Payroll Analyst

Salary : $94,827.20 - $115,273.60 Annually

Location : City of Vernon City Hall 4305 Santa Fe Ave. Vernon, CA

Job Type : Full Time

Job Number : 1239-001-02-27-2025

Department : Finance

Division : FINANCE

Opening Date : 02 / 27 / 2025

Closing Date : 3 / 12 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Pacific

Job Summary

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY WITH THE CITY OF VERNON

PAYROLL ANALYST

MONTHLY SALARY : $7,904 - $9,607

PLUS AN EXCELLENT BENEFITS PACKAGE

FINAL FILING DEADLINE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025, 11 : 59 PM OR WHEN WE RECEIVE THE FIRST 100 QUALIFIED APPLICATIONS, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST

THIS RECRUITMENT IS TO FILL ONE FULL-TIME VACANCY IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND TO ESTABLISHE AN ELIGIBILITY LIST TO BE USED FOR FUTURE VACANCIES.

Under general supervision, maintains and prepares City-wide payroll, technical reports, employee benefits records, and other specialized and complex technical and accounting records for the Finance Department; researches difficult technical issues, reconciles records and accounts, resolves discrepancies, and maintains the accuracy of the payroll records.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS : The Payroll Analyst, is the advanced journey level classification within the Payroll series, responsible for performing a variety of difficult, specialized and complex work assigned to the series; including various ad-hoc technical spreadsheets and reports for management's use for decision-making, payroll administration, processing, reporting and recordkeeping; ensures ongoing federal and state regulatory compliance along with City policies, procedures, and the various Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) and implementation of technical tax law and accounting principles and procedures. Incumbents are expected to perform a full range of broad and complex duties, works primarily independently, and assume higher responsibility for researching and maintaining payroll records, files and required reporting. This is a single incumbent position assigned tasks above the journey level and may be assigned lead responsibilities over designated staff.

Essential Functions

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job flyer does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following :

• Reviews timesheets and source documents for validity and accuracy of information; determines proper handling of payroll and the application of federal and state tax laws and regulations, along with City policies, procedures, and MOUs; provides support to City Departments to perform corrections of timesheet errors.
• Reviews and enters timesheets, benefits and deductions, and related data into the City's payroll systems; verifies and enters data, processes transactions, validates data, and compiles documentation.
• Verifies all payroll and benefit duties are performed in a timely and accurate manner and are executed in accordance with all Federal, State Wage and Hour laws, tax regulations, and City policies and MOU guidelines.
• Reviews and completes accurate and timely payroll entries for general ledger processing.
• Processes Human Resources personnel actions and related transaction forms timely.
• Generates, reviews, and submits biweekly pensionable wages to the state pension system; schedules and remits pension contributions in accordance with established pension policies and procedures, submits wage corrections / adjustments as needed.
• Reconciles technical records according to City policies; reviews payroll records and corrects errors as required; reviews the accuracy of the payroll records and make improvement recommendations.
• Compiles monthly payroll reports for month-end entries; balances and prepares various payroll tax returns and deposits; reviews and prepares routine to complex accounting journal entries; develops and maintains extensive spreadsheets, and documents updated and accurate information.
• Schedules biweekly payroll tax deposits. Prepares and files quarterly payroll tax returns with federal and state government agencies.
• Performs the W-2 to 941 reconciliation, identifies discrepancies and makes the appropriate corrections as needed; timely files the annual Form W-2 and distributes them to City employees.
• Prepares amended annual and quarterly federal and state tax returns as needed.
• Prepares the annual calculation of excess vacation and sick leave hours in accordance with City policies and MOUs, and communicates the payout amount to employees.
• Prepares ad-hoc spreadsheets and reports that will assist management during labor negotiations, labor force discussions, review of department's labor costs, budgetary review, and other analytical review of City payroll.
• Prepares and files mandated annual payroll reports by various federal and state government agencies.
• Evaluates and reviews department data and time records and resolves inconsistencies to ensure conformance with federal and state laws and regulations, City MOU's, policy, regulations, and resolutions, and pension law requirements.
• Performs advanced review and troubleshooting of payroll system processes and practices and make improvement recommendations.
• Assures that all reports and paperwork are completed accurately and in a timely manner; reviews, updates, corrects, retrieves, and releases information according to procedures; collects payroll, benefits, and administrative information, and compiles data for reports; prepares and distributes required reports.
• Oversees payroll records and associated filing systems; ensures data is accurately entered into the City's enterprise resource planning (ERP) system; maintains and reviews additional accounting and technical transaction databases as needed.
• Provides work direction and training to designated less experienced staff.
• Interprets and explains federal and state rules and regulations, and City policies and procedures while exercising the highest degree of confidentiality; responds to and resolves routine to complex customer service issues in a courteous and respectful manner; answers questions and resolves issues within scope of authority and City guidelines; cross-trains in other accounting and administrative jobs.
• Processes routine to complex requests for information and attempts to resolve them by researching files and records; explains rules, policies, and procedures; explains the proper use and completion of forms and documents; refers matters requiring policy interpretation to supervisor for resolution; coordinates solution of customer service issues with other department staff, and effectively communicates customer service issues.
• May coordinate and review the work of designated staff.
• Assists in the implementation, configuration, maintenance, testing, and training of new and existing payroll systems. Performs routine updates and maintenance of the payroll system, including maintenance of pay and deduction codes.
• Assists with establishing and forecasting payroll-related costs for budgetary and planning purposes.
• Assists with gathering information, responding to inquiries, and preparation of schedules relating to the fiscal year-end audit.
• Provides assistance in other Finance Department functional areas as assigned.
• Supports the relationship between the City of Vernon and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with visitors and City staff; maintains confidentiality of work-related issues and City information; performs other duties as required or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training and Experience Guidelines :

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field; AND four years of progressively responsible public sector payroll administration experience, accounting experience is desirable, and (1) of the required four (4) years of experience must include lead or supervisory responsibilities.

