Job: Payroll Coordinator

Job Description

Job Type: Full time, Hourly

Wage: $24-$28/hr. 

Location: Leadville, CO.

Job Description:

This is a hybrid/remote position.

The Finance Department at Lake County Government has grown in recent months, and we are excited to seek an experienced and detail-oriented Payroll Coordinator to join our Finance team. This is a new role added to the Finance team with ample opportunity for development and growth within the department and the role itself. The Finance department also has new leadership, which has allowed for positive improvements and changes. The Payroll Coordinator will play a critical role and requires someone with strong payroll and reconciliation experience. The ideal candidate will be meticulous and capable of working with various financial tools and software. The incumbent for this role must be reliable and be able to meet hard deadlines within the Finance department.

General Duties and Responsibilities Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Duties

• Process regular payroll on a bi-weekly basis including the below:
• Review and approve director time/hours in County time keeping system.
• Receive and import county employee time into accounting system for several county departments.
• Analyze and go through payroll exception sheet to ensure all payroll and employee changes have been captured prior to payroll.
• Get approval from Deputy Finance Director or Finance Director to process payroll by auditing and reviewing the detail register report.
• Print in-house checks/ obtain signatures as needed for all paper checks.
• Send the payroll transfer sheet to the treasurer’s office.
• Make 401 and 457 retirement contributions in Empower.
• Reconcile all payroll liability accounts on a bi-weekly basis, but no later than monthly.
• Payroll liability accounts include salary accounts, payroll taxes, health insurance, pensions, and other employee benefit and payroll deduction accounts.
• Process special payrolls as needed.
• Process, reconcile, and file report monthly and quarterly payroll taxes, including the quarterly 941 and SUTA taxes.
• Manage entire “pre-payroll” process to ensure the County is payroll ready.
• Send payroll reminders and updates to County leadership as needed.
• Record and perform journal entries as needed as result of correcting payroll, reconciling liabilities, or performing year-end. (Master JE spreadsheet is maintained in Finance department for easy JE creation).
• Process and report 401 and 457 retirement contributions through Empower.
• Input merit increases or annual pay increases including bonus pay into the accounting software.
• Review Payroll Change Request forms against the accounting system to make sure payroll is accurate.
• Send payroll reports to departments as needed or when requested.
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures for the Payroll Coordinator role as needed or as requested.
• Work with department heads and leadership including HR regarding payroll questions.
• Continuously work to streamline the payroll process and address challenges as they may arise.
• The Finance department recognizes this as an ongoing process that allows for payroll to be a continuous improvement to better meet the needs of our employees at Lake County Government.
• Proficiently use financial software and tools to streamline payroll processes, such as accounting software, Excel, and other reporting systems
• Perform various other accounting tasks as needed and assist with month-end and year-end closing processes to include reconciling, journal entries, and generating reports.
• Serve as secondary backup to Accounts Payable (in off-payroll weeks if needed).
• Assist with the year-end and audit as needed or as requested by Finance department leadership to include pulling payroll registers, pay-stubs, etc. As requested by the auditors.
• Assist with special projects or other duties as assigned to meet the demands of the Finance department.

Year-End Duties

• Audit annual leave balances and work with Accountant and Deputy Finance Director for any variances and resolutions.
• Perform and record year-end salary accruals and reversal journal entries.
• Assist with the W-2 process and ensure accuracy between W-2 reports and year-end payroll register.
• Perform and record compensated absences for the annual audit.
• Manage, review, perform and record year end contributions forfeitures regarding retirement.

Supervisory Responsibilities Not applicable

Notice of Emergency/Disaster Responsibilities

All Lake County Employees may be required to work as a Disaster Service Worker when a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared by the Board of County Commissioners. To be prepared for this role, all employees and emergency service function (ESF) leads will attend emergency management trainings and exercises as requested by the Director of Emergency Management. With advanced notification from OEM, employees will make reasonable efforts to attend training events in coordination with other employees and supervisors.

