Senior Payroll Analyst

Salary : $103,958.40 - $126,609.60 Annually
Location : San Diego
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: View phone number on click.appcast.io
Department: Financial Services
Opening Date: 07/09/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


Description
Department: Financial Services

Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• 9/80 Compressed Work Schedule (office closed every other Friday)
• 14 paid holidays
• 457 tax-deferred savings plan
• Employer paid pension contribution of 14% to base salary
• Social security exempt
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,000 annually
• Sharp PPO or HMO Plan, Kaiser Permanente HMO Plan,
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible spending account
• Health and wellness perks
• Rewards & Recognition program

To see full benefits package, please visit:

About SDHC:

The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) is an award-winning public housing agency in the City of San Diego that provides innovative housing assistance programs for households with low income or experiencing homelessness. The San Diego City Council, in its role as the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego, oversees SDHC. SDHC helps pay rent for more than 17,000 households with low income annually; is a leader in collaborative efforts to address homelessness, such as the Community Action Plan on Homelessness for the City of San Diego and SDHC's homelessness initiative, HOUSING FIRST - SAN DIEGO, which has created more than 11,000 housing solutions since November 2014 for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness; and creates and preserves affordable rental housing, with more than 23,000 affordable units in service in the City today with SDHC's participation.


About the Department:

The Financial Services Department plans, organizes, leads and monitors the financial activities of the Housing Commission. This includes Accounting Services such as Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Financial Reporting, Internal Controls and Audits, as well as, Financial Services such as Cash Management, Financial Analysis and Projections, Investments and Budget Development. The Financial Services Department also provides Pre-award Grant Review, Post-award Grant Setup, establishes Grant Administration Guidelines and Monitors Grant Compliance.

For the 15th consecutive year, the Financial Services Department was recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada with the "Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting" for the fiscal year 2022 (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022) Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
About the Position:

Incumbents plan, develop, and implement policies and procedures for preparation and distribution of payroll, maintenance of payroll records, and required reporting in accordance with Federal, State, and local laws, rules and regulations. Incumbents facilitate and support the work of departmental management staff by conducting day-to-day administrative support activities and by providing a professional-level resource for financial, procedural, and operational analyses and studies. Responsibilities include performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibility, and may involve frequent contact with the internal departments. The work requires ensuring that these functions are carried out in an accurate, timely manner in accordance with legal requirements, and using sound financial management principles and practices

Examples of Essential Job Functions

• Receives, reviews, verifies, and processes time recording documents to prepare payroll for all Commission employees; audits such documents for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with rules and regulations; prepares and balances payroll reports and records.
• Processes, calculates, and maintains records of a variety of payroll actions, including new-hire set-up, overtime hours, cost-of-living adjustments, incentive and/or premium pay, retroactive pay, benefits withholdings, wage garnishments, workers compensation claims, and final paychecks and pay-offs based on appropriate provisions; maintains employee records for voluntary and non-voluntary deductions; issues and processes refunds, reversals, and repayment schedules based on retro adjustments due to effective date of coverage changes; prepares payroll warrants and wire transfers; prepares reports and payments for various tax, financial, and insurance organizations.
• Interprets, applies, explains, and ensures compliance with provisions of collective bargaining contracts and personnel rules as they apply to payroll and a wide variety of paid and unpaid leave usage.
• Applies and ensures compliance with applicable tax laws and rulings with regard to the employee benefits program as well as earnings.
• Processes personnel transactions making appropriate adjustments/changes in the payroll system.
• Prepares reports and payments for employee retirement benefits; prepares quarterly Federal and State payroll tax reports.
• Maintains a variety of files and records related to the Commission's payroll system and general accounting techniques and procedures; reconciles transactions and data as directed; records changes and resolves differences, maintains the accuracy of the accounting and financial records.
• Posts and balances data to various general ledger accounts, registers, journals, and logs according to established accounting techniques and procedures
• Designs and creates custom payroll reports; makes recommendations for the development and revision of payroll related documents, procedures, and forms; assists in the development of policies, regulations, and procedures.
• Conducts special research assignments, gathers data, and prepares reports for consideration by management or special committees.
• Assists in developing goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and administrative control systems for the programs to which assigned.
• Plans, designs, develops, organizes, oversees, and administers highly complex payroll programs and projects; directs all aspects of assigned programs, including legal and regulatory compliance.
• Develops, oversees, and implements new or revised programs, systems, procedures, and methods of operation; compiles and analyzes data and makes recommendations; analyzes and interprets new or proposed Federal and State legislation, regulations, and policies; drafts new legislations, ordinances, or policy initiatives as directed.
• Oversees and conducts a variety of analytical and operational studies regarding departmental and programmatic activities, including complex financial, budget, regulatory, operational, or administrative issues or questions; evaluates alternatives, makes recommendations, and assists with the implementation of procedural, administrative, and/or operational changes after approval; prepares comprehensive technical records and reports, identifies alternatives, and makes and justifies recommendations.
• Works directly with staff from other sections to resolve technical payroll and reporting issues and problems.
• Maintains accurate records and files; develops storage of records and retention schedules.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Public agency finance and accounting functions, payroll processes and techniques, employee benefits processes as they relate to payroll, and laws, rules, regulations, procedures, and office practices related to the processing and recording of payroll and financial transactions related to employee benefits.
• Project and/or program management, analytical processes, and report preparation techniques.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis, evaluation, development, and implementation of programs, policies, and procedures.
• Research, statistical, analytical, and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Payroll reporting and payment requirements of various State and Federal agencies and benefit providers.
• Principles and practices of auditing payroll documents.
• Recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related to the assigned programs.
• Record keeping, information processing requirements, and rules and policies related to the production of an employee payroll.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for effectively representing the Commission in contacts with government agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and Commission staff.

Ability to:

• Assist in the development of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for assigned programs.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of accounting, payroll processing, employee record-keeping functions, basic employee benefits processes, and Union Memoranda of Understanding.
• Perform responsible and difficult administrative work involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.
• Plan and conduct effective management, administrative, and operational studies.
• Plan, organize, and carry out assignments from management staff with minimal direction.
• Review, post, balance, reconcile, and maintain accurate and confidential payroll records.
• Plan and conduct research on a wide variety of program topics including grant funding, contract feasibility, budget proposals, and operational alternatives.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present administrative and technical information and data effectively.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Effectively represent the Commission in meetings with government agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate and maintain modern office equipment, including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:
Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business administration, finance, public administration, payroll or a related field and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in professional public accounting, payroll, or a closely related field. Degree requirement may be substituted by four (4) additional years of experience equivalent to that of the Payroll Specialist at the San Diego Housing Commission.

Supplemental Information

Physical Demands:

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit various Commission and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 25 pounds.
Environmental Elements:
Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
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