Senior Payroll Specialist (2 Positions)

Scope of Position :

Under the general direction of a Payroll Officer, the Senior Payroll Specialist (SPS) serves as an expert resource and staff specialist within the Personnel and Payroll Operations Bureau.

The incumbent is responsible for providing technical support, while independently performing assignments involving a diverse range of tasks, situations related to personnel and payroll, and will be required to act in a lead capacity.

The SPS functions as a liaison with customers, control agencies, and stakeholders. Implements processes and procedures; develops and maintains specialized training programs and internal procedures;

represents the department on intra- and inter-departmental teams, and resolves a wide variety of personnel and payroll issues.

Duties and Responsibilities :

Candidates must perform the following functions with or without reasonable accommodations.)

Researches and resolves the most complex and sensitive personnel and payroll problems for California State agencies and campuses;

evaluates automated processes and heavy workloads associated with various Statewide programs; ensures both documentation and transaction processing are in compliance with Federal and State laws, rules, policies, procedures and bargaining unit contracts.

Responds to written correspondence, and telephone inquiries from State agencies and campuses regarding documentation and procedures by researching and referencing resource materials the Payroll Procedures Manual (PPM), Personnel Action Manual (PAM), Benefits Administrative Manual (BAM), etc.).

The incumbent exercises lead responsibilities, provides training, reviews the work of less seasoned staff, ensures cut-off dates are met, assists with coordinating and controlling unit workloads;

reviews and authorizes PC uploads to the mainframe computer for less seasoned staff; assumes responsibility for the unit in supervisor’s absence.

• Participates in meetings to improve personnel / payroll efficiencies on a statewide basis, and various personnel and payroll related meetings;
• provides technical expertise and support in handling the most difficult and complex personnel / payroll documents and reports on a statewide basis;
• reviews California Department of Human Resources Policy Memos regarding changes resulting from the collective bargaining processes;

ensures appropriate personnel / payroll documentation instructions are provided via these pay letters; identifies and documents payroll system issues, calculates and tests applications to ensure they are accurate.

Provides information to the supervisor regarding unit operational needs, concerns and improvements to existing policies and procedures;

reviews and provides comments on revisions to the PPM, PAM, BAM and various desk / training manuals; reviews and provides comments on proposed Personnel and Payroll letters prior to statewide distribution.

Works on special projects involving new personnel / payroll processes or heavy / time sensitive workloads affecting State agencies, which may result from legislation and collective bargaining;

identifies documents and provides test data to analytical staff for system related problems.

May act as a backup phone liaison to the Statewide Customer Contact Center, in staff’s absence.

Desirable Qualifications :

• Ability to uphold PPSD values : Professionalism, Accountability, Customer Service, Collaboration, and Trust.
• Ability to communicate effectively while using tact and good judgment.
• Ability to work under pressure with changing priorities and / or deadlines.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to work well with others at all levels.
• Excellent attendance and dependability.
• Ability to motivate and encourage staff and promote a team effort.
• Ability to guide staff in performing tasks of varying degrees of complexity.
• Possess strong organizational skills and commitment to quality customer service.
• Ability to apply State and Federal laws, rules, policies, procedures, and Collective Bargaining Contracts.
• The ability to formulate comprehensive and accurate system documentation.
• The ability to supply concepts, best practices, methodologies, and principles related to software deployment.
• The ability to develop and maintain standards and procedures to support and ensure consistency during the development, implementation, and maintenance of software systems.
• The ability to gather and document software development specifications and requirements from various sources to facilitate software design in accordance with business needs.

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, hair style and texture, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation. Rev. 01 / 2023