Payroll Clerk

Title: Payroll Clerk (Hybrid) - #251216-6157CL-001

Location Hartford, CT

Salary $55,248 - $72,247/year

Job Type Open to the Public

Job Description:

The State of Connecticut, Department of Administrative Services (DAS) is now accepting applications for a Payroll Clerk opportunity within the DAS-SmART Payroll Unit in Hartford, CT.

What We Can Offer You:

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

Position Details:

• Full-time, 40 hours/week
• Monday - Friday
• 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• Located at 450 Columbus Blvd, Hartford
• Hybrid work opportunity

Position Responsibilities: 

This position will be responsible for preparation and maintenance of DAS and DAS Smart Agencies payroll and benefits. 

In your role as a payroll clerk, you will have the opportunity to: 

• Resolve payroll issues and ensure related Core-CT computations are processed
• Review data submission for accuracy, process deduction changes (health insurance, union dues and/or fees, credit union payments, charitable donations, group life payments, etc)
• Update attendance accruals and ensure benefits are calculating and processing timely
• Coordinate corresponding communications associated with the payroll process.

Selection Plan

BEFORE YOU APPLY: 

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.  
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting. 
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency. 
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift. 
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State.  Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. 
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other. 
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for preparing and maintaining biweekly regular, overtime and supplemental payrolls for an assigned group of employees and independently performing various payroll support activities.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Prepares biweekly regular, overtime, and supplemental payrolls;
• Reviews employee time cards and/or timesheets for accuracy and completeness and posts hours worked to master payroll cards;
• Reviews personnel and/or payroll change notices and posts changes and/or adjustments to master files, e.g. new hires, transfers, reclassifications, terminations, retirements, overpayments and/or underpayments, wage increases, deduction changes (health insurance, union dues and/or fees, credit union payments, charitable contributions, bond or sheltered tax annuity payments, group life insurance payments, etc.);
• Calculates gross wages;
• Notes deductions on worksheets and deduction summary sheets;
• Prepares and balances prelists for Central Payroll (Office of State Comptroller), noting both salary and deduction data OR codes standard payroll action forms in conjunction with computerized payroll system;
• Prepares and totals various deduction worksheets, e.g., Credit Union, Medical and/or Insurance Providers, etc.;
• Prepares and submits summary sheets and transmittal certificates OR detailed analysis of expenditure reports and expenditure certificates to Central Payroll;
• Verifies check register and printouts from Central Payroll against worksheets and records;
• Performs various clerical accounting functions such as calculating balances and posting charges to expenditure accounts;
• Prepares supplemental payrolls such as longevity payments, vacation pay, promotional adjustments, etc.;
• Calculates and processes retroactive payments, collective bargaining increases and annual increments;
• Performs various clerical accounting functions such as calculating balances and posting charges to expenditure accounts;
• Verifies provider checks issued by Office of State Comptroller against own records;
• Verifies providers' bills in same manner;
• Keeps abreast of collective bargaining contract requirements and restrictions as related to payroll (dates for salary increases, overtime, shift differential and holiday pay restrictions, etc.);
• Responds to employee inquiries regarding paychecks and payroll practices and procedures;
• Maintains various records and files for payroll data and forms;
• May calculate workers compensation and/or retirement payments;
• May calculate and monitor payroll deductions for court ordered wage executions (garnishments);
• May consult division or facility supervisors regarding employee time recorded;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
  • payroll terminology, practices and procedures;
  • basic accounting and bookkeeping principles and procedures;
  • general office procedures;
• Skills
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
  • in performing arithmetic computations;
• Ability to
  • read, understand and apply applicable contract guidelines and regulations;
  • maintain records and files; ability to follow complex oral and written instructions;
  • operate office equipment which includes computers, tablets, and other electronic equipment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of experience in bookkeeping, accounts payable or clerical work involving finances.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• 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.
• One (1) year as a Financial Clerk performing payroll duties may be substituted for the General and Special Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience compiling, analyzing, and auditing payroll data to ensure accuracy and compliance, including preparation of reports for internal and external use.
• Experience meeting multiple deadlines for competing priorities.
• Experience working independently, applying problem-solving skills, and adapting to changing priorities or compressed deadlines.
• Experience working with Core-CT or other electronic payroll processing system to perform payroll and benefit functions.
• Experience communicating with internal and external stakeholders in person, via email, Microsoft Teams, and phone.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Persons having responsibility for supervising or observing the behavior of inmates or custodial individuals will be required to possess a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certification by the time of permanent appointment.

Conclusion

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, and persons with disabilities.