Senior Payroll Specialist (CPOS)

SALARY DETAILS

APPLICATION FILING DATES

February 3, 2025 - February 26, 2025

INFORMATION ABOUT LAUSD

We are LAUSD. We are at the forefront of innovation in public education, focused on a clear and inspiring vision of the future for all of our students as they venture forward on their journey as lifelong learners. Here, you will have the opportunity to exercise your potential in a role supporting the business of education. Our work directly contributes toward the goal of ensuring that our students graduate ready for the world – ready to thrive in college, career and life. LAUSD is the second largest school district in the nation with an enrollment of nearly 575,000 students. We serve an area totaling 710 square miles, with over 1,190 schools and educational centers, and we employ over 74,000 individuals, making us one of the largest employers in our city.

LAUSD Employees: Please be advised that all LAUSD employees must sign in to the GlobalProtect Virtual Private Network (VPN) in order to submit an application from an external network outside of an LAUSD location. For assistance with installing the GlobalProtect virtual network, please contact Information Technology Services at (213) 443-1300 or (213) 241-5200.

DEPARTMENT OR SCHOOL SITE

The Accounting and Disbursements Division is comprised of a team of talented and highly committed professionals who are dedicated to providing excellent customer service and fulfilling Los Angeles Unified School District’s fiduciary responsibility to ensure that public funds are properly disbursed, accounted for, and reported in order to meet the instructional and operational needs of all students and the District. The Payroll department mission, as part of the Accounting and Disbursements Division, is to support the educational community by providing quality customer service to ensure reliable, accurate and timely compensation. The Payroll department oversees payment of compensation for over 66,000+ employees.

BENEFITS

Insurance: Paid premiums for your choice of several medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.

Retirement: Membership in the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS).

Vacation: Full-time employees earn up to two weeks of paid vacation to start. Three weeks after five years of year-round paid service.

Paid Holidays: Up to 13 days. 

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Payroll Specialist plans, coordinates, and supervises the analysis, development, and implementation of new and revised policies and procedures, of payroll to improve the efficiency of the services including but not limited to financial, retirement, legal, payroll related expenditures, and postings into the general ledger of the District.

Typical duties include:

• Overseeing and evaluates the work of payroll services personnel developing and maintaining payroll processing data records in SAP to insure proper documentation and compliance with laws, rules, and regulations. 
• Reviewing existing, documents, and develops new practices, transactions, procedures, and reports related to the responsibilities of the division as they relate to payroll and accounting functions. 
• Coordinating with Business Tools for Schools (BTS), Benefits, Human Resources, Personnel Commission, Human Resources, General Accounting, and other departments on procedural forms and controls impacting payroll processes, for the purpose of developing more efficient systems. 
• Collaborating with BTS teams on the development of system requirements, process designs, detailed business activities, and data mapping and modeling to support the maintenance of SAP Payroll accounting and financial processes. 
• Monitoring and analyzing operational processes and workflow to identify specific opportunities for improvement, and evaluates user feedback to modify and remediate defects in workforce models and forecasts, in collaboration with key stakeholders. 
• Assisting BTS teams by identifying problems in payroll and accounting systems and making recommendations and implements long range developmental plans, and procedures for problem prevention or solution. 
• Analyzing, evaluating, and making recommendations regarding cost and benefit factors in taxation, banking, and deduction areas of payroll operation to improve operating effectiveness through process improvements. 
• Analyzing union contracts, Personnel Commission and Board of Education rules and reports, and Education Code changes to determine effect on payroll processing and to recommend changes in payroll procedures, forms, and records as necessary. 
• Gathering and analyzing data related to payroll grievances; consults with employees and their representatives and Staff Relations personnel to resolve grievances and complaints; determining the Branch’s position in regard to individual cases; and represents the Branch in grievance hearings. 
• Oversees payroll accounting duties such as tax reporting and reconciliation, posting and reconciling payroll disbursements, monitoring automatic payroll depositions, and warrant reconciliation functions and coordinates the resolution of related errors. 
• Composing bulletins, memoranda, procedural manuals, and reports for Branch and District-wide distribution. 
• Providing technical support, direction, and training to section and unit supervisors in implementing changes. 
• Developing and presenting programs to provide training and to administrators, time reporters, and other personnel regarding payroll procedures and problem resolution. 

