Payroll Clerk

The Department of Health Services (DHS) Payroll Clerks are responsible for assisting in processing bi-weekly payroll for the department's 750+ employees, as well as processing and maintaining personnel records in Personality, the County's human resource information system (HRIS). Payroll Clerks are responsible for entering personnel changes; updating leaves of absence; reviewing timecards; tracking merits, probationary status, and hour limitations; onboarding new hires; maintaining employee databases and personnel files and assisting employees with payroll-related questions.
As the ideal candidate to join this team, you will possess:

• Experience accurately processing electronic time-keeping and payroll data
• Efficiency with completing detail-oriented tasks, while working in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact and engage with diverse audiences, in one-on-one and group settings
• The ability to interpret and explain complicated policies, laws, and personnel agreements
• Experience with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Personality (or a similar HRIS)
• Organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills

What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory
This recruitment is being conducted to fill one full-time Payroll Clerk position in the Department of Health Services. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
Education: Any combination of education and/or training which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, academic courses in business administration, legal practice, bookkeeping and/or accounting would provide this opportunity. A Certified Payroll Professional Certificate (CPP) is desirable.
Experience: Any combination of work experience which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, two years of experience in bookkeeping, statistical work, or accounting activities including the processing of payroll and personnel records, would provide such opportunity.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.Considerable knowledge of: the County's payroll and personnel records systems; salary policies and resolutions; and various terms and conditions contained in memoranda of understanding as they relate to a particular department; the County's classification plan; various types and kinds of occupations associated with a particular department; understanding of the numeric code systems utilized within the payroll system for job classes; and the master salary table; departmental policies, procedures and functions which relate to the payroll system; of general management and supervisory policies; and procedures of the various divisions within the department.
Working knowledge of: the County's overall payroll system; and the inter-relationship between a particular department, the Auditor-Controller's Office, Personnel Department and the Computer Services Department; employee benefits, insurances, allowances and related entitlements as outlined in memoranda of understanding with unions, unrepresented employees and contract employees; payroll deductions to include social security, and federal and state withholding taxes.
Ability to: understand, interpret and explain salary policies, procedures and systems to department management, supervisory and clerical employees affected by payroll activities; interpret and explain the various salary schedules, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment to departmental employees; make complex arithmetic calculations accurately and rapidly; establish and maintain cooperative and harmonious working relationships with co-workers, other department staff, and employees seeking information; function effectively as a lead worker over other clerical employees within the department working on the payroll system; ensure accuracy and processing of time worked records and related documents; effectively train new employees in the County's payroll and personnel system; instruct existing employees in new and/or revised payroll and personnel procedures; independently initiate, prioritize, and perform work assignments; analyze and solve problems related to payroll and related work activities; meet fixed or fluctuating deadlines in order to achieve work objectives; recognize and know the purpose of standardized forms related to payroll; compile and prepare periodic summaries and reports for statistical and administrative purposes such as employment inventory, cost distribution, and pay and leave entitlements and usage; operate electronic information system equipment at a speed of 40 words per minute.

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonomato review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: SZ
HR Technician: RREmployment Type: Full-Time