Payroll Technician

Payroll Technician

The City of Walnut Creek is seeking one (1) full-time Payroll Technician to join the Finance team of the Administrative Services Department. This position performs a wide variety of payroll duties with minimum supervision and requires the exercise of considerable initiative, independent judgment, confidentiality, and customer service. Salary The current annual salary range for the position of Payroll Technician is $82,551 to $99,617. The closing date for this recruitment is Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 11:59pm PST. Please note that this job announcement may close without notice when a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Ideal candidates for this position:

• Have processed payroll for two (2) years in a municipal agency or in the public sector, such as for a City, County, special district, or public school;
• Have processed payroll for sworn personnel (police) or in an agency contracted with California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS);
• Provide excellent customer service and communicate clearly and patiently with employees at all levels; and
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail and a commitment to handling sensitive information responsibly and confidentially.

What's Great About This Opportunity:

• Joining a small, collaborative payroll team where the Technician has ownership of processes, working closely with one (1) other Technician and a supportive Payroll Supervisor.
• Working for a forward-thinking City that plans for both the short- and long-term, and that makes an ongoing investment in process improvements.
• Contributing to meaningful public service by supporting staff; your work directly impacts their livelihoods and the community they serve.

About the City: Spanning 19.5 square miles, the community's sprawling landscapes, warm weather, diverse dining options, and thriving shopping district make Walnut Creek a suburban oasis with an urban flair. With a rare blend of 2,800 acres of open space, a vibrant downtown, a business park, premier healthcare facilities and a performing arts center, Walnut Creek offers something for everyone! The City of Walnut Creek is committed to values of respect, integrity, excellence, teamwork, and creativity. CARE, the City's robust award-winning employee engagement initiative, focuses on three key areas: providing career development opportunities; promoting connections among employees; and supporting employee health and wellness.

About the Department and Division: The Administrative Services Department is made up of three (3) divisions: Budget and Procurement, Finance, and Information Technology. The Payroll Technician is a member of the 10-person Finance team, led by the Finance Manager. The team is kind, dedicated, and driven by a shared mission of accuracy, accountability, and helping employees feel supported and valued.

Representative Duties: Reporting directly to the Payroll Supervisor, and working alongside one (1) peer Payroll Technician, the staff member in this role performs a wide range of duties as assigned. The most frequent responsibilities include:

• Reviewing time entry records submitted by all departments to ensure appropriate contracts and administrative policies, laws and regulations, and sound business control procedures are followed;
• Preparing, entering, processing, and maintaining all payroll processing documents and payroll reports, utilizing a computer-based payroll system (currently Tyler-Munis);
• Communicating with departmental staff in resolving discrepancies;
• Verifying and entering pay increases, special pays, and required updates for each payroll period;
• Researching discrepancies and correcting errors, and balancing payroll for each pay period;
• Transmitting direct deposit files and wires through City's banking institution, printing and distributing payroll checks;
• Preparing and submitting regular support to State and Federal agencies, as requested and required by law;
• Compiling data and preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports relating to assigned functions;
• Preparing and processing insurance, and other miscellaneous billings, such as payments for disability, terminations, retirement, and deferred compensation;
• Maintaining accumulated leave records for all employees, including tracking annual leave used as well as updating leave accrual rates;
• Providing information to other City staff and the public on matters related to payroll procedures and applicable laws, policies, rules, and regulations; and
• Building and maintaining positive working relationships with co-workers and internal customers.

Qualifications Guidelines: Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in the job classification is qualifying. Minimum qualifications for Payroll Technician include:

• Graduation from high school,
• Coursework in accounting, and
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in a clerical accounting position, including use of automated payroll processing systems.

Please review the complete job classification of Payroll Technician for a full list of knowledge, skills, abilities, working conditions, and physical requirements for this position.