Payroll Specialist - Finance

SALARY: $25.95 Hire rate Hourly / $28.20 Work rate hourly (after 9 months)

TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT: Full Time

ISSUE DATE: 05/15/23

THE FINAL DATE TO FILE APPLICATIONS: 06/03/23

DATE THAT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM POSTING: 06/04/23

RESIDENCY: Candidates must have been legal residents of Tompkins County or one of the six adjoining counties (Cayuga,
Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga) for at least one month immediately preceding the date of application and maintain
residency. For Examinations: The eligible list resulting from the examination will be established in accordance with the final
earned numerical ratings of passing candidates regardless of residence. A municipality or district may exercise its right under
section 23-4-a. of Civil Service Law to request a certification of eligible candidates who have been residents of that municipality
or district for at least one month prior to appointment. After the names of residents have been exhausted, Tompkins County must
then certify the names of non-residents on the list.

We have an exciting opportunity in Tompkins County Finance Department for an enthusiastic Payroll Specialist. Responsibilities
include a wide range of Payroll functions. In addition to responsibility for payroll processing, you will have the opportunity to
expand your career by learning other accounting tasks, participate in computer system implementations and perform other
administrative duties as mutually beneficial.

Any interested candidate will also have to sign up for the exam which is posted on the HR exam page.

Successful candidates will have the following competencies:

• Accurate, detail-oriented, organized, good communication skills.
• Ability to develop Intermediate Excel skills.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and professionalism.
• A high sense of urgency to meet deadlines and persistence to find solutions.
• An interest in continuous professional development.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

(a) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered two year college with a major in accounting, business or
a closely related field AND two years of experience in payroll processing; OR

(b) Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma AND four years of experience in payroll
processing; OR

(c) An combination of training and experience equal to or greater than that specified in (a) and (b) above.

Tompkins County is Committed to Equity and Inclusion. We encourage those with similar values to apply.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

An incumbent in this class is responsible for backing up the Payroll Coordinator and providing routine assistance with all payroll
processing and benefits allocation functions. The Payroll Specialist assists with the administration of computer operations related
to payroll, fringe benefits, and deductions including financial reporting and statistical data maintenance. The position requires
that the incumbents maintain a wide range of professional contacts and that he or she be able to provide instruction to
departments, officials, and vendors on the proper procedures. The work is performed under the general supervision of the Finance
Director with wide leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgment. This position may supervise other clerical staff on
occasion. The incumbent will perform all related duties as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Reviews the payroll input performed by Personnel for accuracy and timeliness input to the computer system;
• Verifies salaries and all related information on new hires and/or changes to adjust salaries of present employees;
• Answers technical payroll questions and provides consultation to employees of the Personnel Department in clarifying

credit union, flex benefit program, State Insurance fund, New York State Retirement System, and Worker’s
Compensation Board;

• Maintains payroll file: computer reports, documentation for payroll input, health insurance deduction forms, gross pay

• Prepares manual check listing including tax distribution, support payments, garnishees, and union dues as required to

• Performs routine filing of reports and payroll back-up paperwork;
• Record and maintain excel spreadsheets for the Health Insurance Consortium;
• Produce monthly health insurance invoices and mail;
• Maintain and report monthly subscriber count for stop/loss carrier;
• Prepare disbursements, deposit checks, reconcile bank statements;
• Collect data for Finance Director’s quarterly statement;
• Assist all consortium groups;
• Provide the amounts to the Finance Director for payments for Health Insurance and prescriptions;
• Collect and sort mail;
• Process payment vouchers and invoices for payment;
• Other duties as assigned in the Finance department.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Good knowledge of modern methods used in keeping and checking financial payroll records and accounts;
• Good knowledge of office terminology, procedures, equipment, and business English;
• Ability to make complex arithmetic computations involving fractions, decimals, and percentages accurately;
• Ability to analyze and organize complex data and to prepare records and reports;
• Ability to understand and interpret complex oral instructions and/or written directions;
• Ability to develop effective working relationships and deal diplomatically with the public, subordinates, and other work

without reasonable accommodation.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS:

The employee must be able to sit for extended periods of time within a standard eight-hour work day. Other types of physical
effort are minimal with the exception of the occasional requirement to lift boxes of office supplies and paper goods up to twenty

pounds. The incumbent’s visual acuity must be sufficient to enable him or her to see and accurately work with information on a
computer screen. Dyslexia or other types of learning disorders could result in an employee being unable to satisfactorily perform
the essential functions of this job. The employee’s hearing must be sufficiently acute to enable him or her to hear, understand and
carry out verbal instructions. The employee must have the physical ability to manipulate a computer keyboard and other types of
office equipment. These fine motor skills include adequate hand/eye coordination and the full use of fingers, hands and arms to
perform the essential functions of this job. Environmental factors include the ability to work closely and cooperatively in close
physical proximity with others. He or she may occasionally be required to work alone. Almost all work is performed indoors in a
temperature controlled environment, so excessive heat, cold, humidity, noise, etc., are not factors that are significant to this job.
The employee may at times be asked to drive to get to remote locations, or otherwise demonstrate the ability to meet the limited
transportation requirements of this job.

