Payroll Specialist (up to Senior)
APPLICATION MATERIALS
Applicants are required to submit a combined cover letter and resume in one PDF document. Your cover letter must summarize your must summarize your education and experience as it relates to payroll, payroll taxes, and deductions. Additionally, share why is it important for payroll staff to be reliable and present in the workplace. Incomplete materials will not be considered.
To expedite the application process, combine your cover letter and resume into one PDF document before applying and upload electronically when requested in the online application process.
This position is OPEN UNTIL FILLED and applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. The first review date for application materials is scheduled for January 26th.
Interested parties are also invited to contact Human Resources at joblist@chelanpud.org to discuss the position.
SALARY RANGE
The starting salary range for the Payroll Specialist position is $62,560 - $78,200 (based on qualifications). With tenure and strong performance in this role an employee may earn up to a maximum of $93,840, annualized.
The starting salary range for the Payroll Specialist Senior position is $77,600 - $97,000 (based on qualifications). With tenure and strong performance in this role an employee may earn up to a maximum of $116,400, annualized.
Introductory Period: New employees holding regular positions must complete an introductory period of twelve months.
BENEFITS EPOA
In addition to competitive wages Chelan PUD employees also enjoy outstanding benefits which include zero cost employer funded medical, dental, and vision healthcare benefits, access to the employee assistance program, a VEBA health reimbursement account, and long-term care.
Washington state retirement PERS participation and optional 457 plan participation with an employer matching 401(a) plan.
Leave, life & disability benefits including paid leave starting at 21 days per calendar year up to 35 with tenure, 11 paid holidays per calendar year in 2025, changing to up to 12 days per calendar year in 2026, paid jury duty, short-term disability & long-term disability, and basic life, AD&D, and optional voluntary life.
The work life benefits include optional flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care, educational assistance, various rewards and recognition programs and position specific stipends.
For more explanation of the district benefits please visit our benefits website www.mychelanpudbenefits.org.
JOB POSTING
Payroll Specialist
Overview
This position performs the duties necessary to process payroll, reconcile variances and prepare reports in an accurate and timely manner. Monitors payroll activities for compliance with local, state, and federal government regulations, District policies, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Provides customer service for payroll related questions and issues; and supports supervisors on their payroll duties/functions and time-entry operators.
Responsibilities
- Process employee time and labor data to payroll, verify data load, and reconcile variances. Run payroll system processes and reports to create, calculate, verify, and confirm payroll. Audit and reconcile wage calculations, deductions, and other payroll records loaded. Enter one-time payroll adjustments. Process and issue employee paychecks, direct deposits, and statements of earnings and deductions. Run payroll distribution to the general ledger and projects. Assist in the reconciliation and analysis of the HR Accounting Line, and general ledger payroll accounts. Primary back-up to Commissioners monthly payroll.
- Prepare and submit accurate and timely payroll reports and payments (e.g., payroll deductions, garnishments, benefit contributions, payroll taxes, and DRS retirement, deferred comp, VEBA, etc.) to District managers, auditors, governmental agencies, and vendors.
- Run daily reports to audit time entries and reconcile variances. Support the efforts of time-entry and supervisors on payroll duties. Act as a main point of contact for payroll. Provide customer service and communication to employees, supervisory staff, district management, and outside agencies to resolve time keeping and payroll related questions. Troubleshoot and problem solve issues and answer employee/management questions.
- Maintain accurate employee time and payroll records. Maintain current and accurate payroll departmental files. Detect, reconcile, and correct data discrepancies. Provide regular system table maintenance and assist with system updates.
- Provide continuous process improvements to the payroll administrative functions. Create and maintain procedures for payroll operations and functions. Keep informed of current payroll related tax and deduction laws and upcoming changes.
- Maintain regular and predictable attendance: Perform related duties and responsibilities as required. Comply with District policies. Complete all required training. Maintain a working knowledge and comply with District safety procedures and specific safety requirements of this position, and those in accordance with applicable provisions of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
Reports To
Manager – Payroll & HR Operations
Overtime exemption
Non-Exempt
Qualifications
Education
- Associate Degree (A. A.) with an emphasis on payroll, accounting, or bookkeeping is required.
- Equivalent combination of education and experience (year for year) may substitute for required education.
- Bachelor's Degree (B. A., B. S.) in Business Administration or related field is desired.
Experience
- 3+ years experience in accounting, bookkeeping, payroll administration or closely related activities in a small to medium size organization is required.
- Experience in public sector payroll and administering a unionized workforce payroll system is preferred.
Skills and Abilities
A fully skilled incumbent will have the following knowledge skills & abilities:
- Working knowledge of payroll best practices.
- Basic knowledge of federal and state regulations including Payroll and HR labor laws.
- Knowledge of collective bargaining agreements and how they work.
- General database, information management and records keeping as it relates to payroll services.
- Accuracy and attention to detail.
- Outstanding organizational skills.
- Logic, reasoning, problem solving and analytical thinking skills.
- Excellent inter-personal and customer service skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills including active listening.
- Strong computer skills including proficiency in Excel.
- Strong time management skills.
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks with numerous interruptions.
- Ability to thrive in a past-pace, high-volume, deadline-driven work environment.
- Ability to proactively address potential issues, solve problems and improve procedures and processes.
- Ability to communicate with employees at all levels.
- Ability to work with confidential and sensitive information, exercise discretion, and maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to work collaboratively and within a team.
- Ability to work independently.
- To perform this job successfully, an individual is expected to have knowledge of Financial software, Time & Labor, Payroll, and HR; Microsoft Outlook; Microsoft Excel; Microsoft Word; General Office Equipment; and Adobe Acrobat Professional.
- Must be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English.
