PAYROLL SPECIALIST III

Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : 2200 Second Street, Fort Myers, FL
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-1542
Department: Financial Services
Opening Date: 07/01/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Non-Exempt


Description
The City of Fort Myers strives to be an employer of choice and most of our employees turn jobs into long term careers. The salary shown in the job description is the full range for this position from entry to later career.


NEW EMPLOYEES ARE HIRED AT, OR NEAR THE ENTRY POINT SHOWN, DEPENDING ON QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Safety Sensitive :NO Level II Screening : NO
Under the general direction of the Payroll Manager and/or Controller, the incumbent is able to work independently in performing tasks and processing transactions in order to maintain and process payroll. In addition to the Payroll Specialist II duties, the employee performs complex retroactive pay and/or leave calculations and implements special projects. This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
Responsibilities and Reporting During an Emergency Situation :
Essential Employees may be required to work during a declared emergency. Depending on the nature of the emergency, this may require working around the clock for several days on short notice.
Non Essential Employees will not be required to work during a declared emergency. The employee's Department Head will determine when the employee will be required to work.
Perks and Benefits

• Free city-paid employee health coverage, additional for spouse or family
• 3 weeks Paid Time Off (sick & vacation)
• 13 paid holidays
• Pension plan & optional Deferred Compensation
• City-paid life insurance
• Optional Vision, Dental, and Disability Insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• On-site Gym facility
• And much more!

Duties/Responsibilities

• Perform all payroll processing functions outlined in the Payroll Processing Manual.
• Research and complete complex payroll calculations and reconciliation issues.
• Assist in Payroll bi-weekly audits and reconciliation.
• Maintain sufficient knowledge and awareness of regulatory issues (i.e., union contracts, tax changes) and reports issues to Payroll Manager.
• Research and compile response to public records requests.
• Initiate and complete special payroll projects as assigned by the Payroll Manager.
• Provide training and payroll updates to timekeepers or other stakeholders.
• Provide training for payroll staff.
• Update and maintain the Payroll manual.
• Utilize Internet, Payroll source, American Payroll Association and other tools to meet project deadlines.
• This position requires regular and reliable attendance and the employee's physical presence at the workplace
• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of payroll policies, procedures, standards, preparation, processing and regulations related to federal and state laws governing payroll.
• Knowledge of the methods, procedures and policies of the Payroll Department as they pertain to the performance of duties of the position.
• Knowledge of IRS, SSA, FLSA, ACH, garnishment and accounting transactions.
• Knowledge of the City's negotiated Union contracts and the City's Policies and Procedures as they pertain to payroll processing.
• Proficient in the use of computer applications including file accessing and table development and modification, word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software.
• Skilled in having a high degree of integrity and sound judgment in administering the position due to the highly sensitive and confidential nature of the job responsibilities
• Ability to communicate effectively with others and provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers.
• Ability to multi-task efficiently and effectively.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in developing approaches and techniques in problem resolution.
• Ability to operate necessary equipment, including personal computer, mainframe terminal, calculator, copier, facsimile machine and other standard office equipment.

Minimum Requirements

• Associate's degree (A. A.) in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration from an accredited college or university.
• Three (3) years of experience in payroll
• Payroll Specialist III experience and/or training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be substituted for the degree
• Possess basic project management skills sets.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions


This work typically requires the following physical activities to be performed.

• Balancing - maintain equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching.
• Climbing - ascending, descending ladders, stairs, ramps, requires body agility.
• Reaching - extending hands or arms in any direction.
• Repetitive Motion - substantial movements of wrists, hands, fingers.
• Speaking - expressing ideas with spoken word, convey detailed, important instructions accurately, concisely.
• Standing - for sustained periods of time.
• Crouching - bending body forward by bending leg, spine.
• Feeling - perceiving attributes of objects by touch with skin, fingertips.
• Fingering - picking, pinching, typing, working with fingers rather than hand.
• Grasping - applying pressure to object with fingers, palm.
• Handling - picking, holding, or working with whole hand.
• Hearing 1 - perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, receive information.
• Stooping - bending body downward, forward at waist, with full motion of lower extremities and back.
• Talking 1- expressing ideas by spoken word
• Visual Acuity 1 - prepare, analyze data, transcribing, computer terminal, extensive reading.
• Visual Acuity 2 - color, depth perception, field of vision.
• Visual Acuity 3 - determine accuracy, neatness, observe facilities/structures.
• Visual Acuity 4 - operate motor vehicles/heavy equipment.
• Kneeling - bending legs at knee to come to rest at knees.
• Lifting - raising objects from lower to higher position, moving objects side to side, using upper extremities, back.
• Mental Acuity - ability to make rational decisions through sound logic, deductive reasoning.
• Walking - on foot to accomplish tasks, long distances, or site to site.

Work performed is primarily:

• Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Contact with internal and external customers and the general public
• Works in an office environment and sits for long periods of time
• May be required to work hours other than the regular schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions described herein. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
Full-time regular City employee benefits:

• Health Insurance ()
  • City paid employee coverage. HMO or PPO plans are available. Dependents can be added, Employee pays 30% of premium. Premium deductions are taken pre-tax.
• Basic Life Insurance ()
  • City paid. The benefit is equal to 1x the annual base pay, rounded to the nearest $1000.00.
• Optional Vision Insurance ()
  • Employee-paid insurance is available at group rates, and family plans are available to employees. Premium deductions are taken pre-tax.
• Optional Dental Insurance ()
  • Employee-paid insurance is available at group rates, and family plans are available to employees. Premium deductions are taken pre-tax.
• Supplemental Insurance
  • Employees may purchase various types of supplemental insurance (life, AFLAC) at group rates through payroll deduction.
• Pension Plan (General) Administered by
• Pension Plan (Police and Fire) administered by
• 401(a) ()
  • Certain management positions can opt out of the General Pension into a 401(a).
• Roth IRA ()
  • Offered through payroll deduction.
• Disability ()
  • Employee paid short & long-term disability insurance.
• Leave Time (Sick, Vacation)
• Paid Holidays
  • City recognizes 13 holidays which include: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Birthday Holiday and Floating Holiday.**Birthday and Float after 1-year of service.
• Deferred Compensation Programs () OR ()
  • Tax-deferred savings plan available for retirement purposes. Employee-only contributions.
• Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Employees can elect to use pre-tax dollars to cover un-reimbursed medical or dependent daycare expenses.
• Payroll Direct Deposit
  • Available to any banking institution or credit union. Suncoast Federal Schools Credit Union membership is available to City employees.
• Employee Assistance Program ()
  • City-paid availability to licensed professional counselors for non-work related personal issues with 100% confidentiality.

Please note: Benefits do not apply to On-Call, Temporary, or Seasonal positions. Insurance Benefits only apply to regular Full-time positions.

01


Do you currently possess a minimum of an Associate's degree (A. A.) in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration from an accredited college or university AND three (3) years of experience in payroll; OR experience and/or training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities?

• Yes
• No

02


If the answer is Yes to question #1, please explain. If you answered "No" please enter "n/a".
Required Question