Payroll Clerk

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC) is seeking candidates for two Payroll Clerk opportunities within the Payroll Unit at Central Office. If you have three or more years of bookkeeping, accounts payable or clerical work involving finances and one year of experience in payroll preparation, we invite you to apply!

These positions support a variety of payroll processing, data entry, reconciliation, issue resolution, and reporting activities that ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll operations for approximately 6,000 DOC employees.


This recruitment will be used to create a larger pool of candidates for future positions within the Payroll Unit as additional vacancies arise.



What We Can Offer You:

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

Position Highlights:

• Full time, 40 hours per week, first shift (Monday-Friday).
• Located at DOC Central Office, 24 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT.
• May require occasional statewide travel based on operational needs.
• Telework privileges may be available after completion of the working test period.
• Opportunities to support a large, fast paced Payroll Unit that processes regular, overtime, and supplemental payroll for 24/7 three shift DOC facilities statewide.

Your Role/Key Responsibilities:

Payroll Processing & Data Entry

• Enter W 4s, direct deposits, credit union deductions, retirement contributions and other payroll related updates in payroll systems.
• Calculate payouts and enter payments into payroll software.
• Process current or prior pay period adjustments.

UKG Pro (Kronos), Core CT

• Identify issues in the state payroll systems and work with supervisors to resolve discrepancies.
• Produce and review time and attendance payroll audits, reports; correct issues before deadlines.

Audit, Reconciliation & Reporting

• Compile and analyze payroll data and prepare payroll reports.
• Review payroll information for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Support documentation, filing, and audit-ready record maintenance.

Customer Service & Communication

• Work with diverse groups of DOC staff across multiple facilities to resolve payroll questions.
• Provide professional, clear, timely communication to employees and supervisors.

About Us:
The Connecticut Department of Correction is a diverse agency with a wide variety of employees from Correction Officers, to Educators, to Managers and Skilled Professionals. We value differences that make us stronger as a team and support our mission statement.


The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is the agency responsible for corrections in the U.S. State of Connecticut. The agency operates 13 correctional facilities. It has its headquarters in Wethersfield. The DOC protects public safety by ensuring offenders serve their sentences of imprisonments in facilities that are safe, human, and provide re-entry programming.


The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction is a unified system; all sentenced and un-sentenced offenders are supervised by the DOC. The Department also provides supervision for offenders on parole, community release, and other discretionary release programs.
For an inside look at what it's like to work as an employee for the State of Connecticut, please watch the video below!

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:


Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.


BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing View email address on click.appcast.io.
• Salary Calculations : For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

• Note : The only way to apply to this posting is via the 'Apply' or 'Apply Online' buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

• Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates-such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links-please check your Personal Status Board regularly.
• For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select "Update My Contact Information."
• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire's expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).

• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note : This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at

• This employer may participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm work authorization.

QUESTIONS? WE'RE HERE TO HELP:


Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Brianna Linehan at View email address on click.appcast.io.


Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)


In a state agency this class is accountable for preparing and maintaining biweekly regular, overtime and supplemental payrolls for an assigned group of employees and independently performing various payroll support activities.


EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Prepares biweekly regular, overtime, and supplemental payrolls;
• Reviews employee time cards and/or timesheets for accuracy and completeness and posts hours worked to master payroll cards;
• Reviews personnel and/or payroll change notices and posts changes and/or adjustments to master files, e.g. new hires, transfers, reclassifications, terminations, retirements, overpayments and/or underpayments, wage increases, deduction changes (health insurance, union dues and/or fees, credit union payments, charitable contributions, bond or sheltered tax annuity payments, group life insurance payments, etc.);
• Calculates gross wages;
• Notes deductions on worksheets and deduction summary sheets;
• Prepares and balances prelists for Central Payroll (Office of State Comptroller), noting both salary and deduction data OR codes standard payroll action forms in conjunction with computerized payroll system;
• Prepares and totals various deduction worksheets, e.g., Credit Union, Medical and/or Insurance Providers, etc.;
• Prepares and submits summary sheets and transmittal certificates OR detailed analysis of expenditure reports and expenditure certificates to Central Payroll;
• Verifies check register and printouts from Central Payroll against worksheets and records;
• Performs various clerical accounting functions such as calculating balances and posting charges to expenditure accounts;
• Prepares supplemental payrolls such as longevity payments, vacation pay, promotional adjustments, etc.;
• Calculates and processes retroactive payments, collective bargaining increases and annual increments;
• Performs various clerical accounting functions such as calculating balances and posting charges to expenditure accounts;
• Verifies provider checks issued by Office of State Comptroller against own records;
• Verifies providers' bills in same manner;
• Keeps abreast of collective bargaining contract requirements and restrictions as related to payroll (dates for salary increases, overtime, shift differential and holiday pay restrictions, etc.);
• Responds to employee inquiries regarding paychecks and payroll practices and procedures;
• Maintains various records and files for payroll data and forms;
• May calculate workers compensation and/or retirement payments;
• May calculate and monitor payroll deductions for court ordered wage executions (garnishments);
• May consult division or facility supervisors regarding employee time recorded;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
  • payroll terminology, practices and procedures;
  • basic accounting and bookkeeping principles and procedures;
  • general office procedures;
• Skills
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
  • in performing arithmetic computations;
• Ability to
  • read, understand and apply applicable contract guidelines and regulations;
  • maintain records and files; ability to follow complex oral and written instructions;
  • operate office equipment which includes computers, tablets, and other electronic equipment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE


Three (3) years of experience in bookkeeping, accounts payable or clerical work involving finances.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE


One (1) year of the General Experience must have involved payroll preparation.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of two (2) years.
• One (1) year as a Financial Clerk performing payroll duties may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with PeopleSoft Payroll/HR (CORE CT) or similar payroll systems.
• Experience with UKG Pro (Kronos), or other payroll platforms.
• Experience independently compiling and analyzing payroll data and preparing payroll reports.
• Experience with Microsoft Excel (tracking, formulas), Word (document preparation), and Teams.
• Experience communicating effectively with diverse groups of people while providing excellent customer service.
• Experience working independently and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to problem-solve and adapt to changing work priorities.
• Experience preparing or reviewing documents for accuracy, including verifying data and maintaining organized records.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS


Persons having responsibility for supervising or observing the behavior of inmates or custodial individuals will be required to possess a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certification by the time of permanent appointment.


Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER


The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.