Originally created 03/22/2013

P90.doc

FURTHER INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

Falsification of any part of the "Application for Employment" will result in disqualification.

Accepted candidates will be notified when and where to appear for the examination. If you do not receive your notice to appear at least three days before the
date of the written examination, call Tompkins County Department of Human Resources at 274-5526. If an application is disapproved, due notice will be
sent. This department does not make formal acknowledgment of the receipt of an application or take responsibility for non-delivery or postal delay.

Applicants must answer every question on the application form and make sure that the application is complete in all respects. Incomplete applications will
be disapproved.

ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL, VETERANS OR DISABLED VETERANS desiring to claim additional credit will request the Veterans Credits
application form, at any time between the date of application for examination(s) and the date of the establishment of the resulting eligible list. You must
meet the requirements set by NYS for these credits and they may be used only once. YOU MAY NOT CLAIM ADDITIONAL CREDITS AFTER THE
ELIGIBLE LIST HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. IT IS THE CANDIDATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST THE VETERANS CREDIT
APPLICATION FORMS AND TO SUBMIT THESE FORMS AND ANY SUPPORTING PAPERWORK BEFORE THE ELIGIBLE LIST IS
ESTABLISHED.
Tompkins County's written examinations are prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of
Civil Service Law. The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations, which deal with the rating and review of the examinations
apply.

The duration of the eligible lists may be fixed for a minimum of one and a maximum of four years and may be extended beyond four years if there has been
a restriction against the filling of vacancies in that title.
The candidates must complete a separate "Application for Employment" for each open-competitive and/or promotional examination that the candidate is
eligible to take.

All experience required meeting the acceptable training and experience is full-time experience. (Part-time experience will be credited on a prorated basis).

Appointment from an eligible list must be made from the top three candidates willing to accept the appointment.

Tompkins County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As part of its efforts to provide employment opportunities to the physically handicapped, Tompkins
County Civil Service has adopted a rule permitting the employment of qualified physically handicapped persons without competitive examination (pursuant
to Section 55 of Civil Service Law). If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position and wish to know more about this rule, please contact the
Tompkins County Department of Human Resources Office.

Unless otherwise notified, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand-held, and solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with Typewriter Keyboards,
Spell Checkers, Personal Digital Assistants, Address Books, Language Translators, Dictionaries or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring
books or other reference materials.

CROSS-FILING - APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WHEN EXAMINATIONS ARE
SCHEDULED ON THE SAME DATE: When applying for examinations across multiple jurisdictions - all of which are scheduled on the same day - you
must submit a Tompkins County Cross-Filing Form. This form must be submitted no later than 4:30 PM on the final filing date of the examination. On this
form, list each examination that you are taking and then tell us where you would like to sit. The purpose is to ensure that all of the test materials for the
various examinations that you are taking will be available in one location. If you do not provide the cross-filing form to us by the final filing date, we cannot
ensure that we can accommodate your desire to cross-file. If any of the examinations are State level examinations, you must sit at the State test center. You
will still need to complete the Tompkins County cross-filing form. If sitting at the State site, the State will notify you of when and where to report for your
examination(s) and you should bring all admittance letters to the State site. If you are not taking a State examination, bring all admittance letters to your
chosen testing site. If you have any question please call Tompkins County Department of Human Resources Department (607) 274-5526. The Cross File
form is located at http://www.tompkins-co.org/personnel/CivilSrvForms/index.html

FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION AND HANDICAPPED PERSONS: If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on
your application.

ALL CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR POSITIONS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BOCES GOVERNED BY TOMPKINS COUNTY
CIVIL SERVICE MAY HAVE THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL REQUIREMENT. PER CHAPTER 180 OF THE LAWS OF 2000, AND BY
REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, TO BE EMPLOYED IN A POSITION DESIGNATED BY A SCHOOL
DISTRICT OR BOCES AS INVOLVING DIRECT CONTACT WITH STUDENTS, A CLEARANCE FOR EMPLOYMENT FROM THE
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED.
In conformance with Section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duties shall be entitled to receive
an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are
qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duties in this municipality, please inform this
office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the
application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has
been established.⒝

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to undergo a State and national criminal history background investigation, which will
include a fingerprint check, to determine suitability for appointment. Failure to meet the standards for the background investigation may result in
disqualification.

TOMPKINS COUNTY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT, 125 EAST COURT STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850