Garnishment Specialist - Payroll Services

License and Certification Qualifications:Education Qualifications:

• H.S. Diploma or General Education Degree Required
• Bachelor's Degree in related field Preferred

Experience Qualifications:

• 5 years Payroll and/or income withholding experience Required
• Paralegal and open records experience Preferred

Skills Qualifications:

• Ability to communicate with others in an effective and tactful manner
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, troubleshoot, and solve problems
• Ability to handle sensitive data in a confidential manner
• Ability to maintain records with high degree of accuracy
• Ability to read and interpret legal documents
• Ability to apply mathematical concepts such as percentages and proportions to withholding situations
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or schedule format
• Excellent interpersonal and human relations skills
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as procedure manuals
• Ability to write routine correspondence
• Ability to speak effectively in one-on-one situations with employees
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask in a high-volume processing environment
• Ability to represent Gwinnett County Public Schools in a positive and professional manner
• Strong computer skills with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office required
• Knowledge of PeopleSoft preferred

Primary Responsibilities:
Responsible for processing employee garnishments, levies, child support, student loans, bankruptcy information, federal and Georgia tax data, and banking corrections for direct deposits. Assist with testing of PeopleSoft tax updates

• Process and maintain Federal Wage/Income Deduction Orders consisting of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) levies, child support, bankruptcy, student loans, and state court and magistrate court garnishments.
  • Balance and send timely payments to assigned income vendors based on state law requirements.
  • Counsel and assist employees on sensitive and confidential payroll processes.
  • Work with courts and other agencies for accurate reporting and compliance.
  • Review legal documents received to ensure compliance. Knowledge of the Federal and State Garnishment Law's book required to determine priority of orders and amount to be deducted based on the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA).
  • Ensure garnishment orders are entered according to PeopleSoft processes and rules for proper garnishment deductions to be processed in accordance with garnishment laws and regulations.
  • Prepare Accounts Payable check requests and process PeopleSoft upload of monthly payments to garnishment vendors in a timely and accurate manner.
  • Prepare mandated Magistrate and State Garnishment Answers to be sent with Magistrate and State garnishment payments.
• Work with Banking to process returned Electronic Funds Transfers (EFTs) due to closed accounts and incorrect account numbers.
  • Prepare hand drawn check requests and reversals for funds returned.
  • Communicate with employees regarding returned funds for delivery preference and instructions to update direct deposit information.
  • Update employee direct deposit data as directed on EFT bank documentation due to incorrect or updated bank account information.
• Maintain and process employee tax data for federal and state tax withholding information and assist with required reporting and communications.
  • Submit letters to the State of Georgia as required for employees requesting tax exempt status or greater than 14 withholding allowances.
  • Assist employees with tax withholding submittal questions.
  • Monitors Georgia tax submissions for Service members Civil Relief Act eligibility.
  • Answer employee questions and inquiries concerning W-4s, G-4s, and tax withholding on pay checks.
• Receive, analyze, and respond to open records requests.
  • Provide timely response to requests from the Records Management, Inventory and Compliance Department made under the Open Records Act and other legal record requests.
  • Compile payroll history, attendance records, leave records, check copies, tax forms including W2s and 1099Rs, and other payroll documents as requested.
  • Prepare written cost estimates in connection with open records requests.
  • Verify the accuracy of data collected to assure compliance with record requests.
  • Communicate with Records Management, Inventory and Compliance Department to resolve any issues with documentation of requests.
• Coordinate with Coordinator of Payroll Reporting to process required transfers for each payroll.
  • Transmit direct deposit and child support EFT files.
  • Transmit credit union deduction files and verify credit union receipt of transferred funds.
  • Process federal and state tax deposits via secure governmental payment websites.
  • Communicate the transfer of all funds related to direct deposit EFT, child support EFT, credit union files, federal and state tax payments to the Financial Operations and Banking Departments.
• Assist the Payroll leadership team with processes and projects.
  • Collaborate on budget requirements.
  • Process payroll purchase orders and check requests.
  • Order all office supplies for the department.
  • Maintain yearly service contracts and equipment maintenance contracts.
  • Order and verify accuracy of yearly supplies of office documents on a timely basis. Documents include payroll checks, payroll advices, W-2, 1099R, and 1095C forms.
• Assist with PeopleSoft tax update and testing.
  • Ensure Employee Tax Data pages are accurate and all related in-house customized programming is reapplied.
  • Ensure W-4 and G-4 portal applications are accurate and applied to PeopleSoft tables correctly.
  • Assist with other testing as assigned.
• Provide world-class customer service for the Payroll Services Department.
  • Counsel employees on all garnishment related issues.
  • Research, review, and respond to customer inquiries in an accurate and timely manner.
  • Consult with other departments to resolve any issues related to garnishment deductions or payments to vendors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time. The employee is also required to talk, hear, stand, and walk. The employee may be required to use hands to touch, handle, feel, and/or reach. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to operate a motor vehicle in performance of duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.