Payroll Assistant / Trainee (Ny Helps)

Job Description:
Payroll Assistants prepare and process payroll transactions and review related documents, answer basic payroll questions, and provide payroll customer service to agency employees, for which substantive knowledge of the policies, rules, and regulations issued by the Office of the State Comptroller, the Department of Civil Service, and the Division of the Budget is required.
Position are located in the Human Resources.
Illustrative Duties:

• Processes payroll documents and transactions.
• Performs routine processing activities, including checking payroll documents such as direct deposit forms, tax forms, and other forms related to payroll transactions for completeness and accuracy.
• Enters data and information into and retrieves data and information from human resources and payroll computer systems.
• Verifies data previously entered to detect errors. This activity may include reviewing human resources transactions/information submitted to the payroll office by ensuring that position and employee information is complete and is consistently data entered in relevant computer systems.
• Computes and verifies salaries, salary changes, deductions, and other wage information for agency employees.
• Calculates and processes salary increases, longevity payments, performance advances, overtime, holiday pay, inconvenience pay, recall pay, pre-shift briefing, lost time, extra-time, and other additional compensation payments.
• Conducts audits to ensure employees are being paid in accordance with Department of Civil Service Rules, negotiated agreements, and Office of the State Comptroller Rules and Regulations.
• May calculate adjusted earnings and taxes for employees to correct W-2 Wage Statements. Submits requests to issue corrected W-2 Wage Statements to the Office of the State Comptroller.
• May reconstruct employee salary histories by following standard procedures to determine and verify appropriate salary.
• May calculate, coordinate, and communicate back salary awards, settlements, penalties and garnishments in accordance with court orders, grievances, disciplinary proceedings, and arbitration decisions.
• May calculate the number of pay periods of sick leave with half pay entitlement for employees by applying knowledge of Civil Service Law, Office of the State Comptroller rules and regulations, and negotiated agreements.
• May review eligibility and adjust vacation, sick, and personal leave credits for part-time annual salaried employees using various reports to calculate the additional hours worked beyond their payroll percentage and the amount of leave credits to be adjusted under the guidelines set forth by the Department of Civil Service.
• May review submitted time sheets to determine they are completed in accordance with Department of Civil Service Time and Attendance Rules and contractually negotiated agreements. Provides customer service to agency employees on payroll and human resources related issues.
• Answers questions from and provides information to employees and managers regarding general payroll topics and individual status issues and inquiries. Refers more complicated inquiries and/or unresolved errors as necessary.
• Writes responses to authorized inquiries from banks, insurance companies, and government agencies regarding standard employee wage and benefit information by using multiple computerized systems to gather data.
• May coordinate and deliver informational sessions and new employee orientations on general payroll, human resources, and benefit topics.
• May be responsible for the administration and communication of time and attendance and/or payroll related programs. Assists payroll program supervisors in resolving payroll certification issues and processing errors.
• Reviews standard payroll reports to ensure transactions are processed properly.
• Processes corrective transactions to rectify payroll errors and certification issues.
• Assists with resolving more complicated issues by researching specific payroll topics and contacting control agency staff with specific questions or guidance requests. Under direction, assists payroll program supervisors in providing on-the-job training for Payroll Assistant Trainees.

Requirements:
This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).*
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (NY HELPS):
To be considered for appointment through NY HELPS, or 55 b/c, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position:
NY HELPS Trainee Level: 1 Year Traineeship starting salary $34,152 (There are no minimum education or experience requirements).
NY HELPS Full Level: Starting salary $40,193 (One year of payroll experience, which included computing time worked, salaries, and deductions).
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS COMPETITIVE:
Payroll Assistant Trainee (1 year traineeship equated to grade 6): Reachable score on the Civil Service Exam List for Payroll Assistant Trainee, (Beginning Office Assistant) OR one (1) year permanent, contingent permanent or 55b service in a title deemed eligible for transfer to Payroll Assistant Trainee under Section 70.1.
Payroll Assistant (Grade 9): Permanent appointment with one (1) year of service as a Payroll Assistant OR one (1) year permanent or contingent permanent service in a title deemed eligible for transfer to Payroll Assistant under Section 70.1, OR be a former state employee eligible for reinstatement to Payroll Assistant.
May be filled from a mandatory reemployment list if one is in effect at the time of appointment.
Any resumes received that do not meet the above requirements as described will be deemed unqualified.
NY HELPS Summary:
*For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title maybe filled via a non- competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In May 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive and the official probationary period will begin.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
Additional Information:

• Full-time, Permanent
• Neg unit - CSEA 02 ASU
• Starting Salary: $40,193, Salary Grade 9
• NY HELPS traineeship Salary: $34,152
• Schedule: Day Shift (Monday-Friday)
• Reports to: Payroll Examiner 2
• This position offers full New York State CSEA benefits, which are among the most comprehensive in the country
• Click here for Information for Prospective Employees
• SUNY Delhi has a strong commitment to Affirmative Action and Cultural Diversity. The College welcomes responses from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans.
• SUNY Delhi is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community for our students and employees. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. Any offer of employment is contingent on the successful completion of the background check.
• Although the vacancies are in the areas indicated, the appointing authority shall have the right to direct appropriate transfers and reassignments of employees to other areas.

Application Instructions:
SUNY Delhi is energized to lead the charge in developing a welcoming and intellectually diverse environment for all, a place where diversity, equity and success guide our achievement, scholarship, character and global citizenship. To apply please attach the following items and provide a short statement in your cover letter on your commitment to diversity and how you would incorporate it into this role.

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Contact information for three professional references

For full consideration please apply by March 31, 2024 and will remain posted until filled.
SUNY Delhi is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability or membership in any other class protected by Federal, State, or local law.