Other Duties

Please note that this job description does not intend to cover or contain a full comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

• Associate degree in Accounting, Finance or related field. Someone working on a degree, or an accounting certificate is strongly encouraged to apply. At Lake County we value continued education.
• Minimum of 2 year’s experience in payroll or related accounting experience required. We welcome applicants with relevant experience, recognizing that practical expertise is highly regarded.
• Ability to meet deadlines is a must. Be an excellent team player.
• Proficiency in accounting software, Excel, and financial reporting tools
• Strong attention to detail and excellent analytical skills
• Be open to change and willing to adopt new FLMA practices, labor laws, and HR policies, and be able to implement new policies and procedures as they arise.
• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Must be experienced and capable of using Microsoft Excel
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a part of a team.
• Adaptability to work in a fast-paced environment and dynamic finance environment.
• Proficiency in English and Spanish preferred.
• Preferred Experience Knowledge of payroll liability reconciliation
• Experience with Tyler Accounting software, and especially with Incode (ERP Pro 10)
• Previous payroll experience is a bonus!
• Proven Accounting or payroll experience may substitute for the education requirement on a yearly basis in addition to the minimum experience requirement.

Work From Home Opportunity

The Incumbent can enjoy the flexibility of working from home (WFH) up to three days a week (8-hour days), with two days in office (40-hour work week). At Lake County Government, we prioritize efficiency and productivity but also a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, allowing our employees to thrive in an environment that encourages creative problem-solving and growth. WFH is considered one of many benefits offered by Lake County and is granted with Department approval alongside proven work performance and productivity standards. Some initial training may require additional onsite hours or days. WFH is at the discretion of department leadership and the Finance department allows up to 3 WFH days per week and up to 8 hours per day.

Hazard Notice

Please be aware of potential office hazards and follow safety guidelines to ensure a secure working environment.

Physical Activity & Work Environment

• Ability to work indoors in an office environment with prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working at a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to see close up and far away, with or without glasses or contacts.
• Ability to work outdoors in inclement, hot, or cold weather as required by attendance of County events or local emergencies.
• Sitting: More than 50% of the time
• Walking: Less than 50% of the time
• Standing: Less than 50% of the time
• Using hands/fingers to feel or handle items: More than 50% of the time
• Talking or hearing: More than 50% of the time
• Lifting, moving, or exerting force of up to 10 lbs.: Less than 50% of the time
• Seeing up close: More than 50% of the time
• Seeing long distances: Less than 50% of the time
• Use of peripheral vision: Less than 50% of the time
• Adjusting and focusing vision: More than 50% of the time
• Working indoors in an office environment: More than 50% of the time

EOE Statement

Lake County is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Assistance or accommodation during the application process due to a disability is available upon request.

Lake County Benefits - Full-Time Employees

As a reflection of the value we place on the contributions of our employees, the County offers a competitive benefits package for full-time employees. Please review the 2024 Benefits Guide for full details. The Guide provides information on Lake County Government's benefit offerings, including:

• Employer-Sponsored Medical and Dental Insurance Plans
• 100% Employer Paid Vision Plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Employer-Sponsored Short-Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer Paid Term Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance Plans
• 401(a) and 457(b) Employer Matched Retirement Plans
• Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, Personal Days and Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Public Health Emergency Leave
• Discounts on concerts, major sporting events, electronics, travel, cars and more!

Notice of Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be authorized to lawfully work for any employer in the United States. Lake County is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

Expected Duration of the Application Process

Due to the nature of the application and selection process for Lake County full-time positions, applicants can reasonably expect the application process to take a significant amount of time to complete before a decision is made to hire or not to hire. Typically, it takes approximately four (4) to six (6) weeks from the date of application to complete the entire selection process. The length of time it takes to complete the process can vary depending on a variety of factors. Please note that this is an estimated duration of the selection process. 

**Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described above are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee, time to time; the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. Click “View Application” below for more detail on this specific job.