Payroll Specialist

Payroll SpecialistReports To: Chief Finance OfficerTerms of Employment: Full Time 12 MonthsSalary: NC State Salary ScheduleFLSA Exempt/Non Exempt: Non ExemptQualifications:Associate's Degree1 to 2 years of experience in technical accounting or bookkeeping work, preferably dealing with payrollTraining and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.Supervises:NoneEssential Job Functions:Prepares, verifies and enters data for monthly, semi-monthly and special payroll payments, computing proper payment according to employees' status (i.e. 10-month, 12-month employee) and showing all statutory and voluntary deductions, special payments, such as ABC incentive bonus, retroactive salary adjustments, fortified annual leave, longevity, summer school and compensation bonus payments, contributions, and special withholdings; processes checks and/or direct deposits, including bank transit and account numbers; contacts financial institutions, as necessary, to resolve problems or discrepancies pertaining to direct deposits.Maintains employee payroll records, including data such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, retirement numbers, employment anniversary, years of state service, deduction information, direct deposit requests, and tax forms, entering data into computer records and updating as necessary, including verifying changes in salaries and employment status as authorized by Personnel Division; records 12-month salary option for salaried employees, as appropriate.Maintains accounting of employee sick, personal and annual leave balances, and certifies leave balances for employees transferring employment to other state agencies.Prepares and distributes payroll "turnaround" work sheets.Verifies changes in salaries and employment status as authorized by Department of Human ResourcesVerifies employee salaries on employment withdrawal forms of employees terminating state employment, calculates and provides employee salary projections for retiring employees, and submits to State Employees' Retirement System.Verifies employees' salary and years of employment for financial institutions, as requested.Answers employees' inquiries pertaining to payroll calculations, checks, payroll policies and procedures and related matters.Enters data for employee benefit deductions, including dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, cancer and disability during open enrollment and for all new employeesPrepares and enters data for monthly payroll payments, computing proper payment according to employees' status for hourly employees, including after-school staff and tutorsProcesses payroll deductions for tax sheltered annuities, garnishments, SECU, United Way and approved professional organizationsProcesses data for coaching supplements for middle and high schoolsPrepares and processes monthly longevity payrollsReconciles monthly deduction registers to statements from each company; submits checks and documentation for paymentMaintains employee records for voluntary benefit deductionsAssists with upgrading and maintaining salary tablesAssists with the set-up of payroll calendarsAnswers payroll questions for substitute teachersDetermines and sets up appropriate pay categoryPrepares employment verificationsAnswers employees' inquiries pertaining to payroll deductions and related mattersPrepares monthly retirement report for submission to the North Carolina Retirement System after monthly payrolls are completeServes as alternative contact for calls regarding worker's comp incidentsAssists in school internal audits as necessaryMaintains and updates AESOP administrationPerforms other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisorPhysical and Cognitive Requirements:The major physical and cognitive requirements listed below are applicable to the Payroll Specialist job classification within Hoke County Schools. Work in this classification is considered light physical work requiring the exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects and perform filing for record keeping.Must be able to:Operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, overhead projectors and data projectorsOperate a motor vehicleCompare, interpret, analyze and generate data and apply basic principles of statisticsGather, convey and exchange informationCommunicate effectively and efficiently, both orally and in writingRespond appropriately to inquiries or complaintsUse tact and courtesy when working and dealing with the communityRead, comprehend, and prepare various kinds of communication and information including emails, correspondence, reports, articles, proposals, contracts, policies, charts, spreadsheets, curriculum documents, staff development plans, educational forms and dataWrite using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and styleSpeak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidenceApply principles of logical, critical, creative or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusionsDeal with abstract and concrete variablesDemonstrate and apply common sense understanding to carry out simple instruction and to make simple decisionsInterpret, infer, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate materials, resources, situations and problems to generate options and solutionsInterpret and carry out oral and/or written instructionsDemonstrate continued professional curiosity and growthHear, speak, read, record and explain information, communication and proceduresPerform basic math functions to understand and interpret data, to balance budgetsDeal fairly with people beyond giving and receiving instructionsPerform under stress, deal with persons acting under stress and displaying emotional distress and adapt when confronted with emergency situationsDISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the position. All employees may have other duties assigned at any time.