Payroll Specialist

Salary: $34.40 - $41.94 Hourly
Location : District Office, 2020 Bonar Street, Berkeley, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2026-08-21 ov
Department: Fiscal Services
Opening Date: 08/21/2026
Closing Date: 9/14/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


Basic Function and Representative Duties


BASIC FUNCTION:

Under the direction of an assigned supervisor, perform a variety of specialized and complex payroll accounting duties to pay employees accurately and timely; prepare and maintain a variety of automated and manual records and reports related to the payroll function; provide consultation concerning payroll processes, policies and procedures.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
• Perform a variety of specialized and complex duties in the preparation of payroll for employees; receive and audit time reports; process and evaluate the accuracy of a variety of payroll-related forms and applications
• Process and verify input into an assigned computer system, daily, hourly, per diem, extra duty, substitute, overtime, stipends, and higher duty employee time sheet and pay information including deductions; generate computerized lists and reports accurately; process data accurately; calculate and input salary adjustments, coding, time vouchers and overtime pay as needed; verify proper authorizing signatures, coding, calculations and accuracy of payroll adjustments
• Establish and maintain detailed automated permanent records regarding personnel; process new hire, rehire, retirement and termination paperwork; input and update a variety of data including pay rates/salary schedule information, tax status, deductions, salaried FTE changes, changes in classification and other employee information
• Provide consultation concerning payroll processes, policies and procedures; respond to inquiries, resolve issues and conflicts and provide technical information concerning calculations, pay rates, taxes, wage garnishments, and leaves; provide documentation, forms or applications to employees as needed
• Receive, sort and distribute paychecks and warrants according to established procedures and guidelines; process special payroll transactions such as corrections, awards, professional growth, longevity, shift differentials, bonuses, replacements, final checks and retro-pay as appropriate
• Compile information and prepare and maintain a variety of records and reports related to employee information, time sheets, pay rates, salary adjustments, voluntary pay deductions/changes, disability, workers compensation, payroll data, and submit payroll reports to appropriate personnel for processing
• Process and apply payroll changes relative to bargaining unit contracts, PERS, STRS, County, State, IRS, and Social Security rules and regulations
• Prepare and process a variety of required tax forms accurately and as assigned; perform periodic tax procedures and related payroll reconciliation functions; prepare and distribute mandated tax reports; compile and verify related employee information
• Research and provide current and past payroll information in response to employee inquiries, subpoenas, workers compensation claims, and inquiries from State and County agencies according to established guidelines; provide employment and wage verification for court orders from County and State agencies
• Operate a variety of office equipment including a calculator, copier, fax machine, printer, sealing machine, computer and assigned software

OTHER DUTIES:
Perform related duties as assigned

Knowledge and Abilities


KNOWLEDGE OF:
Advanced principles and techniques involved in payroll preparation and processing
Tax withholding, voluntary deductions, garnishments and supplemental insurance
Preparation, maintenance, verification and processing of payroll records and reports
Generally accepted accounting principles, practices and procedures
Preparation, review and control of assigned accounts
Organizational payroll policies and objectives
Financial and statistical record-keeping techniques
Preparation of financial statements and comprehensive payroll accounting reports
Applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures
Principles and practices of data processing
Modern office practices, procedures and equipment
Technical aspects of field of specialty
Operation of a computer and assigned software
Oral and written communication skills
Interpersonal skills including tact, patience and courtesy
Arithmetic computations

ABILITY TO:
Perform a variety of specialized and complex payroll and accounting duties in the preparation of payroll for certificated, classified and/or hourly personnel
Pay employees accurately and timely according to established processes and timelines
Prepare and maintain a variety of automated and manual records and reports
Interpret, apply and explain laws, rules and regulations related to payroll activities
Provide consultation concerning payroll processes, policies and procedures
Process payroll and related records for payrolls
Monitor, audit, adjust and reconcile payroll data
Identify, investigate and resolve financial errors and discrepancies
Reconcile and balance assigned payroll accounts
Operate a variety of office equipment including a computer and assigned software
Compare numbers and detect errors efficiently
Operate standard office equipment including a computer and assigned software
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
Assemble, organize and prepare data for records and reports
Work confidentially with discretion
Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others
Meet schedules and time lines
Make arithmetic computations with speed and accuracy

Education, Experience and Other Requirements


Any combination equivalent to: graduation from high school supplemented by college-level course in accounting or related field and three years clerical accounting experience including two years involving payroll processing

Working Conditions and Additional Information


WORKING CONDITIONS:

ENVIRONMENT:
Office environment
Constant interruptions
Contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard
Seeing to read a variety of materials
Hearing and speaking to exchange information
Sitting for extended periods of time
EXAMINATION INFORMATION:
The first step in the examination process is the application screening and whether or not the candidate meets the minimum qualifications listed.
The testing process may consist of a written exam; an oral exam; a performance exam; a structured interview (SI); a qualification appraisal interview (QAI); an evaluation of training & experience/education (T&E) and/or any combination thereof.

