payroll specialist

PAYROLL SPECIALIST - TC3

SALARY: $29.05/hr.

TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT: Full-Time

ISSUE DATE: 11/13/25

THE FINAL DATE TO FILE APPLICATIONS: 11/14/25

DATE THAT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM POSTING: 11/15/25

RESIDENCY: Candidates must have been legal residents of Tompkins County or one of the six adjoining counties (Cayuga,

Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga) for at least one month immediately preceding the date of application and maintain

residency. For Examinations: The eligible list resulting from the examination will be established in accordance with the final

earned numerical ratings of passing candidates regardless of residence. A municipality or district may exercise its right under

section 23-4-a. of Civil Service Law to request a certification of eligible candidates who have been residents of that municipality

or district for at least one month prior to appointment. After the names of residents have been exhausted, Tompkins County must

then certify the names of non-residents on the list.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with an Associate's degree in
   
   accounting, business administration or a closely related field AND two years of full-time paid experience in payroll
   
   processing OR

2. Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma AND four years of full-time paid
   
   experience in payroll processing.

Tompkins County is Committed to Equity and Inclusion. We encourage those with similar values to apply.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

Responsible for payroll processing, benefits allocation, retirement and tax reporting. The position also encompasses

administration of computer operations related to payroll, fringe benefits, and deductions including financial reporting and

statistical data maintenance. The Payroll Specialist collaborates with and provides direction to employees, department heads, and

administration on a variety of issues. The work is performed under general supervision of the Comptroller with wide latitude for

independent judgment. Supervision of others is not generally a function of this class. This position works closely with the Human

Resources department.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

1. Audits payroll timecards for all departments for critical errors.
2. Applies various contract provisions, ensuring accuracy with shift differentials, paid time off, holiday pay, etc.
3. Inputs payroll data to the computer system, edits, and troubleshoots payroll runs.
4. Prepares various reports related to payroll.
5. Reconciles payroll accrual and expense accounts to payroll records.
6. Prepares and distributes Agency payments. These payments include, but are not limited to, garnishments, union dues, tax

distributions, etc.

7. Prepares monthly state fiscal reports and payroll related reports including, but not limited to, unemployment insurance,

health insurance, flex benefit program, State Insurance fund, TIAA – CREF, and the New York State Retirement System.

8. Maintains payroll file. IE: payroll journal, general ledger and other documentation for payroll input, monitors employee

deduction changes, gross earnings updates, etc.

9. Reconciles Federal Workstudy payroll and coordinates with Financial Aid for Federal Reimbursement.

1. Works closely with the Comptroller and VP of Finance to monitor annual payroll budget.
2. Maintains control of year-to-date and quarter-to-date figures to balance; Makes retroactive adjustments to payroll

records, prepares, and reconciles corresponding reports.

12. Responsible for the annual Workers' Compensation audits; assists Comptroller with other annual audits.

13. Maintains a current knowledge of the field through professional development opportunities.

14. Performs all other related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

1. Thorough knowledge of modern methods used in maintaining financial payroll records.
2. Thorough knowledge of office terminology, procedures, equipment, and business English.
3. Good knowledge of Federal and State payroll laws.
4. Good knowledge of the New York State retirement regulations concerning payroll.
5. Considerable interpersonal skills are necessary to teach, instruct, advise, plan, and coordinate payroll processes.
6. Ability to make complex arithmetic computations.
7. Ability to analyze and organize complex data and to prepare records and reports.
8. Ability to understand and interpret complex oral instructions and/or written directions.

9. Ability to develop effective working relationships and deal diplomatically with the public.

10. Ability to perform close, detailed work involving considerable visual effort and concentration.

11. Integrity and good judgment in solving complex account keeping problems.

Orininally Created 4/15/2008

P104

FURTHER INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

Falsification of any part of the "Application for Employment" will result in disqualification.

Accepted candidates will be notified when and where to appear for the examination. If you do not receive your notice to appear at least three days before the

date of the written examination, call Tompkins County Department of Human Resources at If an application is disapproved, due notice will be

sent. This department does not make formal acknowledgment of the receipt of an application or take responsibility for non-delivery or postal delay.

