Unit. The Payroll Unit for the Department of Correction processes payroll for approximately 6,000 employees.
• This is a full-time, first shift, 40 hours per week position.
• Located at the DOC Central Office, 24 Wolcott Road, Wethersfield, CT and may require travel throughout the state.
• Telework privileges may be available after completion of the working test period.

YOUR ROLE
The Payroll Clerk Provides Support For Multiple Levels Of Staff Within Our Facilities And Central Office By Preparing And Maintaining Biweekly Regular, Overtime And Supplemental Payrolls For An Assigned Group(s) Of Employees And Performing Various Payroll Support Activities. A Successful Candidate Will Perform The Entire Lifecycle Payroll Process And Payroll Functions, To Include The Following, But Not Limited To

• Data entry of W-4's, direct deposits, credit union and other deductions.
• Calculating payouts and entering these payments into payroll software system.
• Identifying issues in the Kronos system and working with supervisors and timekeepers to resolve issues.
• Produce and review Kronos and payroll audit reports, resolve issues prior to deadlines.
• Process prior pay period adjustments.
• Filing and other payroll related tasks as assigned.
• These qualifications may be asked in the interview.

More details can be found in the class specification.
OUR MISSION
The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC) shall strive to be a global leader in progressive correctional practices and partnered re-entry initiatives to support responsive evidence-based practices aligned to law abiding and accountable behaviors. Safety and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens and offenders.
What We Can Offer You

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees

Learn more about what it's like to work for the State of Connecticut:
Selection Plan
This is a competitive recruitment, open to the public.
For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e. Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
TO APPLY

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate's obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING

• Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AFTER YOU APPLY

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

CONNECT WITH US

• Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Samantha.Rivera@CT.Gov
• Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a state agency this class is accountable for preparing and maintaining biweekly regular, overtime and supplemental payrolls for an assigned group of employees and independently performing various payroll support activities.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Prepares biweekly regular, overtime, and supplemental payrolls;
• Reviews employee time cards and/or timesheets for accuracy and completeness and posts hours worked to master payroll cards;
• Reviews personnel and/or payroll change notices and posts changes and/or adjustments to master files, e.g. new hires, transfers, reclassifications, terminations, retirements, overpayments and/or underpayments, wage increases, deduction changes (health insurance, union dues and/or fees, credit union payments, charitable contributions, bond or sheltered tax annuity payments, group life insurance payments, etc.);
• Calculates gross wages;
• Notes deductions on worksheets and deduction summary sheets;
• Prepares and balances prelists for Central Payroll (Office of State Comptroller), noting both salary and deduction data OR codes standard payroll action forms in conjunction with computerized payroll system;
• Prepares and totals various deduction worksheets, e.g., Credit Union, Medical and/or Insurance Providers, etc.;
• Prepares and submits summary sheets and transmittal certificates OR detailed analysis of expenditure reports and expenditure certificates to Central Payroll;
• Verifies check register and printouts from Central Payroll against worksheets and records;
• Performs various clerical accounting functions such as calculating balances and posting charges to expenditure accounts;
• Prepares supplemental payrolls such as longevity payments, vacation pay, promotional adjustments, etc.;
• Calculates and processes retroactive payments, collective bargaining increases and annual increments;
• Performs various clerical accounting functions such as calculating balances and posting charges to expenditure accounts;
• Verifies provider checks issued by Office of State Comptroller against own records;
• Verifies providers' bills in same manner;
• Keeps abreast of collective bargaining contract requirements and restrictions as related to payroll (dates for salary increases, overtime, shift differential and holiday pay restrictions, etc.);
• Responds to employee inquiries regarding paychecks and payroll practices and procedures;
• Maintains various records and files for payroll data and forms;
• May calculate workers compensation and/or retirement payments;
• May calculate and monitor payroll deductions for court ordered wage executions (garnishments);
• May consult division or facility supervisors regarding employee time recorded;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
• payroll terminology, practices and procedures;
• basic accounting and bookkeeping principles and procedures;
• general office procedures;
• Skills
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• in performing arithmetic computations;
• Ability to
• read, understand and apply applicable contract guidelines and regulations;
• maintain records and files; ability to follow complex oral and written instructions;
• operate office equipment which includes computers, tablets, and other electronic equipment.

Minimum Qualifications - General ExperienceThree (3) years of experience in bookkeeping, accounts payable or clerical work involving finances.
Minimum Qualifications - Special ExperienceOne (1) year of the General Experience must have involved payroll preparation.
Minimum Qualifications - Substitutions Allowed

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of two (2) years.
• One (1) year as a Financial Clerk performing payroll duties may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

Preferred QualificationsThe preferred candidate will possess

• Experience working with PeopleSoft software, specifically its Payroll/HR function.
• Experience processing payroll using other types of payroll software such as Kronos.
• Experience compiling and analyzing payroll data and preparing payroll reports.
• Experience using Microsoft Office, Word and specifically Excel in a professional work setting.
• Experience communicating with diverse groups of people while providing excellent customer service to those in and outside our organization.
• Experience working independently.
• Experience problem solving and adapting to a changing work priorities to meet deadline.

Special RequirementsPersons having responsibility for supervising or observing the behavior of inmates or custodial individuals will be required to possess a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certification by the time of permanent appointment.
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.