Payroll Technician II

Position Summary:  Under general direction, the Payroll Technician II lead exercises substantial responsibility for the development, administration and operation of the AHFC payroll system through participation in long-range planning and determination of system goals, system design and modification.

This is a non-supervisory job class with substantial responsibility for the exercise of independent professional judgment in leading and appointing daily payroll activities within the department.

Reports to:  Payroll Manager

OVERVIEW

Payroll Technician II is an advanced professional job class in the HR/PR Department. The incumbents work with management to develop long-range plans and strategies for the AHFC payroll system; initiate and direct project plans; serve as system representative to software vendor personnel and outside users of payroll information; provide ongoing review of policies and procedures, and revise and implement procedures as required. Independently and through subordinates, Payroll Technician II lead and control the integrity of the AHFC payroll system and ensure system operations are in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, statutes, and regulations.

Payroll Technician II is distinguished from Payroll Technician I by independence and authority in completing projects in system planning, development, administration and operation.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:  Non-Exempt, non-supervisory position.

Examples of Duties

Coordinate the implementation of changes to system management tables.

Ensure that financial systems of AHFC are operated in accordance with statutory requirements and GAAP accounting standards; ensure employees are paid timely and access to fiscal information is provided in a timely manner.

Balance and analyze the General Ledger to the Bi-weekly payroll activity.

Provide leadership to ensure that payroll information and reports are submitted and processed in accordance with established procedures; monitor payroll processing; take corrective action to maintain a balanced payroll and accurate recording of charges; lead receipt, audit, control, and processing of source documents.

Implement systemic and procedural modifications to comply with changes required by IRS regulations or court decisions; evaluate system changes to maintain compliance with legal and contractual obligations as they relate to pay for AHFC employees; implement changes resulting from payroll and benefit provisions in statutes and labor agreements.

Implement new software releases for the AHFC payroll system; facilitate the discussions for analyzing new releases; develop implementation plan; develop comprehensive testing strategies; build comprehensive test data; build comprehensive system test environment; develop a comprehensive test plan; coordinate tests and implementation with programmers, agency staff.

Assess current systems, recommend and design system changes or new systems; direct and review development of system support; coordinate the implementation of new or changed systems.

Confer with data processing staff to resolve data processing problems; provide assistance and interpretation to programmers to define problem areas and find solutions; assist with the design of reports and programs to ensure compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Payroll Administration Guide, union contracts and Administrative Code.

Maintain an extensive knowledge of the AHFC payroll system and all systems that interface data to payroll or receive data from payroll and be aware of relationships the various systems have upon one another. Develop, administer, and improve payroll procedures and operational controls; evaluate and review each system change for impact to other systems. Implement and review controls to maintain integrity between the AHFC payroll system and all related systems. Develop reports to document system changes and interfaces.

Serve as a technical expert; draft changes to the payroll user manual and agency operating instructions; interpret and apply state fiscal regulations and federal tax laws governing preparation of payrolls; provide information to departments concerning procedural details and routine policy.

Evaluate compliance of other agencies with established legal and procedural standards; provide analyses, perform audits, provide evaluations; interact with outside agencies and explain difficult regulatory and reporting requirements.

Maintain contact with users; resolve issues and coordinate solutions; explain the application of pay and leave provisions in union agreements.

Coordinate delivery of training courses for staff; approve training plans.

Other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

 Knowledge of

• Of the AHFC payroll system, Personnel and Leave Rules and practices; federal, state and local income and special tax regulations; state budgetary systems; supervisory principles.
• Of BU Contracts, to interpret and apply to the Bi-weekly Payroll, not limited to processing union deductions and earnings in according with the union contact.
• Of the financial applications of data processing, business law, and statistics.
• Of cost, fund, or government accounting, including sources of funds, segregation and display of expenditures, revenues, and budgetary accounting.
• Of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Payroll Administration Guide.
• Of account analysis and error corrections and their impact on other accounts.

Skills in

• Monitor and prepare journal entries to reconcile payroll processing to accounting.
• Meticulous attention to Payroll processing and the reconciliation of actions provided by HR. to ensure that employees are properly compensated.

Ability to

• To monitor and maintain information that is multifaceted.
• To analyze accounting and payroll transactions.
• To apply audit standards to implement, monitor, and modify internal procedures as necessary.
• To prepare and interpret financial statements which include reconciliations, and other financial reports.
• To use professional problem-solving techniques.
• To analyze transactions for internal control compliance.
• To apply principles, methods, techniques, and systems of payroll and accounting management.
• To establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of key management and outside sources, i.e. UKG, PERS.
• To initiate work independently and apply professional judgment in the solution of problems and/or in administration of programs.
• To present fiscal information in non-technical language.
• To apply critical thinking skills to analyze Payroll systems and procedures and make recommendations for updates and changes.
• To monitor tasks thoroughly from start to finish and offer suggestions for improvements.
• To plan, organize, and direct the work of subordinates.
• To interpret and apply the provisions of law, rule, or policy to specific situations.
• To analyze data, project outcomes, develop and implement procedures and systems for coordinating and controlling diverse financial activities.
• To provide guidance and technical assistance to management, staff, and other agencies.
• To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of accounting systems and controls, identify problems, and devise corrective actions.
• To formulate new ideas for improved procedures.
• To interpret and implement internal control standards.
• To provide information both orally and in writing.
• To assess effect of changes to procedure on operations.