Applicants must answer every question on the application form and make sure that the application is complete in all respects. Incomplete applications will

be disapproved.

ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL, VETERANS OR DISABLED VETERANS desiring to claim additional credit will request the Veterans Credits

application form, at any time between the date of application for examination(s) and the date of the establishment of the resulting eligible list. You must

meet the requirements set by NYS for these credits and they may be used only once. YOU MAY NOT CLAIM ADDITIONAL CREDITS AFTER THE

ELIGIBLE LIST HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. IT IS THE CANDIDATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST THE VETERANS CREDIT

APPLICATION FORMS AND TO SUBMIT THESE FORMS AND ANY SUPPORTING PAPERWORK BEFORE THE ELIGIBLE LIST IS

ESTABLISHED.

Tompkins County's written examinations are prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of

Civil Service Law. The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations, which deal with the rating and review of the examinations

apply.

The duration of the eligible lists may be fixed for a minimum of one and a maximum of four years and may be extended beyond four years if there has been

a restriction against the filling of vacancies in that title.

The candidates must complete a separate "Application for Employment" for each open-competitive and/or promotional examination that the candidate is

eligible to take.

All experience required meeting the acceptable training and experience is full-time experience. (Part-time experience will be credited on a prorated basis).

Appointment from an eligible list must be made from the top three candidates willing to accept the appointment.

Tompkins County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As part of its efforts to provide employment opportunities to the physically handicapped, Tompkins

County Civil Service has adopted a rule permitting the employment of qualified physically handicapped persons without competitive examination (pursuant

to Section 55 of Civil Service Law). If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position and wish to know more about this rule, please contact the

Tompkins County Department of Human Resources Office.

Unless otherwise notified, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand-held, and solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with Typewriter Keyboards,

Spell Checkers, Personal Digital Assistants, Address Books, Language Translators, Dictionaries or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring

books or other reference materials.

CROSS-FILING - APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WHEN EXAMINATIONS ARE

SCHEDULED ON THE SAME DATE: When applying for examinations across multiple jurisdictions - all of which are scheduled on the same day - you

must submit a Tompkins County Cross-Filing Form. This form must be submitted no later than 4:30 PM on the final filing date of the examination. On this

form, list each examination that you are taking and then tell us where you would like to sit. The purpose is to ensure that all of the test materials for the

various examinations that you are taking will be available in one location. If you do not provide the cross-filing form to us by the final filing date, we cannot

ensure that we can accommodate your desire to cross-file. If any of the examinations are State level examinations, you must sit at the State test center. You

will still need to complete the Tompkins County cross-filing form. If sitting at the State site, the State will notify you of when and where to report for your

examination(s) and you should bring all admittance letters to the State site. If you are not taking a State examination, bring all admittance letters to your

chosen testing site. If you have any question please call Tompkins County Department of Human Resources Department The Cross File

form is located at http://www.tompkins-

FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION AND HANDICAPPED PERSONS: If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on

your application.

ALL CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR POSITIONS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BOCES GOVERNED BY TOMPKINS COUNTY

CIVIL SERVICE MAY HAVE THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL REQUIREMENT. PER CHAPTER 180 OF THE LAWS OF 2000, AND BY

REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, TO BE EMPLOYED IN A POSITION DESIGNATED BY A SCHOOL

DISTRICT OR BOCES AS INVOLVING DIRECT CONTACT WITH STUDENTS, A CLEARANCE FOR EMPLOYMENT FROM THE

STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED.

In conformance with Section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duties shall be entitled to receive

an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are

qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duties in this municipality, please inform this

office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the

application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has

been established.▝

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to undergo a State and national criminal history background investigation, which will

include a fingerprint check, to determine suitability for appointment. Failure to meet the standards for the background investigation may result in

disqualification.

TOMPKINS COUNTY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT, 125 EAST COURT STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850

Salary : $29