Payroll Specialist (Admin Asst IV)

Company: Fairfax County Government
Location: Fairfax
Posted on: April 4, 2025

Job Description:

Job Announcement
Works as a motivated, high-energy employee within the payroll department that serves over 1,800 employees in the police department. Under general supervision of Payroll Section Supervisor, serves as a subject matter expert of county and departmental payroll policies and procedures supporting law enforcement and general county personnel. Duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Provides information, assistance, and problem resolution in written and verbal form to employees, supervisors, and outside contacts, as appropriate.
• Researches and resolves payroll issues.
• Coordinates all activities to ensure that employees are paid accurately and on time by prescribed deadlines.
• Reviews and processes a large number of personnel actions (e.g., transfers, promotions, laterals, data changes) in the county's payroll system, and pay/leave adjustment computations in compliance with payroll policies, procedures, and deadlines.
• Performs audits and review of time and attendance reports ensuring accurate coding of time.
• Assists with the training for the on-line time and attendance.
• Completes payroll transactions for retro-active pay adjustments.
• Creates and maintains reports using FOCUS, Teletaff, PEAQ, Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Completes time and attendance processing of military deployments.
• Maintains current knowledge of county and the Police department's policies and procedures.
• Performs audits and review of time and attendance reports ensuring accurate coding of time.
• Prepares direct payments for clothing allowances, educational stipends etc. by downloading data from FOCUS system in a timely manner.
• Prepares and reconciles operational overtime billing transactions with internal and external agencies for the department.
• Uses independent judgement to solve routine problems and refers significant problems to payroll supervisor.
• Perform other duties as assigned.The assigned functional areas of this position are General Administrative and Payroll.
  Illustrative Duties
  (The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)
  General Financial Duties
  Reviews and approves disbursement forms;
  Recommends changes to agency/work unit administrative policies, procedures and methods;
  Uses existing spreadsheets and databases to interpret and organize resource information;
  Provides customized reports to analysts or others in the unit.Fiscal Administration
  Approves and authorizes accounts through corporate system;
  Monitors external accounts and resolves discrepancies;
  Reviews and reconciles status reports.Accounting
  Supervises staff performing clerical accounting duties at the Asst. II and III levels;
  Resolves problems by performing qualitative review of individual cases;
  Enters data into corporate accounting systems and reconciles a wide variety of accounts receivable/payable;
  Performs petty cash custodial duties;
  Audits clerical accounting procedures in other agencies.Purchasing
  Researches and recommends equipment/vendors and prices;
  Determines substitutes for supplies and low value equipment;
  Verifies the accuracy of and updates the department equipment and/or fixed asset inventory;
  Authorizes requests for goods and services in corporate system;
  Monitors contract compliance (e.g., expirations, payment terms, costs);
  May act as procurement card manager.Scheduling & Coordinating for others
  Manages supervisor's calendar which may require negotiating time and place;
  Researches and negotiates with hotels, etc. for best logistical arrangements for rooms;
  Makes complex scheduling arrangements involving multiple parties, including informing all relevant parties;
  Independently makes and cancels meetings depending on the subject and attendees;
  Determines what confidential information can be disseminated and to whom;
  Arranges for special room or equipment needs and/or multiple locations & individuals;
  Coordinates domestic and foreign travel arrangements for executive/work unit head, unit personnel, and visitors;
  Participates in the planning and coordination of national and international meetings (e.g., reserves sites, meeting logistics, publicity.Communication
  Independently composes original correspondence (e.g., preparation of replies to non-technical requests) for the executive/work unit head's review and signature;
  Coordinates data collection and provides information to others including executive/work unit head;
  Explains policies of the functional area (e.g., purchasing, travel, and leave).Office Management
  Performs/supervises several administrative functions (e.g., records management, reception);
  Manages a small work unit;
  Analyzes short-term administrative needs of the unit (e.g., status of supplies and equipment, determining if work order is needed);
  Notifies relevant individuals of work progress and inquires as to its status.
  General Administrative
  Develops filing systems (paper and/or electronic);
  Develops internal mailing processes and procedures;
  Prepares non-routine responses to correspondence;
