Payroll Audit Specialist

Under general supervision, to perform a variety of specialized and technical County-wide payroll activities requiring knowledge of payroll processing, procedures, and legal regulations; to review, process, and record complex payroll transactions; and to resolve and process payroll corrections and adjustments to ensure that employees are paid in a timely and accurate manner.

EXAMINATION DATES:  Candidates who meet the employment standards will be invited to take an online written examination tentatively scheduled for the week of March 10th, 2025. Qualifying candidates will be notified with examination instructions.  

• Review, audit and process payroll transactions submitted by County departments for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with legal and countywide Payroll and Personnel System requirements; 
• Review, analyze and make necessary corrections to payroll transactions that appear as exceptions when processed by the automated countywide payroll system; 
• Generate, review and interpret a variety of automated reports on a routine basis in order to identify and resolve payroll errors and discrepancies, and; 
• Maintain, evaluate and process confidential payroll information; 
• Review, inspect, and reconcile time entries, employee pay records and other evidence processed in computerized payroll system to support and process payroll warrants including emergency and retroactive payroll adjustments, grievance settlements, or discrepancies between pay practices and contractual agreements; 
• Review, evaluate and process wage garnishments and related reports in accordance with regulations; 
• Review, analyze and reconcile employee deductions and related reports to agencies, unions; 
• Prepare specialized payroll payments and reporting for contractors; 
• Research, review and reconcile discrepancies pertaining to retirement, between County records and the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) database; 
• Provide information, clarification and assistance to employees regarding County pay practices involving earnings, deductions, leave accruals, related forms and reporting requirements, and other mandates, such as Wage and Hour laws, tax laws, Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) regulations and database requirements, and related payroll legislation; 
• Provide training sessions regarding payroll procedures to employees, human resources personnel, timekeepers and supervisors; 
• Prepare statistical and special reports and/or supplemental data as necessary; 
• Maintain detailed records and resolve complex payroll, human resources and administrative discrepancies; 
• May provide training to other Payroll personnel in the access of computer databases and/or payroll and timekeeping activities; 
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
• Perform other duties as required.

Sufficient education and experience to effectively perform the above typical tasks and demonstrate the possession of the knowledge and abilities listed below.

Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are acquired through training and experience equivalent to possession of an Associate's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a closely related field,
 
Two (2) years of work experience performing a variety of significant payroll-related activities;
 
Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in the performance of payroll-related activities.

Knowledge of:

• Payroll terminology, methods and systems analysis;
• Fiscal and statistical terminology and methods, including record keeping procedures; 
• Labor contracts, Santa Clara County Merit System Rules sections and legislation that pertain to the payroll process; 
• Office practices and procedures; 
• Computer databases, spreadsheets and word processing systems; 
• Basic mathematical and statistical concepts; 
• Account analysis and reconciliation methods; 
• Internal controls and risk management concepts and methods; 
• General personnel practices.

Ability to:

• Operate a variety of computer systems; office machines; including 10-key by touch; 
• Review, analyze and reconcile complex accounting and/or payroll data; 
• Perform data entry and mathematical computations rapidly and accurately; 
• Maintain moderate and complex financial or statistical data and record keeping systems; 
• Complete work within extremely tight timelines; 
• Interpret and apply agency-related laws and procedures related to job functions and procedures; 
• Understand and apply payroll-related County ordinances, Merit System Rules, legislation, employee contractual agreements, etc. to specific cases; 
• Analyze and correct biweekly payroll records to comply with both Public Employees' Retirement Law (PERL) and Public Employees' Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) requirements set by State law; 
• Interpret and apply PEPRA regulations and laws in order to ensure that employees are categorized and compensated accordingly; 
• Ensure compliance with Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) wage and tax limits and PERS contribution limits as set by Federal and State laws; 
• Work independently and prioritize work in a dynamic work environment; 
• Communicate clearly and effectively with employees, managers, retirement analysts and auditors in routine and stressful situations; 
• Analyze problems, discern discrepancies related to payroll and timekeeping matters and formulate solutions.

Salary : $69,640 - $84,076