Accounting Specialist - Payroll

Job Requisition ID: 57367 
Opening Date: 07/14/2026
Closing Date: 07/27/2026
Agency: Illinois Office of Comptroller
Class Title: ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST - 50128
Salary: Anticipated starting salary - $59,174.93; $59,174.93 - $92,064.50/year
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time 
County: Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code: IFT/Teamsters

***A RESUME IS REQUIRED FOR THIS JOB POSTING***

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.

Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Position Overview

COME JOIN A TRANSFORMATIVE TEAM, with a record of proven, positive impact to the State of Illinois.

The Illinois Office of the Comptroller is seeking applicants for the position of Accounting Specialist for Payoll.

The Comptroller is the chief fiscal control officer for the Illinois government, charged by the Constitution with maintaining the state’s central fiscal accounts and ordering payments into and out of the appropriate funds. The office processes more than 16 million transactions annually and serves as a “fiscal watchdog” to ensure that all state payments meet the requirements of the law. The Comptroller’s office provides meaningful and timely fiscal information to help state policymakers adopt effective policies. The office continually seeks new ways to improve how it serves the public. The Comptroller has updated and streamlined the Comptroller’s website and has led the process of updating the state’s payroll and accounting systems. Comptroller Mendoza is committed to running the Office of Comptroller as a financial watchdog for the interest of Illinois citizens and to installing the most modern and transparent systems to make the state’s financial information available to all. 

MAJOR FUNCTION

Under administrative direction of the Senior Public Service Administrator of the Payroll Unit, the incumbent determines State Agency and State employee liability for FICA and Medicare, assists State agencies with reconciliation of their FICA and Medicare accounts, and reconciles end of month reports to balance with Federal and State taxes, FICA, and Medicare.

The Accounitng Specialist maintains the position classification number files, and assists in maintaining the overall workload of the payroll unit. The incumbent reviews and processes retirement voucher for payment, reviews and responds to Central Management Services (CMS) back-wage information requests. The Accounting Specialist assists with end of month tax accounting, review and balancing reports and acts as a back-up for various other payroll procedures as well as performing other duties as needed within the payroll unit.

Job Responsibilities

• Processes retirement system payments.
  • Downloads retirement files.
  • Reviews vouchers and files for errors.
  • Balances files to vouchers.
  • Releases for processing once it has passed all pre-audit requirements.
  • Balances all reports after processing completes.

• Determines State Agency and State Employee liability for FICA and Medicare and assists State agencies with reconciliation of FICA and Medicare accounts.

• Assists in maintaining the overall workload of the payroll unit.
  • Validates authorized signatures on payroll vouchers.
  • Sorts and distributes mail entering the payroll unit and answers the phones.
  • Assists with filing duplicate tax statement requests, data entry, mailing tax statements, and filing the request documentation.

• Reconciles end of month tax accounting reports to balance with Federal and State taxes, FICA and Medicare accounts.
  • Maintains the statewide position classification number files.
  • Reviews and responds to CMS back-wage information requests.

• Provides assistance with incoming phone and/or mail inquiries for state agencies, state employees and retirees as necessary.

• Acts as a back-up for processing, balancing, auditing lottery files, and vouchers.

• Acts as a back-up to reviewing and entering incoming payroll vouchers and files.

• Acts as a back-up to other payroll unit staff as necessary.

• Performs other duties as assigned which are reasonable to the duties defined above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of two (2) years of college and one (1) year of technical accounting experience.

        OR 

• Requires four (4) years of related clerical bookkeeping experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers a minimum of one (1) year experience in state government payroll, accounting, or auditing operations and systems.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Requires knowledge of office practices, procedures, and programs.
• Requires working knowledge of electronic data systems, the operation and use of a personal computer, and a variety of software.
• Requires ability to apply established accounting methods and techniques.
• Requires ability to operate commonly used manual and automated office equipment.
• Requires ability to use analytical and fact-finding techniques.
• Requires ability to follow written and oral instruction of moderate complexity.
• Requires good written and oral communication skills.
• Requires ability to maintain satisfactory working relationship with other employees and the general public.
• Requires working knowledge of accounting techniques and procedures.
• Requires ability to analyze routine accounting records and documents.

*with or without reasonable accommodation.

Benefits

This position is eligible to be a member of the State of Illinois Group Insurance program which includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage options. Additionally, this position will annually accrue 12 paid sick days, a minimum of 12 paid vacation days, 4 paid personal days, and be afforded 14 paid state holidays, prorated based on start date. 

Equal Employment and Commitment to Diversity

The Illinois Office of Comptroller provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. The Illinois Office of Comptroller is committed to the fair and equal employment of individuals with disabilities under the ADA. It is the Illinois Office of Comptroller's policy to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the company. The Illinois Office of Comptroller prohibits any harassment of, or discriminatory treatment of, employees or applicants based on a disability or because an employee has requested reasonable accommodation. 

The Illinois Office of Comptroller is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the agency and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives. This commitment is embodied in agency policy and organizational culture. 

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 37.5 hours/week
Headquarter Location: 325 W Adams St, Springfield, Illinois, 62704
Work County: Sangamon
Agency Contact: Kammy Ferrigno
Phone #: 217-782-6085
Posting Group: Payroll Only Posting Group

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Use the “Apply” button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.

If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so. 

State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees – a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. 

Non-State employees should log in on the using the “View Profile” link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.  If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.

If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:

State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid

Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com – click “Application Procedures” in the footer of every page of the website.

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• donotreply@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
• systems@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com