Payroll Accountant
CITY OF WALLA WALLA
Payroll Accountant
As a member of the Finance Department, the Payroll Accountant performs a full range of payroll and accounting related functions, including finance related reconciliations, and reporting and assists in the organization and operation of financial procedures.
REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or related field, and two (2) years of related
experience; or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required
knowledge, skills, and abilities. Municipal experience preferred. Applicants must be able to provide proof of
being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by time of hire.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Previous accounting experience involving the processing of payroll. Bilingual in Spanish.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Employees of the City of Walla Walla are expected to model and foster the City’s core values:
Service - Integrity - Collaboration - Equity - Leadership – Community
2. Plans, coordinates, and monitors the City's payroll processing functions; assigns and reviews, as well as
performs, the processing of employee and retiree pay benefits; oversees the preparation and
transmittal of payroll related payments and reports including but not limited to federal and state
quarterly reports; maintains a working knowledge of federal and state statutes relating to payroll,
retirement, and other areas applicable to the payroll function and makes recommendations to
supervisor on the impacts of such items; reconciles payroll related accounts within the City's financial
ledgers.
3. Maintains payroll records and employee information within the City's payroll systems; conducts internal
audits to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the system; analyzes, develops, and recommends
improvements to the payroll system to improve efficiency and accuracy; troubleshoots problems and
follows up on their resolution.
4. Ensure proper pay rates and individual payroll changes are entered in the payroll system accurately.
Prepare, process, and calculate a variety of payroll actions including wage garnishments, benefit
withholdings, overtime calculations and worker’s compensation leave buy back.
5. Audit timesheets and other payroll records ensuring compliance with City policies, respective collective
bargaining agreements and legal requirements; complete employee wage verifications.
6. Conducts comparisons of actual costs to the budget and assists the Accounting Manager and Director of
Finance in monitoring budget control with special attention directed toward payroll performance.
7. Partner with Human Resources to provide auditing support, salary and benefit rate calculations and
adjustments; implement salary schedules and payroll changes relevant to bargaining agreements.
8. Develop and oversee the maintenance of the records management system for all payroll records in
compliance with state record retention requirements.
9. Performs reconciliation of various general ledger accounts and sub-ledgers, periodic budget to actual
variance analysis and preparation of documentation (and analysis) for the City’s Annual Comprehensive
Financial Report.
10. Perform year-end, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) entries and assists with the
preparation and review of the city’s report.
11. Demonstrate tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural
guidelines.
12. Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships.
13. Handle confidential and sensitive matters relating to all aspects of payroll functions.
14. Apply critical thinking skills; identify opportunities for improvement; streamline processes for efficient
work practices.
15. May be called upon to assist and participate in various annual and special projects as required.
Open until filled. EOE/ADA