Human Resources and Payroll Technician I

Position Summary: Under general direction, HR/Payroll Technician perform technical and advanced work completing, processing, and auditing personnel and payroll documents and actions. Assist the Payroll Manager in the development and administration of the AHFC HRIS system, test changes and upgrades to the HRIS system to identify and correct problems prior to implementation, provide guidance and training to system users, and identify and resolve problems in the HRIS system's internal operations.

Reports to: HR/PR Manager or Designee

OVERVIEW

This advanced-level position within the Human Resource Department is responsible for performing a wide range of HR and payroll functions. The role combines the duties of both the HR Technician and Payroll Technician classifications, requiring expertise in HRIS data entry, personnel processing, payroll production, and system maintenance. The incumbent also serves as a subject matter expert on HRIS functions and participates in system upgrades and implementation projects.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED: Non-Exempt, non-supervisory position.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Assist in maintaining personnel and payroll systems in the HRIS; evaluate and reconcile multi-system interfaces; set up and verify payroll system tables which control pay rates, deductions, employee and employer deductions, systems processing and payroll production processing.

Determine the expected impact of system changes and upgrades; write and execute test plans, prepare test environments, run test jobs, analyze test results; determine the need for additional testing, or readiness for implementation in the production system.

Ensure that personnel and payroll data is processed timely, reports reviewed, and errors corrected in accordance with established procedures; monitor payroll processing; take corrective action to maintain a balanced payroll and accurate recording of changes; supervise receipt, audit, control, and processing of source documents.

Support internal controls and monitor on-going work activities to ensure compliance with the payroll calendar; assist in the maintenance of controls and adjustments to year-to-date payroll records; validate each payroll run for accuracy, completeness and reasonableness; identify discrepancies and out-of-balance conditions and take corrective action.

Assist in maintaining personnel and payroll fiscal systems; evaluate and reconcile multi-system interactions; set up and verify payroll system tables which control pay rates, deductions, employee and employer deductions, systems processing, and payroll production processing.

Assist in researching and resolving problems; implement system changes in production system; participate in release analysis work; confer with data processing staff to resolve production data processing problems; recommend solutions to ongoing problems to the payroll manager.

Recommend changes to payroll procedures and operational controls to ensure personnel and payroll information and reports are submitted and processed in accordance with IRS regulations, union contracts, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Alaska Statutes, and State Administrative Regulations.

Implement payroll system table changes and procedural modifications to comply with changes made to IRS regulations, union agreements and court decisions.

Maintain the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and prepare bi-weekly report for payment. Monitor the return resolution report for accuracy.

Recommend or prepare draft changes to payroll user manual and agency operating instructions; provide information to departments concerning procedural details.

Other duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Financial applications of data processing, business law, and statistics.

• Cost, fund, or government accounting; including sources of funds, segregation and display of expenditures, revenues, and budgetary accounting.

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and payroll accounting systems.

• Account analysis and error corrections and their impact on other accounts.

• Personnel and Leave Rules and practices, union contracts, federal, state, and local income, and tax regulations.

Skills in:

• Developing and maintaining databases.

• Preparation of statistical reports; working with confidential documents and issues; computer graphics and spreadsheet applications.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite and HR/Payroll software.

Ability to:

• Analyze payroll accounting transactions.

• Apply audit standards to implement, monitor, and modify internal procedures as necessary.

• To prepare and interpret payroll reports which include reconciliations, and other financial reports.

• Problem solve and use critical thinking skills.

• Analyze transactions for internal control compliance.

• Apply principles, methods, and techniques of fiscal management.

• To establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of management.

• To apply sound, independent judgment in the solution of problems and in administration of programs.

• To present fiscal information in non-technical language.’

• To plan, organize, and prioritize work to meet deadlines.

• Reconstruct incomplete, missing, or incorrect data, with support or guidance from your supervisor if needed.

• To interpret and apply the provisions of law, rule, or policy to specific situations.

• Analyze data, project outcomes, and develop and implement procedures and systems to coordinate and control diverse financial activities.

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of accounting systems and controls, identify problems, and devise corrective actions.

• Formulate new ideas for improved procedures; interpret and implement internal control standards within the HRIS system.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education and/or experience equivalent to five years that provides the applicant with competencies in:

• Financial Systems: Knowledge of the standards, architecture, and specifications of automated financial systems, including source documents, system flows, system interfaces, and related internal controls.

• Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.

• Systems Testing and Evaluation: Knowledge of principles, methods, and tools for analyzing and developing systems testing and evaluation procedures and technical characteristics of IT systems, including identifying critical operational issues.

• Teaches Others: Helps others learn; identifies training needs; provides constructive reinforcement; coaches others on how to perform tasks; acts as a mentor.

• Technical Expertise: Effectively applies technical knowledge to solve a range of problems; develops technical solutions to new or highly complex problems that cannot be solve using existing methods or approaches; is sought out as an expert to provide advice or solutions in the technical area.

Special Note:

“Competencies” means a combination of interrelated knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that enable a person to act effectively in a job or situation.

"Typically gained by" means the prevalent, usual method of gaining the competencies expected for entry into the job.

“Progressively responsible” means indicating growth and/or advancement in complexity, difficulty, or level of responsibility.

“Professional experience” means work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment.