Payroll Manager at GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT

Position Summary

Under general direction of the Director of Accounting along with collaboration with the Managers of Human Resources, Deputy General Manager-Administrative and Development, and the District’s legal counsel, this position manages the Payroll Department & represents the District’s interests in all payroll, benefit & pension matters.  The Payroll Manager plans, develops, interprets, and implements all activities of the Payroll Department through subordinate staff in a highly demanding and fast-paced environment.  
 
The position is committed toward continuous improvement in accuracy, efficiency and service levels to ensure readiness for growth and the ability to provide superior service. In addition, this position develops and executes a vision for future processes and systems including project implementation plans and monitoring & reporting of process improvement initiatives. Other key areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, leadership in addressing financial controls with both internal and external stakeholders; being an expert in compliance with federal and California state laws as they impact compensation and tax reporting, knowledge of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) contracts, CalPERS legislative policy and procedures, any other pension legislation.  
 
The position also provides professional development opportunities for the Payroll team and implementation of District’s policies and procedures; takes ownership of software systems that support payroll processing and reporting; organize, assign, direct, review and evaluate the work of assigned staff.  The role must stay abreast of the latest developments in compensation and pension law and serves as the subject matter expert on all payroll issues.  In partnership with Human Resources, the position also guides management toward resolution of compensation issues to ensure compliance with the law yet address practicality of proposed solutions and is very hands-on with the District’s payroll objectives and processing.

Essential Responsibilities

• Oversees the in-house compensation processing associated with a multi-location agency, covering 64 bi-weekly and monthly payroll-reporting periods. The District comprises  700+ employees, 26 bargaining units, 17 unions, 4 pension plans (CalPERS, ATU, IBU & MEBA), numerous health plans (high deductible plans, self-insured providers, etc.), and two separate timekeeping systems. 
• Manage compliance with: federal, state & local tax law & quarterly and annual payroll reporting (DE9, 941s), etc., tax deposit reporting, involuntary deductions (levies) (IRS, EDD, FTB), union benefit trusts payment & reporting, Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting, National Transit Database compilation and pension requirements.   
• Interprets, educates and applies a variety of laws and regulations governing payroll administration.  This includes pertinent labor contract and administrative code provisions, annual salary and salary standardization directives, departmental rules and other documents governing employee's pay and benefit rights. Written and oral explanations to management, union officials and employees is necessitated.   
• Advises District management, supervisors and employees on the interpretation and application of Payroll guidelines/policies, Federal and State regulations and internal Memorandums of Understanding (MOU).
• Communicates and enforces organization-wide payroll policies and processes regarding earnings, deductions, timekeeping and government compliance reporting. Develops written procedures to document processes & rationale behind decision-making.
• Supervises internal departmental audits to ensure the accuracy of reporting and compliance with District policies and procedures. 
• Provides support to external auditors in the performance of their work by answering questions involving District policy and procedures and producing schedules/documentation that will assist the auditors in the timely completion of their work.
• Educate & train the Payroll team continuously.   
• May represent the District’s interests at local meetings, including arbitration hearings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Regular and reliable attendance and performance required.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, Accounting, or in any related field. Qualifying experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis in lieu of education. A written statement detailing qualifying experience must be submitted with the application. 
• A minimum of nine (9) years of in-house payroll processing and reporting requirements for federal, state and public agency pension authorities in organizations of 500+ employees
• A minimum three (3) years of recent related supervisory and/or managerial level Payroll systems knowledge
• Experience with timekeeping implementation in a unionized environment &/or public sector payroll accounting is highly desirable

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Working knowledge of:

• District policies and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) for bargaining units
• Modern management and administrative practices such as: supervision, strategic planning, goal setting, budgeting, and information technology systems planning and implementation.
• Federal, State & local laws; deferred compensation plans; voluntary pre-and post-tax deductions; involuntary deductions; calculation of employee taxes, tax reporting, record retention and payroll accounting & audits. 

• Motivate and develop a team
• Project Management
• Effective verbal and written communication skill, problem solving and decision making skills 
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
• Coaching, conflict resolution, and performance management
• Provide excellent customer service
• Develop and maintain effective, productive, cooperative working relationships with employees, supervisory personnel, management, representatives from other agencies, the public and others contacted during the course of work
• Maintain continuous education of existing and new legislation; enforcing adherence to such requirements; advising management on needed actions and analyzing impact on payroll system.  
• Work independently and effectively under pressure to meet deadlines
• Understand, interpret, and apply complex rules, regulations, and legal provisions governing compensation and benefits
• Maintain control of payroll system; conduct regular system and process audits to ensure data integrity and compliance