Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Salary: $24.97 - $31.63 Hourly
Location : Long Prairie, MN
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 364D
Department: Administration Office
Opening Date: 03/20/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
Purpose of Position
This posting will remain open until filled.
Ensures county employees are paid accurately and timely. Assists the Human Resource Department with the maintenance of the payroll and personnel programs of the County including areas of budgeting, finance, recruitment and labor relations. Finalize payroll and process billings.
Basic Performance Expectations of all Todd County Staff

• Serves as a positive example to other County personnel with regard to workplace actions, decisions, work skills, attitude and adherence to workplace policy and procedures.
• Has strong communication and interpersonal skills, is honest, fair and dependable.
• Embodies teamwork and cooperation within and across County departments and with the public.
• Communicates effectively with the Department Head and keeps supervisor apprised of important matters ongoing in the department.
• Respect all colleagues, co-workers, board members and the public and lead those around you to do the same.
• This position requires regular and timely attendance in accordance with the department schedule.
• Performs other duties as assigned or apparent.

Position Specific Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this position. These duties are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required as assigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Maintain employee master file changes for salaries, deductions and withholdings.
• Review timesheets for all county employees, proof and validate reports.
• Calculate retro pay increases and partial salary payments, process special payroll runs.
• Set-up and maintain all direct deposit files, transmit payroll for bank processing.
• Process, verify and finalize payroll.
• Responsible for the enrollment and maintenance of employee benefits.
• Reviews, audits and prepares for payment invoices and billing statements related to employee benefits.
• Print and distribute all payroll reports for all departments.
• Prepare and submit bi-weekly federal and state taxes via the internet.
• Prepare and submit quarterly federal and state tax liability reports.
• Receive and monitor changes made in employee master file.
• Maintain and submit all employee demographic changes and contributions for the PERA Retirement Plan.
• Complete forms to calculate and remit wage garnishments on employees.
• Assist employees and department heads with payroll related questions.
• Resolve payroll related issues and other problems from office personnel, employees and the public as they arise.
• Assist Human Resource Department with employee personnel file maintenance and filing; workers' compensation claims reporting.
• Provide work direction to the Administrative Assistant in the processing of payroll.
• Assist Human Resource Department with salary information and financial impact for labor negotiations.
• Year-end reports including W2s and 1095s.
• Update and maintain government required reports.
• Attend and participate in in-service education classes and on the job training programs as directed.
• Represent the County as directed at local, state and regional committee meetings or organization meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops and training programs.
• Follow all established safety procedures and precautions when operating office equipment.

Minimum Education and Experience/Special Requirements

• Associates/Technical degree with coursework in accounting, business management, or related field and moderate experience in accounting, public or business administration, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license or access to transportation.
• Must pass a criminal background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Local government payroll, administrative, accounting or human resource experience.
• Bachelors degree with coursework in accounting, business management, public or business administration.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to perform mid-level data analysis including the ability to audit, deduce, assess, conclude and appraise.
• Ability to persuade, convince and train others.
• Ability to advise and provide interpretation regarding the application of policies, procedures, and standards to specific situations.
• Ability to communicate with elected officials, staff, outside governmental agencies, consultants and the public in a friendly, positive, professional manner.
• Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate percentages, fractions, and decimals; requires the ability to perform mathematical operations involving basic algebra.
• Ability to apply principles of influence systems such as informing, planning, and coordinating.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principals for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.
• Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental and/or subjective criteria, as opposed to criteria that are clearly measurable.
• Ability to display good foresight and long-range planning.

