Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist Wage/Hour Status: Exempt

Reports to: Payroll Supervisor Pay Grade: AM 2

Dept./School: Business, Finance & Administrative Services Initiated Date: February 2026

La Joya Independent School District (ISD) is committed to excellence for students and our community. We have a strong, 100-year legacy in the Rio Grande Valley. The district's vision - Educational Excellence: The Right of Every Student - conveys our urgent focus on students.

Our work is rooted in five district priorities, which require collaboration and deep commitment to supporting one another as we serve the community.

• Customer Service
• Trust & Transparency
• High-Quality Instruction
• Excellence in Leadership
• Integrity & Accountability

We are focused on ensuring every student in La Joya ISD has access to high-quality, best-fit schools as we work to improve from a B-district to an A-rated district. We serve more than 22,000 students across more than 30 schools in six municipalities, spanning more than 220 square miles.

We seek a highly detail-oriented, organized, and dependable Payroll Specialist who is committed to ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll operations for the District. The ideal candidate has strong experience processing payroll transactions, validating time and attendance data, reviewing supplemental pay, and maintaining employee payroll records with precision and confidentiality. This individual must demonstrate strong judgment, technical skill, and personal accountability in managing payroll data, identifying discrepancies, and ensuring compliance with district procedures and applicable state and federal requirements. The successful candidate is proactive, solutions-oriented, and customer-focused, able to work collaboratively with Human Capital, Finance, campuses, and departments to support reliable payroll processing, safeguard district resources, and promote trust in employee compensation systems.

You will be joining a district that is building on a legacy of achievement while rapidly developing systems to reach new heights in student outcomes and to improve the District's overall operational efficiency and effectiveness. You will receive intentional, targeted support in your essential role in serving the Business, Finance, and Administrative Services Department of the District. We are also a district focused on continuous improvement and rigorous analysis of the policies and procedures we have in place to ensure that the financial and business operations of the District are transparent to the public and in keeping with generally accepted accounting principles.

Education/Certification:

• High school diploma or GED required
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred

Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years of payroll processing experience, or related finance/accounting experience required.
• Experience with integrated payroll and ERP, and timekeeping systems in a K-12 or public sector environment preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including usage of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Ability to prepare business correspondence, reports, and documentation with accuracy and professionalism.
• Proficiency in modern office practices, procedures, and electronic document management,
• Advanced knowledge of payroll processing procedures, recordkeeping standards, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Strong technical proficiency with payroll software, timekeeping systems, and reporting tools.
• Exceptional attention to detail, including proofreading and data validation skills.
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and integrity.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, meet strict deadlines, and perform with a high degree of accuracy in a fast-paced environment.

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Payroll Processing and Accuracy:

• Process assigned district payroll activities accurately and timely in accordance with established payroll schedules and procedures.
• Compute salaries, supplemental earnings, leave adjustments, and applicable deductions for district employees.
• Review, verify, and reconcile payroll data prior to processing to ensure accuracy of employee compensation, deductions, and funding codes.
• Ensure all assigned payroll transactions are processed accurately and in alignment with established payroll deadlines and district procedures.
• Support completion of payroll reviews and corrections in advance of each payroll processing cycle to minimize errors and rework.
• Review and validate information imported from the district's timekeeping and employee management systems.
• Process payroll adjustments related to leave, including FMLA, workers' compensation, docked pay, and other compensation-related changes.
• Prepare and verify payroll checks, direct deposits, and payroll-related reports.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation supporting earnings, deductions, and adjustments.

Data Integrity and Internal Controls:

• Review employee data received from Human Capital to ensure accurate salary placement, job coding, work calendars, and payroll setup in the employee management system.
• Review employee status changes, resignations, and other personnel actions to ensure timely payroll updates and reduce the risk of payroll errors or overpayments.
• Verify funding sources, approvals, and supporting documentation for extra-duty pay and other supplemental compensation.
• Maintain accurate budget distribution and payroll coding to support proper financial reporting and compliance.
• Support internal control procedures by reviewing payroll inputs, identifying discrepancies, and escalating concerns that may affect payroll accuracy, timelines, or compliance.
• Maintain complete and audit-ready payroll documentation for supplemental pay, employee changes, deductions, and adjustments.
• Organize and maintain payroll documentation in accordance with district record retention practices and audit requirements.

Employee Support and Service:

• Address employee inquiries regarding compensation, voluntary deductions, and payroll adjustments.
• Assist new employees with payroll forms and the employee service portal.
• Respond and prepare verification of employment requests.
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries and requests in a timely, professional, and customer-focused manner, ensuring clarity and accuracy in all communications.

Communication and Coordination:

• Provide timely updates to the Payroll Supervisor regarding work progress, payroll discrepancies, compliance concerns, and any matters impacting payroll accuracy or timelines.
• Coordinate with departments and campuses to support payroll accuracy and timeliness.
• Provide assistance to other payroll staff as needed.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of payroll processes, recordkeeping practices, and internal controls to strengthen compliance and operational efficiency.

Safety:

• Performs preventive maintenance on tools and equipment, ensuring equipment operates safely.
• Follows established safety procedures and techniques to perform job duties, including lifting and climbing; operates tools and equipment according to established safety procedures.
• Corrects unsafe conditions in the work area and promptly reports any conditions that are not immediately correctable to the supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Personal Work Relationships:

• All La Joya ISD employees must maintain a commitment to the District's mission, vision, and strategic goals,
• Exhibits high professionalism, standards of conduct, and work ethic,
• Demonstrates high-quality customer service; builds rapport/relationship with the consumer,
• Demonstrates cultural competence in interactions with others; is respectful of co-workers; communicates and acts as a team player; promotes teamwork; responds and acts appropriately in confrontational situations.

Travel Requirements:

• Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings, as required.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards:

• Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals.
• Posture: Prolonged sitting and standing; occasional stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, pushing/pulling, and twisting.
• Motion: Frequent repetitive hand motions, including keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching.
• Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds).
• Environment: Works in an office setting; may require occasional irregular and/or prolonged hours.
• Attendance: Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position