Payroll Examiner 1

The State of Connecticut, Office of the State Comptroller (OSC), is an agency whose mission is to provide accounting and financial services, to administer employee and retiree benefits, to develop accounting policy and exercise accounting oversight, and to prepare financial reports for the state, federal and municipal governments and the public. 

We are recruiting for a full-time Payroll Examiner 1 position in our Active & Pension Payroll Services Division. The selected candidate will be accountable for examining state payrolls and supporting documentation. Duties include the following:  

• Process vendor payments (Child Support Payments, IRS Payments, Department of Revenue Services Payments, and Court ordered payments);  
• Maintain and process all new and current vendors for the Centralized State Garnishment Unit; 
• Back-up and/or assist in the examining of payrolls for compliance with Statutory and Regulatory requirements;  
• Review all changes on payroll, making corrections and contacting Agency personnel for clarification and additional information; 
• Electronic data processing (Oracle/PeopleSoft); reissue current and prior year W-2’s for state agencies and/or employee’s request;  
• Research Payroll records to ensure accuracy for all incoming W-2’s requests; 
• Back-up for the processing of Retirement and Benefits Overrides; and,
• Perform related duties as required.

The position is located at 165 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, CT in a state-of-the-art building offering free garage parking and ergonomic workspaces.  The selected candidate will work 40 hours per week. The Office of the State Comptroller participates in a competitive benefits plan that includes healthcare coverage, a retirement plan, telework options, as well as paid time off.

Candidates must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.  State employees currently holding the above title or those who have previously attained permanent status in the class may apply for a lateral transfer.  Candidates who have been selected for employment with the Office of the State Comptroller are subject to a detailed background investigation, including a fingerprint supported state and federal criminal history record check along with reference checks. Selection for employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation.

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.  Please ensure that your application is complete prior to submitting.  NOTE:  At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, supervisory references, attendance records, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Questions about these required documents should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office:  bonnie.schlechtweg@ct.gov.

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQ’s) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. Please regularly check your email for notifications, including your SPAM/JUNK folders. You must reply by the deadline indicated on the notification or you will be automatically disqualified from consideration.

Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements and preferred qualifications of the position.

All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period.  It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception.  Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

In the Office of the State Comptroller, Payroll Services Division this class is accountable for examining state payrolls and supporting documentation.

Examines manual and automated regular, overtime and supplemental payrolls for compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements; verifies signatures as recorded in official authorization file; examines all incoming documents and materials for accuracy and completeness; reviews all changes on payroll; makes corrections and contacts agency personnel for clarification and additional information as necessary; verifies internal accuracy of expenditure certificate and agreement of total to payroll expenditure; verifies accuracy of detailed analysis of expenditure report; establishes mathematical accuracy of Health Insurance detail on payroll summary and cancelled check section; recalculates all exceptional items such as multi-period taxes and court ordered withholdings; prepares key entry forms for all unusual transactions; transmits all required material to data entry operators; verifies accuracy of totals and examines and/or resolves error messages upon receipt of detailed proof or edit and validation reports; determines accuracy of final processing upon receipt of payroll warrants and/or check registers; posts to central agency ledgers all values which must be maintained on a quarterly or annual basis and brings forward accrued totals upon receipt of bi-weekly year-to-date records; determines accuracy of computer records against agency central ledgers; maintains files of payroll records and documentation, corrects and adjusts as necessary; investigates possible erroneous payments or reportedly inaccurate taxes and/or deductions made to employees; may perform technical or complex clerical work in activities related to electronic data processing; performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of payroll accounting principles, practices and procedures; considerable skill in performing arithmetical computations; interpersonal skills; ability to analyze payroll deductions or other financial data; ability to read, understand and apply statutes and regulations; ability to operate office equipment including personal computer, computer terminals or other electronic equipment.

Three (3) years of experience in complex clerical work involving bookkeeping, accounts payable, accounts examining or finance.
Note: For state employees experience in complex clerical work is interpreted at the level of Financial Clerk.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have involved payroll preparation.

College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of two (2) years.

• Experience with performing audits
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced skills in Excel and Access
• Proficient with Oracle/Peoplesoft (Core-CT) HRMS
• Knowledge of basic accounting and bookkeeping principles and procedures
• Experience in customer service

INCOMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGES AND THOSE RECEIVED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE INDICATED ABOVE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.  An Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer.  The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities.  If you are requesting special accommodations under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) please contact Bonnie Schlechtweg at 860.702.3323 or Bonnie.Schlechtweg@ct.gov.