Physical Requirements
This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines and observing general surroundings and activities; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).
2024 Todd County Summary of Benefits
The following is intended to be a general overview of benefits provided for full-time positions. County contributions to health insurance may differ by collective bargaining agreement, please refer to your union contract. Group Health Insurance benefits become effective the first day of the month following 30 days of employment. Further details and a complete copy of the applicable contract/policy are available at the time an employment offer is extended. If you have questions about benefits, please contact the Administration Department at hr@co.todd.mn.us.
Health Insurance offered by Health Partners and Sourcewell
Employees have three (3) medical insurance plans to choose from. The rates shown are effective 1/1/2024. 2024 HSA Maximum Contributions: Single $4,150 /Family $8,300, Catch-up contributions $1,000.
Plan $1,600/$3,200 High Deductible - 100% & Health Savings Account (HSA) Employer Contribution per Month / Employee Cost per Month / HSA Employer Contribution per Month
Single $918.89 / $0.00 / $125.00
Employee + Child(ren) $1,225.00 / $411.50/ $125.00
Employee +Spouse $1,500.00 / $638.14 / $125.00
Family $1,650.00 / $815.48 / $125.00
Plan $4,150/$8,300 High Deductible -100% & Health Savings Account (HSA) Employer Contribution per Month / Employee Cost per Month / HSA Employer Contribution per Month
Single $789.90/ $0.00 / $165.00
Employee + Child(ren) $1,225.00 / $181.78 / $125.00
Employee + Spouse $1,500.00 / $338.00 / $125.00
Family $1,650.00 / $469.39/ $125.00
Plan $8,050/$16,100 High Deductible -100% & Health Savings Account (HSA) Employer Contribution per Month / Employee Cost per Month / HSA Employer Contribution per Month
Single $644.27/ $0.00 / $165.00
Employee + Child(ren) $1,147.40 / $0 / $125.00
Employee + Spouse $1,499.12 / $0 / $125.00
Family $1,650.00 / $78.63 / $125.00
Dental Insurance offered by Health Partners
Monthly Cost
Employee $38.05
Employee+1 $76.09
Family $114.15
Vision Insurance offered by Avesis
Monthly Cost
Employee $6.03
Employee+1 $10.53
Family $15.64
Flexible Spending Accounts offered by Select Account
Plan options include medical reimbursement and dependent day care FSAs as well as pre-tax deductions of medical and dental insurance premiums. Actual cost of pre-tax deductions is an average of 27% - 39% depending you're your bracket.
Life Insurance offered by Lincoln Financial
Term life offered at no cost for $20,000 basic life/ADD insurance coverage. Rates for voluntary additional coverage for employee or spouse vary according to age category:
Age of Employee Your Monthly Cost or Spouse per $1,000
Under age 25 $.057
25 - 29 $.057
30 - 34 $.057
35 - 39 $.095
40 - 44 $.114
45 - 49 $.162
50 - 54 $.238
55 - 59 $.428
60 - 64 $.646
65 - 69 $1.226
70 - 74 $1.976
Child Life: $1.30 per month $15,000
PERA Term Life
Voluntary supplemental decreasing term life offered by the Public Employees Retirement Association of Minnesota that may be continued into retirement, $16.00. See for additional information.
Short Term Disability offered by Lincoln Financial
Protect your income for the 1st three (3) months of disability. Rates vary by age category and you select your level of coverage from weekly benefits of $100 - $2,000 in $100 increments, not to exceed 60% of weekly gross earnings.
Long Term Disability offered by Lincoln Financial
Protect your income beginning the 4th month of a disability and benefits are payable for injury, sickness or pregnancy up to your normal retirement age, as defined by Social Security. You may elect any level of coverage, in increments of $100 between $500 and $5,000 per month, provided you don't insure more than 60% of your monthly income.
Deferred Compensation
Pre-tax 457(b) and post-tax IRA programs available.
PERA Pension Plan
Public Employers Retirement Association (PERA); the following contributions are mandated by state law:
Coordinated Detention Officers Law Enforcement
County Contribution: 7.50% 8.75% 17.70%
Employee Contribution: 6.50% 5.83% 11.80%
PERA handbooks are available at
Minnesota State Retirement Systems (MSRS) Health Care Savings Plan (HCSP)
A post retirement health care savings plan is an employer sponsored program that allows employees to save money to pay medical expenses and/or health insurance premiums after termination of public service.
Group Voluntary Plans Available through Cigna
* Accident Insurance
* Critical Illness Insurance
* Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Full details available at the time of hire.
Paid Vacation
Employees earn vacation as follows:
Hours earned
Years of Service Per month
1 thru 3 8
4 thru 5 10
6 thru 10 12
11 thru l5 14
16 thru 20 17
21 thru 24 18
25+ 19
See applicable union labor agreement for vacation schedule, some accrue per pay period. Employees may carry over up to 192 hours of available vacation per year.
Paid Sick Leave
Employees earn 8 hours of sick leave per month and may accrue up to 1040 hours (6 months) paid leave.
Paid Holidays
New Years Day
President's Day
Martin Luther King Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve Day (4 hours) - unless holiday falls on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday
Christmas Day
New Years Eve Day (4 hours) - unless holiday falls on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday
* See applicable union labor agreement for negotiated holidays.
Funeral Leave
Paid funeral leave of absence up to 40 hours.
* See applicable union labor agreement for negotiated funeral leave.
AFFINITY PLUS Credit Union
Financial Services including competitive loan rates, VISA, Savings Clubs, bill payments, investments and other services.
Fitness Room
The Todd County Wellness Committee sponsors a fitness room available to County employees and their immediate family members.
Minnesota Benefit Association
Serving Minnesota makes you a member of the association, rewarding you with great services and savings, including: Student Scholarships, Life Insurance, Home & Auto Insurance, etc. See pr 800.360.6117
Verizon Wireless Discount
As a benefit of your employment with Todd County, you may be eligible for a discount for Verizon Wireless service and equipment. go to for more information.
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Do you have an Associates/Technical degree with coursework in accounting, business management, or related field and moderate experience in accounting, public or business administration, or equivalent combination of education and experi...