  May supervise general administrative functions.Receptionist/Public Contact
  Oversees or resolves non-routine/difficult situations based on knowledge and interpretation of established policies & procedures;
  Interprets county rules & regulations to employees, management, and the public using discretion as to proper application.Word Processing/Typing
  Develops macros;
  Serves as unit expert or lead over other clerical/administrative positions.Information Systems/Software
  Develops macros;
  Creates and maintains databases;
  Generates unique reports;
  Creates complex spreadsheets for work unit;
  Diagnoses and resolves simple software/hardware problems;
  Maintains Web pages;
  Designs and lays out publications using specialized software packages;
  May supervise.Reports
  Prepares routine reports and statistics based on information compiled from various sources;
  Determines report format and elements.Payroll
  Prepares and/or supervises preparation of complex payroll (e.g., shift differential, overtime, multiple grants, 56 hour workweek, FLSA).
  Researches payroll issues (e.g., overtime, leave hours).
  Interprets policies & procedures.Personnel
  Initiates the full range of processing for complex personnel actions;
  Conducts new employee orientation within assigned agency, including notifying employees of Period of Initial Eligibility and the importance of compliance;
  Counsels employees on basic benefit questions;
  Uses Human Capital Management Enterprise Resource Planning system regularly to process departmental HR transactions;
  Updates job descriptions using information obtained from employee, supervisor, evaluations and samples;
  Resolves personnel processing problems on personnel policy/procedures with interpretation from appropriate resource (e.g., DHR);
  Completes job recruitment packages including drafting advertisement language for non-professional job announcements;
  Serves as liaison between supervisor/manager and HR regarding routine personnel actions;
  Advises supervisor and provides information regarding HR policies and procedures.
  Prepares diversity report.
  Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
  (The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)Knowledge and understanding of the programs or activities of the unit served, as well as of the county and departmental administrative guides;
  Position may require knowledge of basic principles and methods of a technical or professional field.Math Skills
  Basic math skills.Word Processing/Typing
  Intermediate skills in use of applicable Microsoft Office Word.PC Skills
  Intermediate skills in the use of applicable Microsoft Office Suite software;
  Intermediate skills in the use of agency specific software applications.Communication
  Ability to communicate well through written and oral means.Information Abilities
  Ability to gather, integrate, and analyze simple data.Interpersonal Abilities
  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with both external and internal contacts.Purchasing and Accounting
  Ability to perform data entry into Purchasing/Logistics Enterprise Resource Planning systems and/or Financial Enterprise Resource Planning systems in at least five functions.Personnel and Payroll
  Ability to perform complex Human Capital Management Enterprise Resource Planning system functions (e.g., establish a position, create a PCF, determine cost center codes, etc.).Executive Assistance
  Ability to maintain confidentiality and be sensitive to political issues.
  Employment Standards
  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  Any combination of education, experience and training equivalent to high school graduation and three years of experience providing administrative support in the assigned functional area(s).
  
  PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Knowledgeable with Payroll/ Human Resources policies and procedures for governmental public safety agencies.
  • Payroll processing experience.
  • Experience working with HRM or HCM systems.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Outlook, Word, and Excel.
  • Good verbal and written communication skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and great customer service.
  • Excellent attention to detail.
  • Strong planning skills. NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
    The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and credit check to the satisfaction of the employer.
    
    PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
    Employment contingent on completion of background investigation and employee is subject to random drug testing. Work requires the ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment, sit for long periods, and bending and stooping for extended periods of time for filing. All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.SELECTION PROCEDURE:
    Panel interview and may include exercise. The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity. Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
    Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.
    
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Keywords: Fairfax County Government, Burke , Payroll Specialist (Admin Asst IV), Human Resources , Fairfax, Virginia