Payroll Clerk

ABOUT OUR DISTRICT

The Syracuse City School District is undergoing a new phase of innovation and transformation with the goal of ensuring that all students graduate high school with the skills needed to be ready for college and career. For Syracuse, all means all. The School Board and Syracuse community have charged the Superintendent with improving student achievement, and she is seeking a dedicated and diverse team of educators to partner with her in moving the district toward its goals.

The Syracuse City School District represents 35 schools and programs, including 6 high schools, 6 middle schools, 6 K-8 schools, 13 elementary schools, and 4 alternative education programs, serving approximately 19,000 students Pre-K–12. Of these students, 82.3% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 20.1% are served by the Office of Special Education, and 83% are students of color. 

Location: Payroll Department 

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

This is specialized clerical work involving responsibility for the preparation of payrolls for departments of a municipality; the maintenance of payroll accounts and the preparation of various payroll reports in accordance with prescribed standards and procedures. Under supervision of an administrator, an employee in this class also trains and directs employees in various departments who are engaged in collecting and preparing payroll data. Work is performed within narrow time constraints. Supervision is not typically exercised in this class. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

• Receives from departments, weekly employee time cards and a report of the hours worked by each employee; computes the total hours recorded on each time card to verify the reports and to produce a control sheet.
• Forwards time cards to electronic data processing for entry into the computer; reviews printout, edits lists for accuracy and completeness; makes corrections as required to produce final payroll, inputs new direct deposit accounts, does reversal entry and data entry.
• Receives from departments, payroll worksheets on which changes from‑the previous pay period are noted; reviews changes for accuracy; forwards to data processing for computer entry; reviews printout edit list and makes corrections as required.
• Receives and processes data pertaining to payroll changes, such as appointments, promotions, terminations, changes in payroll deductions, etc.
• Prepares work sheets totaling all payroll deductions including withholding taxes; balances totals against other fiscal reports; assists in the preparation of a variety of payroll reports, including federal quarterly taxes, state wage reports, retirement system reports; etc.; deposits and balances withholding taxes with the treasury division.
• Processes payroll adjustment as required to correct errors in payroll input data; redeposit checks or a portion thereof and issues supplemental checks; adjusts payroll deductions accordingly; notifies various federal, state municipal and private agencies of adjustments and any rebates due; manually prepares a supplemental redeposit control sheet for each item and updates computer files using a computer terminal.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Good knowledge of the principles and practices of financial account and record keeping.
• Good knowledge of procedures, forms and codes used to process payroll transactions.
• Good knowledge of standard office terminology, procedures and equipment.
• Working knowledge of basic arithmetic.
• Ability to work under tight time constraints.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with all levels of personnel.
• Ability to comprehend and apply department standards and regulations regarding payroll processing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Promotion:

1. One (1) year of permanent competitive class status in the title of Account Clerk III; or,
2. Two (2) years of permanent competitive class status in the title of Account Clerk II, Account Clerk-Typist II, or Control Clerk; or,
3. Three (3) years of permanent competitive class status in the title of Account Clerk I or Account Clerk-Typist I.

Open‑Competitive:

1. Four (4) years of work experience or its part time equivalent, in processing payroll data and preparing payrolls, including the maintenance of payroll accounts and records; or
2. Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resource Management or a closely related field; and, one (1) year of paraprofessional or professional level experience, or its part time equivalent, in which the major function of the job included *human resource management, *business administration or a closely related field; or,
3. Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with an Associate's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resource Management or a closely related field; and, three (3) years of paraprofessional or professional level experience, or its part time equivalent, in which the major function of the job included *human resource management, *business administration or a closely related field.

Work Experience Definitions:

Human Resource Management - experience in personnel, labor relations, recruitment, selection, placement, classification, compensation, or training.

Business Administration - responsibility for the coordination and direction of human, physical and financial resources which includes identifying problems, obtaining and analyzing relevant information and determining and implementing solutions. Experience involves decision making with significant consequences in a combination of areas such as organizing priorities, evaluating and acting on financial records, financial and managerial accounting, organizational behavior, etc.

 WORKING HOURS: This position will work 40 hours per week, 12 months per year. This position is full-time. This position is non-exempt.

SALARY:   The current starting salary for this position is $58,560 per the Unit 9 contract.  

QUALIFICATIONS:

• To be considered, all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the position as outlined on the Onondaga County Civil Service job specifications for this title.

• NYS HELPS Program will allow us to hire for this position without participating in the Civil Service exam or being appointed from an eligible list. The selected candidate will serve a 52-week probationary period, and the position will mature into a permanent appointment.

• The successful candidate will be required to pass a fingerprint-based background check, at the cost of $104.50 to the candidate.

• City Residents are encouraged to apply!

The Onondaga County Civil Service job description for this position can be viewed by clicking here.