All tests will have a passing score set between 50 and 99 depending on a variety of factors affecting that specific recruitment.
All candidates must pass the first examination process to be invited to the next step/test in the process.
As the testing process consists of a minimum of two examination processes, the weight of each of those processes may be determined at any step in the process.
Qualified candidates will be notified of the date, time, and place of the examination(s)/test(s).
Candidates will be notified of the minimum pass points/test score for each examination and/or test in the examination process.
The testing process consists of a minimum of two examination processes.


EXAMINATION WEIGHT:


FIRST EXAMINATION: 50%


SECOND EXAMINATION: 50%


OTHER: Proof of identification for completion of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, must be submitted at the time of processing for employment.

SALARIES: All salaries as stated are based on present information and are subject to change. Appointments are made at the minimum salary shown in the posting, and increases are granted at intervals based on anniversary date.

Notification of Non-Discrimination Policy
The Berkeley Unified School District is committed to fostering a positive working environment for its employees. Accordingly, BUSD practices shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying of any employee based on an employee's actual race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression; the perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

The Board also prohibits retaliation against any district employee or job applicant who complains, testifies or in any way participates in the district's complaint procedures instituted pursuant to this policy.

The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination regarding Board Policy 4030:

Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator
2020 Bonar Street, Room 116
Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io
Email: View email address on click.appcast.io
SALARIES: All salaries as stated are based on present information and are subject to change. Appointments are made at the minimum salary shown and increases are granted at intervals based on satisfactory service.

BENEFITS (FOR PERMANENT EMPLOYEES): Health plans provide for full coverage for employees and family in the area of medical and dental insurance to a negotiated maximum. All employees who work an average regular assignment of less than 5-1/2 hours a day (.72 FTE or less) shall be entitled to health insurance coverage and dental insurance coverage on a pro-rated basis. This position is covered by Social Security and may be eligible for California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), with joint employee and employer paid contributions. Current members of CalPERS working in other California state, county, city, and school districts can transfer retirement service credit to the District. All employees are enrolled in an Employee Assistant Program (EAP). The District also offers various optional benefits including life insurance, short term disability, Vision Service Plan (VSP), and a medical and dependent care flexible spending option.

VACATION: Regular, non-management, District employees shall accrue vacation as follows:
1-3 Years: Ten (10) working days per year until he/she has completed four (4) years of service.
4-9 Years: Fifteen (15) working days per year until he/she has completed ten (10) years of service.
10-14 Years: Twenty (20) working days per year until he/she has completed fifteen (15) years of service.
15+ Years: Twenty-five (25) working days per year.
Regular twelve (12) month employees shall accrue two (2) additional days of vacation per year at each step indicated above.

HOLIDAYS: Annual employees receive seventeen (17) paid holidays per year:
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans' Day
Thanksgiving Holiday (3 Days)
Winter Board Holiday (3 Days)
New Year's Holiday (2 Days)
Martin Luther King's Birthday
Lincoln's Birthday
Washington's Birthday
Spring Board Holiday
Malcolm X's Birthday
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
School Year employees may receive sixteen (17) paid holidays, including all of the above except Independence Day (4th of July).


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Classified employees may also participate in professional development activities to enhance their careers.
HEALTH AND CHARACTER INVESTIGATIONS:

Candidates selected for appointment may be required to pass a medical examination given by a Commission-designated physician to determine physical fitness for District employment. The Commission may disqualify any eligible candidates on the basis of the examining physician's report. The District also conducts a fingerprinting background check for all potential candidates for hire. All convictions must be declared and explained on the application; failure to do so will automatically disqualify the application. Tuberculosis tests must be completed and a negative result must be supplied prior to beginning work.
01


Please list any college-level course in accounting or related field you have successfully completed.
02


Please describe your payroll processing experience.
Required Question