District Office Accounting Specialist - Payroll Accountant

Company Description

The San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) is the second-largest community college district in California and the sixth largest in the nation. It provides both credit and noncredit instruction through its associate degree, certificate, and general programs, serving approximately 100,000 students annually across three two-year colleges and seven Continuing Education campuses. SDCCD is governed by a locally elected Board of Trustees and involves faculty, students, and staff in shared governance to develop key policies and budget solutions. The district is committed to providing high-quality education and opportunities for transfer to four-year colleges and universities.

Job Classification: https://www.sdccd.edu/docs/humanresources/classification/descriptions/Office Technical/District Office Accounting Specialist.pdf

Desirable Qualifications

Experience & Knowledge:

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC)
• Previous experience in payroll or accounting
• Understanding of payroll taxes (federal, state, and local), benefits, and deductions
• Knowledge of various state and local payroll regulations, including tax rates

Technical Skills:

• Attention to detail – payroll requires accuracy, so a high level of attention to detail is essential
• Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, formulas, VLOOKUP) is important for analyzing payroll data and reports
• A solid understanding of accounting principles and standards (e.g., GAAP) for reconciling accounts and ensuring financial accuracy

Soft Skills:

• Payroll processing involves handling large amounts of data, so being well-organized helps ensure everything runs smoothly
• Must communicate effectively with both employees and management, especially regarding payroll-related queries
• Ability to quickly identify and resolve discrepancies in payroll is vital
• Handle sensitive employee information; discretion and ethical conduct are key