Payroll Analyst

Salary :
$84,958. 85 - $99,946. 50 Annually

Location :
Kirkland, WA

Job Type:
Full-Time

Job Number:
202100522

Location:
Finance & Admin. - Payroll

Opening Date:
10/18/2024

Closing Date:
Continuous

FLSA:
Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit:
AFSCME

Job SummaryWhy Kirkland?Ranked as one of the most livable cities in America, Kirkland is an attractive and inviting place to live, work, and visit. We have big city vision while maintaining a small-town, community feel. If you are a candidate with the desire to join an organization looking to innovate into the future, the City of Kirkland is the place for you!

If you ask our employees why they love where they work, they will tell you about the great people, work environment, supportive leadership and City Council, and fearless innovation.

We also invest in you!Competitive Wages:
We strive to maintain competitive compensation packages and work to provide wages that meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities of our employees.

Awesome benefits:
The City offers benefits that are unmatched by most other employers. Please click on the benefits tab above to view more details.

Childcare Programs:
To help address the challenge of finding reliable childcare, the City of Kirkland has reserved spots for City employees at local and regional providers, available at a discount. New employees gain access to Kirkland's reserved spots as soon as they start employment. Learn more!

Training and Career Development:
The City of Kirkland believes in developing it's employees. You will have access to training opportunities designed for career development and advancement based on your position, skills, and interests. Job Summary
The Payroll Analyst performs complex accounting work of a specialized nature, coordinating and processing the City's semi-monthly payroll, reporting relating to state and federal payroll/tax regulations and laws, maintaining the automated payroll system database, and documenting procedures and practices related to payroll duties and tasks.

Distinguishing Characteristics:
The Payroll Analyst position works in collaboration with incumbents in the same job classification to oversee the City's semi-monthly payroll. The payroll function is overseen by the Administrative Services Manager.

Essential Functions:
Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversees the timely and accurate preparation of the City's semi-monthly payroll and related information; audits employee hours submitted by department timekeepers. Audits payroll register for completeness, resolves discrepancies, and corrects errors.
• Assures that all state and federal payroll and related tax regulations and laws are followed and that reporting requirements are met.
• Maintains automated payroll system database. Verifies payroll system is updated for new hires, terminations and transfers, wage and payroll deduction accounts for a variety of benefit programs, deductions, and taxes. Notifies management of payroll-related accounting system problems and recommends changes and improvements.
• Troubleshoots HR/Payroll and timekeeping system problems, reports technical issues to IT, tests system upgrades and reports functionality concerns to IT, assists with testing and implementing vendor solutions. Provides instructions to users in use of applications.
• Responsible for coordinating the implementation and maintenance of all payroll related vendor software programs.
• Tests and implements new payroll system pay, accrual and deduction codes. Updates existing codes as required by contract changes.
• Analyzes and interprets state and federal legislative impacts on payroll and implements changes in coordination with Human Resources to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
• Ensures the timely and accurate preparation of payments and reporting to various agencies including; IRS, pension providers, insurance carriers, state industrial insurance, unemployment security department and other retirement plan providers.
• Coordinates with Human Resources to ensure successful implementation of new benefit plans and plan changes.
• Works closely with timekeepers, HR, and Management to identify specific needs for payroll and timekeeping system enhancements.
• Reconciles and balances all deductions and benefits, including semi-monthly medical insurance payment transmittals for current employees.
• Responds to various external agencies' requests for information. Creates various payroll reports for management, including statistical analysis upon request. Retrieves and researches payroll-accounting records and data as requested by auditors.
• Interprets and implements provisions of bargaining unit agreements to assure that salary and benefit packages settled in labor contracts are accurately reflected in the payroll and timekeeping systems and consistent with City policy.
• Maintains and monitors accrued vacation, sick, holiday, overtime, and types of employee leaves and provides timely reports to departments.
• Assists in analysis by gathering and summarizing numerical and statistical data as directed; analyzes reasonableness of data and independently resolves discrepancies or inconsistencies.
• Coordinates and processes federal W-4 tax information to employees and year-end information to balance, print, and distribute W-2 forms. Responsible for accurate and timely reporting of year-end information to other government agencies.
• Processes employee wage assignments and garnishments; determines amount to be withheld and disburses funds to various agencies as required.
• Coordinates with and provides technical support and procedural information to department timekeepers and Human Resources Division.