PAYROLL SPECIALIST - City of Torrance

 
The Department
The Finance Department is a dynamic organization whose mission is to protect the City's assets while providing and supporting the Torrance community with sound financial advice in a timely, cost effective and professional manner. Managing the department's $6.3 million General Fund budget, $28.5 million Self-Insurance budget and day-to-day operations is skillfully executed by 42 staff members. The Finance Director assists the City Manager with the Operating and Capital Improvement Plan budgets, serves as advisor to the Land Management Team and Investment Committee, and presents to the City Council an annual audited statement of the City's financial condition prepared in accordance with governmental reporting standards promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).

Responsibilities of the Finance Department includes: 

• Accounting
• Accounts Payable 
• Audit-External/Internal 
• Billing/Collection
• Budget-Operating/Capital 
• Business License
• Central Cashiering 
• Debt Financing 
• Financial Reporting 
• Payroll
• Purchasing 
• Revenue 
• Risk Management
• Worker’s Compensation

The Position
Under general supervision, performs specialized technical and administrative work in the preparation and processing of payroll. Reviews, prepares, processes, reconciles and maintains payroll and timekeeping documents and accounting records and reports; assists employees with payroll related questions and problems.
 
A Payroll Specialist is distinguished from an Accountant in that incumbents perform specialized payroll work and not professional level accounting work.  A Payroll Specialist is distinguished from an Accounting Technician in that the incumbent provides technical skills in the payroll function of the accounting clerical series.
 
Receives supervision from the payroll unit manager or supervisor.

Examples of Essential Duties
The following duties represent the principal job duties; however, they are not all inclusive.  

• Prepares, processes, reviews, reconciles and maintains payroll records and documents;
• Performs data entry and maintains payroll records related to employee payroll changes, deductions, direct deposits, leave banks, tax adjustments, retirement benefits, etc.;
• Provides effective customer service and communication to all employees, departmental timekeepers, and City management on payroll related matters in a timely and accurate manner;
• Responds to inquiries regarding employee paychecks;
• Coordinates with Human Resources and other City Departments regarding changes in employee status;
• Interprets complex written information such as legal regulations; City policies, and labor contract provisions for payroll compliance requirements; 
• Explains applicable personnel and payroll rules and procedures consistent with bargaining agreements, personnel policies, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines and other employment related guidelines;
• Verifies data entry to ensure correct calculation of payroll transactions and troubleshoots discrepancies.

For more information about the duties of the position, click here.