Payroll Specialist | City of Highland Park

The City of Highland Park is now accepting applications for the role of Payroll Specialist.

Primary Purpose: The Payroll Specialist performs detail-orientated clerical, bookkeeping, accounting, and administrative work in administering the entire payroll function to generate the City’s bi-weekly payroll. This position is responsible for providing financial, administrative and clerical services in order to ensure effective, efficient and accurate financial operations. Software used to perform these functions includes Tyler Munis ERP and Executime Time & Attendance.

Expected schedule of 40 hours per week. IMRF pension eligible position. Expected hiring range $60,000 – $67,000 dependent on qualifications. Full salary range (Grade 9): $52,051 – $78,076 annually.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Implements the policies and procedures necessary to prepare a biweekly payroll in an accurate and timely manner and maintains related records. Processes all time sheets and prepares payroll checks.
• Tasks include but are not limited to: Prepares bi-weekly payroll; answers payroll-related questions from employees; reviews compensation and payroll information and corrects errors to ensure accuracy; calculating and recording payroll deductions, entering and remitting garnishments, calculating and processing retroactive payments, longevity payments, terminations, jury pay, and military differential pay.
• Calculates and records changes in compensation and payroll; such as salary increases, hours worked, leave taken, taxes and other withholdings or legally mandated wage assignments, insurance and retirement program contributions, union dues and separation payouts. Creates and maintains employee payroll system data.
• Maintains master payroll file. Prepares payroll checks and stubs and generates direct deposit file for transmission to the bank in a timely fashion.
• Maintains employee accrual balances.
• Prepares and processes quarterly tax returns for federal, state and unemployment taxes; compiles and generates W-2’s at year-end tax reports on earnings in accordance with prescribed federal and state government procedures.
• Makes timely deposits of funds to other agencies such as, IRS, State of Illinois, IMRF, etc. Prepares wire transfer requests as needed.
• Performs regular payroll reconciliation processes including IMRF, and payroll liability accounts.
• Initiates and troubleshoots applicable software to reflect legislative changes and compatibility concerns. Researches and recommends solutions to system problems.
• Implements provisions of union contracts within the payroll system.
• Creates and process reports relating primarily to payroll. Creates and responds to surveys as requested. Perform ad hoc reporting at the request of departments.
• Processes payroll related vendor payments including child support, wage garnishments, union dues, etc.
• Assists employees with payroll questions and problems.
• Retains payroll certification, supported by required continuing education. Networks regularly with other certified payroll professionals and stays abreast of payroll industry and tax developments.
• Continuously evaluates the City’s payroll function for effectiveness, efficiency, and payroll industry and tax developments, making and implementing recommendations, in coordination with the Deputy Finance Director
• Processes daily cash receipts and verifies that transactions comply with financial policies and procedures. Handles customer payments and other finance transactions including those that are related to, but not limited to, utility billing, parking citations, permits, vehicle licenses, animal registrations and real estate transfer taxes.
• Provides public information services and customer service to customers within City Hall and on the telephone. Answers telephones for the main switchboard for the City. Prepares memorandums and documents as assigned and if necessary, provides notarization of documents.
• Assists with the preparation of the Annual Audit and Budget Documents. Performs other related duties as requested.

Education: Minimum of Associate’s degree or two years of technical or business school, including courses in accounting preferred.

Experience: Four to six years of previous payroll experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Certification: Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) strongly preferred.