HR Generalist/Payroll

HR Generalist/Payroll  Salary See Position Description Location Billings, MT 59101 Job Type Full-Time Job Number 202600098 Department City Administration Division Human Resources Opening Date 04/10/2026 Closing Date 4/25/2026 5:00 PM Mountain Description Benefits "Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis." Position Overview Salary Range: $28.6423 - $31.5935/hour. Salary reflects Step 1 and Step 3 of a 7-step pay scale. Salary at hiring will be dependent upon the applicant's education, experience, and training. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Required Application Attachments: Cover Letter Resume Job Summary: Under general supervision, the HR Generalist performs a wide range of human resources functions including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, benefits administration, recordkeeping, leave management, and HR compliance. This position also provides payroll support and serves as the backup payroll processor in the Payroll Specialist’s absence to ensure accurate and timely payroll operations. Scope of Responsibility: Incumbent works independently with minimal supervision and must exercise sound judgment, confidentiality, and discretion in handling sensitive employee matters. The role requires knowledge of HR best practices, employment laws, collective bargaining agreements, personnel policies, and basic payroll processes. The incumbent regularly interacts with employees and supervisors to provide information, guidance, and customer service regarding HR policies, benefits, and procedures. When assisting with payroll, the incumbent must be able to learn and navigate payroll systems, apply established processes, and troubleshoot routine issues. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Human Resources Assist with recruitment and selection activities, including job postings, applicant communications, interviews, and onboarding of new employees. Administer employee benefits; responds to employee inquiries and provides guidance on eligibility, enrollment, plan provisions, and changes. Maintain confidential personnel files, HR records, and HRIS data; audits records for accuracy and compliance. Coordinate employee status changes such as promotions, transfers, separations, and compensation updates in accordance with City policies and labor contracts. Provide guidance to employees and supervisors on HR policies, procedures, and employment practices. Assist in the administration of leave programs such as FMLA, workers compensation, and other types of leave; maintains related documentation and tracks employee status. Assist in preparing HR reports, surveys, and data requests for internal and external purposes. Support training, safety, and organizational development initiatives as assigned. Assist with annual open enrollment activities and benefit-related communications. Perform general HR administrative tasks including drafting correspondence, managing forms, and responding employee inquiries. Payroll Support Assist with payroll data entry, verification, and review to ensure accuracy of timekeeping, pay rates, status changes, and benefits deductions. Provide guidance to staff and employees on timekeeping procedures and payroll-related policies. Maintain accuracy of employee information in payroll and HRIS systems. Review payroll reports and identify inconsistencies or errors for correction. Coordinate with Finance and HR staff regarding payroll deadlines and documentation. Assist with processing and reconciling payroll taxes, retirement contributions, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other payroll related items. Serve as the backup payroll processor and performs full-cycle payroll in the Payroll Specialist’s absence, ensuring timely and compliant payroll processing. Support payroll tasks related to final paychecks for separating employees, including accrual payouts and benefits reconciliation. Assist with preparation of payroll-related reports and compliance documents as directed. Other Duties Work with IT or software vendors to resolve HRIS and payroll system issues. Respond to requests for employment verification and general HR information. Assist with internal and external audits by preparing documentation and supporting compliance efforts. Use software applications such as Microsoft Excel and other HRIS tools to compile data and generate reports. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications and Skills Required Qualifications/Skills: Associate’s degree in human resources, business administration, accounting or related field. Two (2) or more years’ experience in human resources, payroll, or a related field. OR Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, payroll or related work. AND Strong working knowledge of HR practices, employment laws, and retention requirements. Basic knowledge of payroll concepts and willingness/ability to learn full-cycle payroll. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with HRIS/payroll systems. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality. Must possess strong writing and interpersonal skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and attention to detail. Must successfully pass a Federal and State criminal history background check Physical Demands and Working Conditions Work is a normal office environment. Intermittent effort involving lifting of amounts between 5 and 25 pounds required. Work requires high attention to detail and deadlines on a frequent basis, between 75% and 90% of the time. Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required. To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The City retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.