Supplemental Information

Knowledge of :

Skill in :

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS :

A valid California State Driver's License is required. Certified Payroll Professional preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT : Work is performed in a standard office environment.

SELECTION PROCESS : Completed application packets will be reviewed and only the first 100 qualified applicants whose qualifications best meet or exceed the requirements of the position and needs of the City, will be invited to participate further in the selection process. The selection process may include a written in-person multiple choice exam tentatively scheduled for March 19, 2024 , and an external virtual panel interview tentatively scheduled for March 24, 2025 . Failure to state all pertinent information may lead to elimination from consideration. Applications must be submitted online If you submit multiple applications, only the most recent application will be considered. Stating "see resume" is not an acceptable substitution for a completed application. To view the complete job description, please visit our website at It is the applicant's responsibility to notify the Human Resources Department of any changes to their contact information. Following the closing of the filing period for this recruitment, the Human Resources Department will review the application materials submitted for minimum qualifications.

CITY OF VERNON HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

Tyler Cashman, Human Resources Analyst

tcashman@cityofvernonca.gov

323) 583-8811, ext. 312

The City of Vernon is an Equal Opportunity Employer"

The City of Vernon offers a comprehensive benefit package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental vision, life, and long term disability insurance.

Retirement Benefit : Retirement benefits are provided by the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) :

Effective January 1, 2013, newly hired non-safety employees who are new CalPERS members, as defined by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 ("PEPRA"), will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% at 62 benefit formula. New members will be required to pay 7% as their member contribution.

An employee who is a "classic" member of CalPERS, will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2.7% at 55 benefit formula. Classic employees urrently pay an 8% employee contribution and a 3% share of the employer contribution.

Cafeteria Benefits Plan : The City offers a monthly allowance towards the purchase of a HMO, PPO or HSA medical plan for the employee and their family members. Any remaining amount can be used towards the purchase of a HMO or PPO Dental plan and Vision coverage for dependents. Vision coverage is included at no cost to the employee. Supplemental Insurance plans are available.

Holiday pay : The City has 13 authorized holidays per calendar year.

Bilingual pay : Employees in eligible positions who successfully demonstrate Spanish speaking skills would be eligible to receive an additional $275.00 a month.

Vacation :

Continuous Years of Service Vacation Hours Earned Bi-Weekly Accrual

1st year thru 4th year 80hrs; 3.08 accrual rate

5th year thru 9th year 100hrs; 3.85 accrual rate

10th year thru 14th year 120hrs; 4.62 accrual rate

15th year thru 24th year 160hrs; 6.16 accrual rate

25th year and more 190hrs; 7.31 accrual rate

City offers vacation cash out.

Sick Leave : All full-time employees shall accrue up to 80 hours of sick leave per calendar year, at a rate of 3.08 hours per pay period.

Tuition Reimbursement : $2,200.00 is available to those who satisfactorily complete job related college courses.

Hybrid Work Program : The City offers a hybrid work schedule for elgible positions. The City allows a combination / flexible work schedule upto 50% remote work.

Other Benefits : Most employees work a 4 / 10 schedule. In addition, the City offers paid parental leave, bereavement leave and jury duty.

Miscellaneous Benefits : The City provides an interest-free loan program for the purchase of a computer, corrective eye surgery and a hearing aide device.

The City of Vernon encourages you to log onto our website for the benefit details

Completion of the following supplemental questionnaire is REQUIRED for your application. The information you provide will be evaluated to determine your eligibility to participate in the next phase of the recruitment process. Please be detailed and include all information requested. Comments such as "see resume" or "see application" are not valid responses. All submitted information is subject to verification at any time during the recruitment and selection process. Falsification of any information or failure to complete this questionnaire as instructed may result in disqualification. I understand and will abide by the above information and instructions (Please type your full name.)

Do you possess a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field?

Do you possess at least four (4) full-time years of progressively responsible public sector payroll administration experience and / or accounting experience?

Do you have at least (1) full-time year of experience as a lead or supervisor in a public sector payroll environment?

If you answered "Yes" to the previous two questions please briefly list related work experience by including the following : 1. Employer Name 2. Position Title 3. Employment Dates 4. Work Hours / Week 5. Job Functions / Areas of Responsibility. If you answered "No" please type N / A.

How many employees do you process payroll for in a public sector setting? If you do not have public sector payroll experience, type NA.

What is your experience with CalPERS payroll processing / reporting? If you do not have public sector payroll experience, type NA.

What type of payroll related reports have you worked on? If you do not have public sector payroll experience, type NA.

If your driver's license is out of state, do you have the ability to obtain a California state driver's license by the time of appointment?

Required Question

Salary : $94,827 - $115,274