DOLA Accounting Technician III (Payroll and Benefits).

Department InformationWho Can ApplyThis opportunity is only open to residents of the State of Colorado.About The Colorado Department Of Local AffairsThe Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) serves as the primary interface between the State and local communities. The Department provides financial support to local communities and professional and technical services (including training and technical assistance) to community leaders in the areas of governance, housing, and property tax administration. While all state governments provide such services through various Departmental structures, Colorado’s approach is unique in that these local community services are gathered into one Department of “Local Affairs,” which has a central focus on strengthening Colorado communities and enhancing livability.VisionThe Department of Local Affairs is responsible for strengthening Colorado's local communities through: accessible, affordable, and secure housing; implementing property tax law; capacity building; strategic training, research, and technical assistance; and funding to localities.MissionOur mission is to help strengthen Colorado’s communities.Why work for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs?The work we do matters greatly. It matters to us and it matters to the citizens of the great state of Colorado. We love our communities and are passionate about supporting our communities. We value the diversity that Colorado offers. If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference in communities across the State, consider joining the dedicated people of the Department of Local Affairs.In addition, we offer a great location and great benefits, which include: Medical and Dental Plans Strong, secure, yet flexible Retirement Plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus pre-tax and ROTH 401K, and 457 plans Employee Wellness Programs Paid Life Insurance 11 paid Holidays per year plus Vacation and Sick Leave Short and Long-Term Disability Coverage RTD Eco Pass to all eligible State Employees Flexible work schedule options and hybrid work options Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Training opportunities Variety of Free discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Employment Discount Program Description Of JobThe Human Resources Office exists to provide a full range of human resources services for the approximately 380 positions within the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). Services provided include recruitment, classification and selection, salary administration, payroll and benefits, employee relations, labor relations and adherence to the partnership agreement, organizational development, staff development, personnel rules and statute interpretation, employee counseling, leave administration, processing workers’ compensation, short-term disability claims and FML/FAMLI requests, performance management, staff training, personal services contract review, maintaining personnel and health records for all employees of the department, and assisting managers to manage within the confines of the Colorado State Personnel Rules, Colorado Revised Statutes, and the Colorado Constitution.Under the auspices of the Human Resources Office, the Payroll and Benefits Technician supports the daily operations of the payroll and benefits functions for the department. This includes organizing and maintaining the payroll system, arranging and prioritizing the work in accordance with preset deadlines for processing of payroll and benefits set by the State's Central Payroll and Central Benefits Divisions. This position stays updated on State Fiscal Rules, CPPS procedures, applicable personnel rules and IRS regulations related to payroll processing and benefits administration, changes/enhancements/upgrades to the Colorado Operations Resource Engine (CORE), the Colorado Payroll / Personnel System (CPPS), and BenefitSolver, the State's benefit system.The primary and specific job duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:Payroll Operations Plan and manage daily operations of processing for payroll and benefits and prioritizes work in compliance with preset deadlines for processing as determined by the State's Central Payroll and Central Benefits divisions. Update and adjust employees' records and complete monthly, bi-weekly and special payrolls. Classify and record earning types such as regular pay, retroactive pay, overtime pay, annual leave payouts and late pay. Assemble, batch, post, compute and approve transactions in CPPS. Complete labor allocation error corrections to clear all errors on the DPA 9910 error report within the time limits set by Central Payroll, consulting with other accountants to verify accuracy. On a monthly basis, complete a CPPS/CORE reconciliation, compare CORE labor allocation information with information in Onbase, the CPPS reporting system. Analyze, create, update, review, verify, audit, reconcile and maintain payroll reports from CPPS. Consult with employees who are retiring or terminating employment regarding payroll related issues. Provide guidance and advice to staff regarding payroll and benefits questions and decide on the appropriate action needed to correct payroll and benefits errors. Reconcile and determine the need for adjustment entries in CORE to correct any errors. Ensure the timely and accurate processing of each payroll cycle. Keep supervisor, management and departmental employees informed and up-to-date on payroll-related concerns or issues, as appropriate. Respond to managers and employees questions, issues and concerns related to payroll and benefits. Respond to auditor's requests for information by pulling files and documentation related to the audit (audit samples), respond with responses to inquiries and provide information about the transactions, as requested. Benefits Administration Present information to new hires during onboarding. Complete transaction processing related to employee benefit elections. Verify the accuracy of employee records in BenefitSolver by completing a system inquiry on a regular basis and reviewing related system-generated reports. Complete a review of BenefitSolver and CPPS to ensure integrity of the data transfer to/from each system by reviewing employee records and reports from both systems. Regularly create, update, review, verify, audit, reconcile and maintain reports from the CPPS and BenefitSolver systems. Information contained in the reports may consist of the organization, appropriation, fund, employee name, social security number, payroll deductions, gross-net wages, exemptions, bank account numbers, health benefits, dependents and payroll status and must be handled with complete confidentiality. Work with the appropriate staff to ensure that deadlines are met, convey information, process paperwork and assist employees with new hire benefits sign-up, life event changes, and answer questions during the annual open enrollment period. Provide guidance, answer questions regarding benefits, deductions, refunds, garnishments