Equal Opportunity/ADA
Chelan PUD is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled). We value diversity at all levels of the organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected classifications as defined by law.
EEO Law Posters can be found on the main Careers (chelanpud.org) page in English and Spanish.
The job functions and physical requirements described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
JOB POSTING
Payroll Specialist Senior
Overview
This position performs duties necessary to independently and with minimal assistance process the bi-weekly regular payroll, prepare and file quarterly and annual payroll taxes, reconcile variances and prepare moderately complex reports in an accurate and timely manner while ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal government regulations. Adhere to District policies and the Collective Bargaining Agreement terms. Provide customer service for payroll related questions and support supervisors with time-entry and payroll related duties. Contribute to payroll process improvements and technology advancements.
Responsibilities
- Independently process employee time and labor data to payroll, verify data load, and reconcile variances. Run payroll system processes and reports to create, calculate, verify, and confirm payroll. Audit and reconcile wage calculations, deductions, and other payroll records loaded. Enter one-time payroll adjustments. Process and issue employee paychecks, direct deposits, and statements of earnings and deductions. Run payroll distribution to the general ledger and projects. Reconciliation and analysis of the HR accounting line, general ledger payroll accounts with minimal assistance. Primary back up to Commissioners monthly payroll.
- Run daily reports to audit time entries and reconcile variances. Support the efforts of time-entry and supervisors on payroll duties. Act as a main point of contact for payroll. Provide customer service and communication to employees, supervisory staff, district management, and outside agencies to resolve time keeping and payroll related questions. Create moderately complex reports, troubleshoot and problem solve issues and answer employee/management questions.
- Prepare and submit accurate and timely payroll reports and payments (e.g., payroll deductions, garnishments, benefit contribution, payroll taxes, and DRS retirement, deferred comp, VEBA, etc.) to District management, auditors, governmental agencies, and vendors. Independently and with minimal assistance prepare and file quarterly and annual payroll taxes.
- Maintain accurate employee time and payroll records. Maintain current and accurate payroll departmental files. Detect, reconcile, and correct data discrepancies. Provide regular system table maintenance and assist with system updates.
- Contribute to payroll process improvements and technology enhancements. Create and maintain current procedures for payroll operations and functions.
- Apply knowledge of Local, State and Federal payroll legislation, the collective bargaining agreement to payroll processing rules and reports. Keep current on payroll laws and upcoming changes.
- Maintain regular and predictable attendance: Perform related duties and responsibilities as required. Comply with District policies. Complete all required training. Maintain a working knowledge and comply with District safety procedures and specific safety requirements of this position, and those in accordance with applicable provisions of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
Reports To
Manager – Payroll & HR Operations
Overtime exemption
Exempt
Qualifications
Education
- Associate Degree (A. A.) with an emphasis on payroll, accounting, or bookkeeping is required.
- Equivalent combination of education and experience (year for year) may substitute for required education.
- Bachelor's Degree (B. A., B. S.) in Business Administration or related field is preferred.
Experience
- 5+ years increasingly responsible experience processing payroll, applying tax laws, and performing associated reporting is required.
- Experience in public sector payroll and administering a unionized workforce payroll system is preferred.
Licenses and Certifications
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) is preferred.
Skills and Abilities
A fully skilled incumbent will have the following knowledge skills & abilities:
- Extensive knowledge of payroll best practices and associated accounting practices
- Extensive knowledge of federal and state regulations including Payroll and HR labor laws.
- Knowledge of collective bargaining agreements and how they work.
- Strong database, information management and records keeping as it relates to payroll services.
- Accuracy and attention to detail.
- Outstanding organizational skills.
- Logic, reasoning, problem solving and analytical thinking skills.
- Excellent inter-personal and customer service skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills including active listening.
- Strong computer skills including proficiency in Excel.
- Strong time management skills.
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks with numerous interruptions.
- Ability to thrive in a past-pace, high-volume, deadline-driven work environment.
- Ability to proactively address potential issues, solve problems and improve procedures and processes.
- Ability to communicate with employees at all levels.
- Ability to work with confidential and sensitive information, exercise discretion, and maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to work collaboratively and within a team.
- Ability to work independently.
- To perform this job successfully, an individual is expected to have knowledge of Financial software, Time & Labor, Payroll, and HR; Microsoft Outlook; Microsoft Excel; Microsoft Word; General Office Equipment; and Adobe Acrobat Professional.
- Must be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English.
District Values
- Trust - We act with integrity, empathy, competence, and transparency, earning the confidence and respect of each other and the public we serve.
- Safety - We protect what matters most through the choices we make.
- Stewardship - We responsibly manage and thoughtfully oversee all resources entrusted to us for the benefit of future generations.
- Collaboration - We transform our deep expertise from individual advantage into shared power - partnering across teams to maximize our impact and secure our future.
- Courage - We boldly step into the unknown to do what matters, seeking opportunities to grow and lead.
Equal Opportunity/ADA
Chelan PUD is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled). We value diversity at all levels of the organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected classifications as defined by law.
EEO Law Posters can be found on the main Careers (chelanpud.org) page in English and Spanish.
The job functions and physical requirements described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
BACKGROUND SCREENING
Chelan County Public Utility District #1 conducts background screening of personnel who have access to employee confidential information, such as social security numbers, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and/or HIPAA protected information.
DISCLAIMER
The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions for this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility. This should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload.
As part of its recruiting process, Chelan PUD may engage a third-party vendor to perform previous employment verification, education verification, and reference checking.
EEO
Chelan PUD is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
We value diversity at all levels of the organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected classifications as defined by law.
EEO Law Posters can be found on the main Careers page in English and Spanish.
Chelan PUD will not be offering any work visa sponsorship for this role.
Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-I.35(c)
