DOLA Accounting Technician III

Payroll and Benefits TechnicianThe Human Resources Office exists to provide a full range of human resources services for the approximately 380 positions within the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). Services provided include recruitment, classification and selection, salary administration, payroll and benefits, employee relations, labor relations and adherence to the partnership agreement, organizational development, staff development, personnel rules and statute interpretation, employee counseling, leave administration, processing workers' compensation, short-term disability claims, and FML/FAMLI requests, performance management, staff training, personal services contract review, maintaining personnel and health records for all employees of the department, and assisting managers to manage within the confines of the Colorado State Personnel Rules, Colorado Revised Statutes, and the Colorado Constitution.Under the auspices of the Human Resources Office, the Payroll and Benefits Technician supports the daily operations of the payroll and benefits functions for the department. This includes organizing and maintaining the payroll system, arranging and prioritizing the work in accordance with preset deadlines for processing of payroll and benefits set by the State's Central Payroll and Central Benefits Divisions. This position stays updated on State Fiscal Rules, CPPS procedures, applicable personnel rules and IRS regulations related to payroll processing and benefits administration, changes/enhancements/upgrades to the Colorado Operations Resource Engine (CORE), the Colorado Payroll / Personnel System (CPPS), and BenefitSolver, the State's benefit system.The primary and specific job duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:Payroll Operations:Plan and manage daily operations of processing for payroll and benefits and prioritizes work in compliance with preset deadlines for processing as determined by the State's Central Payroll and Central Benefits divisions.Update and adjust employees' records and complete monthly, bi-weekly and special payrolls.Classify and record earning types such as regular pay, retroactive pay, overtime pay, annual leave payouts and late pay. Assemble, batch, post, compute and approve transactions in CPPS.Complete labor allocation error corrections to clear all errors on the DPA 9910 error report within the time limits set by Central Payroll, consulting with other accountants to verify accuracy.On a monthly basis, complete a CPPS/CORE reconciliation, compare CORE labor allocation information with information in Onbase, the CPPS reporting system.Analyze, create, update, review, verify, audit, reconcile and maintain payroll reports from CPPS.Consult with employees who are retiring or terminating employment regarding payroll related issues.Provide guidance and advice to staff regarding payroll and benefits questions and decide on the appropriate action needed to correct payroll and benefits errors.Reconcile and determine the need for adjustment entries in CORE to correct any errors.Ensure the timely and accurate processing of each payroll cycle.Keep supervisor, management and departmental employees informed and up-to-date on payroll-related concerns or issues, as appropriate.Respond to managers and employees questions, issues and concerns related to payroll and benefits.Respond to auditor's requests for information by pulling files and documentation related to the audit (audit samples), respond with responses to inquiries and provide information about the transactions, as requested.Benefits Administration:Present information to new hires during onboarding.Complete transaction processing related to employee benefit elections.Verify the accuracy of employee records in BenefitSolver by completing a system inquiry on a regular basis and reviewing related system-generated reports.Complete a review of BenefitSolver and CPPS to ensure integrity of the data transfer to/from each system by reviewing employee records and reports from both systems.Regularly create, update, review, verify, audit, reconcile and maintain reports from the CPPS and BenefitSolver systems. Information contained in the reports may consist of the organization, appropriation, fund, employee name, social security number, payroll deductions, gross-net wages, exemptions, bank account numbers, health benefits, dependents and payroll status and must be handled with complete confidentiality.Work with the appropriate staff to ensure that deadlines are met, convey information, process paperwork and assist employees with new hire benefits sign-up, life event changes, and answer questions during the annual open enrollment period. Provide guidance, answer questions regarding benefits, deductions, refunds, garnishments, and tax withholding.Provide information to PERA, including but not limited to, the PERA Six Month Salary Report, PERA Account Refund Request Form, and the PERA Adjustment Worksheet.Work with teams assigned to special projects related to payroll and benefits that often result in enhancements to CPPS or BenefitSolver, including taking part in any discussions or meetings related to the project as a representative of the department.Time and Leave System:As the Subject Matter Expert, work with the divisional budget officers to add, delete, modify and maintain, on an ongoing basis, the templates utilized in the automated time and leave system to ensure employees' work hours are appropriately aligned with the position's funding source(s).Respond to staff or supervisor inquiries and provide guidance to resolve issues in time card and schedule management.Keep abreast of scheduled tasks surrounding the time and leave integration processes and ensure all tasks are completed timely and accurately.Review and reconcile data and work with employees and supervisors to rectify any problems around missing data, errors, discrepancies, or labor allocation issues.Attend payroll, benefits, and PERA meetings or training seminars to receive updates on payroll, benefits, and the related computerized systems in order to remain current and knowledgeable in regard to any applicable rules, regulations, and departmental policies related to payroll and benefits.Other duties as assigned.Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal RightsClass Code & Classification Description H8B3XX Accounting Technician IIIMinimum Qualifications:Experience Only: Three years of experience in technical accounting which includes payroll processing and reconciliation for a company with 50+ employees.OR Education and Experience: A combination of related education in accounting, auditing, or a closely related field (as determined by the agency) AND experience as described above equal to three years.Applicants must upload their unofficial college transcripts that include the student name, college name, courses completed, and/or degree with date conferred with this application, in order to receive credit. Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance from an educational institution.Required Competencies:Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.Ability to work in a team environment and provide technical assistance.Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders.Excellent interpersonal skills.Strong attention to detail.Effective analytical and problem-solving skills.Effective verbal and written communication skills.Ability to prioritize and organize work to accommodate and meet the changing needs of the Department and meet deadlines.Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the Google Suite.Ability to work independently.Excellent mathematical skills.Preferred Qualifications:State of Colorado experience (as a permanent employee) using the Central Personnel Payroll System (CPPS), processing payroll for a state agency or UKG time and leave administration.Experience reconciling payroll.State of Colorado government experience in technical accounting.Knowledge and experience with government accounting, cash management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and/or federal grant accounting.Background in payroll and benefits processing or knowledge of payroll and benefits concepts.Conditions of Employment:You MUST be a Colorado resident (at the time of application) to apply for this position.Pre-employment criminal and financial background checks will be conducted as part of the selection process.Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. DOLA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. DOLA does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.