and tax withholding. Provide information to PERA, including but not limited to, the PERA Six Month Salary Report, PERA Account Refund Request Form and the PERA Adjustment Worksheet. Work with teams assigned to special projects related to payroll and benefits that often result in enhancements to CPPS or BenefitSolver, including taking part in any discussions or meetings related to the project as a representative of the department. Time And Leave System As the Subject Matter Expert, work with the divisional budget officers to add, delete, modify and maintain, on an ongoing basis, the templates utilized in the automated time and leave system to ensure employees’ work hours are appropriately aligned with the position’s funding source(s). Respond to staff or supervisor inquiries and provide guidance to resolve issues in time card and schedule management. Keep abreast of scheduled tasks surrounding the time and leave integration processes and ensure all tasks are completed timely and accurately. Review and reconcile data and work with employees and supervisors to rectify any problems around missing data, errors, discrepancies or labor allocation issues. Attend payroll, benefits and PERA meetings or training seminars to receive updates on payroll, benefits and the related computerized systems in order to remain current and knowledgeable in regard to any applicable rules, regulations and departmental policies related to payroll and benefits. Other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions Of Employment & Appeal RightsClass Code & Classification DescriptionH8B3XX Accounting Technician IIIMinimum QualificationsExperience Only:Three years of experience in technical accounting which includes payroll processing and reconciliation for a company with 50+ employees.OREducation and Experience: A combination of related education in accounting, auditing or a closely related field (as determined by the agency) AND experience as described above equal to three years.Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for.Applicants must upload their unofficial college transcripts that include the student name, college name, courses completed and/or degree with date conferred with this application, in order to receive credit.Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution.Required Competencies Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind. Ability to work in a team environment and provide technical assistance Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders Excellent interpersonal skills Strong attention to detail Effective analytical and problem-solving skills Effective verbal and written communication skills Ability to prioritize and organize work to accommodate and meet the changing needs of the Department and meet deadlines Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the Google Suite Ability to work independently Excellent mathematical skills Preferred Qualifications State of Colorado experience (as a permanent employee) using the Central Personnel Payroll System (CPPS), processing payroll for a state agency or UKG time and leave administration Experience reconciling payroll State of Colorado government experience in technical accounting Knowledge and experience with government accounting, cash management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and/or federal grant accounting Background in payroll and benefits processing or knowledge of payroll and benefits concepts Conditions of Employment You MUST be a Colorado resident (at the time of application) to apply for this position. Pre-employment criminal and financial background checks will be conducted as part of the selection process. Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. DOLA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. DOLA does not sponsor non-residents of the United States. Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Failure to submit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement will result in your application beingrejected.Applicants may submit a resume, cover letter/letter of interest detailing how their experience and background address the stated minimum and preferred qualifications/competencies of the job and attach to the online application. Applications left blank or marked “See Resume” will not be accepted. Please address every requirement for the position with your experience in your application.The application may include the following documents that MUST be uploaded at the time of application: A resume (this is not a substitute for the online application demonstrating work history) Cover letter / letter of interest Transcripts (if using education to meet the minimum qualifications) DD214 (member-4 form) from applicants that may be eligible for veteran’s preference Comparative AnalysisCurrent and former employees (transfers, voluntary demotions, and reinstatements) are required to participate in the comparative analysis process through this job posting.Applications will be reviewed to determine if you meet the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) for the position. Applicants that meet MQ’s will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, training and experience review, eSkills Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants. Be sure your application specifically addresses the requirements as listed in the minimum qualifications. Address your specialized experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position duties, required competencies and preferred qualifications in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.Supplemental InformationThe State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.DOLA is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Melissa Bellew, DOLA ADA Coordinator at melissa.bellew@state.co.us.Email Address: All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be conducted via email. Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time sensitive correspondence such as exam information or notification will take place via email. Please set up your e-mail to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.Biweekly Pay: As of July 1, 2023, all DOLA new hires, including transfers of current state employees and reinstatements of former state employees, will be placed on the biweekly pay schedule. This means you will be paid every other Friday for a total of 26 pay periods over the course of a year. Biweekly pay is also lag pay, meaning you will be paid two weeks after the end of each pay period. Please click here for more information about the move to biweekly payroll.Technical Assistance: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) please contact NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.Appeal Rights: An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director. As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgment of the Department’s action. For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules.For questions related to this job posting, please reach out to Danielle Milone via email at danielle.milone@state.co.us.