Finance Technician - Payroll

An employee in this class is responsible for a variety of paraprofessional accounting tasks involving payroll processing, assisting with year-end audit procedures, generating a variety of financial reports and performing related fiscal duties.  Work includes generating a variety of records and reports, assisting staff with benefits and other accounting clerical duties.  Work involves significant interaction with other departments and careful accuracy in work.  Confidentiality and ability to maintain security within the job duties is highly important.  Work is performed under the regular supervision of the Finance Director and is evaluated through observation, conferences, review of work and audit of the records by an external auditor.

Essential Duties and Tasks

Compiles payroll data bi-weekly; reconciles time sheets; enters payroll data into computer; records changes in withholding for insurance, etc.; prepares and issues direct deposit receipts; maintains payroll information for all employees.

Prepares and submits federal and state tax payments and retirement reports.

Prepares monthly, quarterly and year-end payroll information (including 941 reports, retirement and insurance).

Distributes checks and/or direct deposits, prepares journal entries for various payroll functions and ensures proper posting into the general ledger.

Answers employees’ questions on payroll related issues.

Provides and responds to third party (auditors, retirement system, benefit advisors, etc.) with requested payroll/benefit information.

Prepares related general ledger entries and payments to plan administrators.

Prepares and distributes W-2’s.

Maintains confidentiality of personnel and payroll information, answers questions of employees on benefits and payroll.

Assist Finance Director with personnel projections for the annual budget.

Provides assistance to the Finance Director as needed.

Enter the account payable entries as needed.

Order office supplies as needed.

Order business cards as needed.

Performs other duties as may be required 

Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of governmental accounting practices and procedures, fund accounting, and fiscal management.

Considerable knowledge of the Town’s budgeting, and applicable policies and procedures/

Working knowledge of laws, general statutes, rules, and regulations governing specific municipal accounting tasks.

Strong analytical skills.

Ability to compile, evaluate, and reconcile a variety of payroll/accounting records and reports.

Ability to make arithmetic computations accurately and with reasonable speed 

Independent judgement, discretion and initiative in completing assignments must be exercised in the performance of the work.

Must utilize excellent customer service skills and tact in dealing with citizens and employees in a fast-paced municipal office environment.

Desirable Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field from an accredited college or university; 3-5 years related experience in governmental accounting; strong computer skills; must be bondable. 

Physical Requirements

Work is generally sedentary requiring the exertion of up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects. 

Employees must have visual acuity to be able to prepare and analyze data and figures for accounting, perform extensive reading, operate a computer and other office equipment, determine accuracy and thoroughness of work, observe general surroundings and activities. 

Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.  Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.

Physical activities may include crouching, reaching, standing, walking, lifting, fingering, grasping and feeling.  

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in an atmospherically controlled environment without exposure to harmful chemicals or other workplace hazards.

Salary : $69,301 - $102,301