Please Note: This is not an exhaustive list of the responsibilities of this position. For a comprehensive list of duties performed, please refer to the class description: Senior Payroll Specialist - Class Description

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

PROMOTIONAL STATUS IS REQUIRED
You must be a current or retired employee of LAUSD with 130 paid days in regular status in the Classified Service or permanent status in the Certificated Service or have been laid-off within the past 39 months from a regular, permanent LAUSD position in which you passed probation. Laid-off employees' eligibility as a promotional candidate expires at the end of their 39 month period; as such, laid-off employees applying for promotional career opportunities man not be eligible to complete the assessment process or may be removed from the employment eligibility list once their eligibility as a promotional candidate expires.

EDUCATION:
Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor’s degree, preferably in business administration, accounting public administration, information systems, or a related field. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for two years of the required education on a year-for-year basis provided that the requirement of a high school diploma or equivalent is met.

EXPERIENCE: 
Four years of experience as a professional or lead providing work direction utilizing the SAP Human Capital Management system in payroll processing with responsibilities in such areas as payments, deductions, personnel assignments, accounting, customer service, grievance processing, application of payroll regulations, employee service error resolution computer programming, time and attendance, or systems analysis in a school district with an average daily attendance of at least 10,000 or a large public or private sector company of 25,000 employees or more. 

NOTE:  All entrance requirements must be met by the end of the filing period in order to move forward with the assessment process. To verify the education requirement, transcripts, diplomas and/ or certifications must be presented at the time applications are screened. As such, you MUST upload your diploma/degree (i.e. scan or take a picture of your diploma/degree) or official transcripts to your candidate profile under “My Uploaded Documents.” Candidates who have completed college or university coursework at an institution in a country other than the United States, must obtain a complete evaluation of foreign transcripts and degrees. Please be sure to request a DETAILED report. For a list of approved evaluation organizations visit: https://www.lausd.org/Page/7876

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidates will have a working knowledge of:

•    Functionality and processes of SAP Human Capital Management System 
•    Policies, rules, and regulations related to the States Teachers’ Retirement System, Public Employees; Retirement System, and Public Agency Retirement System 
•    Principles, practices, systems, and procedures involved in payroll including deduction control, records maintenance and documentation, and payroll accounting 
•    Federal, state, local, and District laws, policies, rules, and regulations related to payroll and accounting processes Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Franchise Tax Board (FTB) circulars as they pertain to salary taxation 
•    Research, statistical, and forecasting methods used in payroll analysis and management 
•    Grievance procedures 
•    Principles of work simplification and forms design 
•    Principles of supervision, leadership, and training methods 
•    Best customer service practices and the measurement (metrics) of those practices 
•    Fundamentals of systems analysis for data processing 
 

An ideal candidate in this position will have the ability to:

•    Plan, schedule, and coordinate the operation of complex payroll and retirement systems 
•    Effectively manage the work of and provide leadership to multiple units of professional, technical, and clerical personnel 
•    Analyze and interpret data by drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data 
•    Focus on attention to detail of work content, work steps, and final work products 
•    Leverage technology for improvements in organizational efficiency and effectiveness 
•    Develop and interpret rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and practices related to Payroll Accounting 
•    Anticipate complex payroll and accounting system problems and apply research and analytical techniques for resolution 
•    Work effectively and cooperatively with all levels of District personnel, representatives of government agencies, and various private organizations 
•    Effectively utilize computer equipment and software in the performance of duties 
•    Train and supervise employees in systems and procedures implementation 
•    Prepare clear and concise instructions, manuals, and reports 
•    Remain calm and pleasant under pressure and in stressful situations 
•    Work in a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines 
•    Listen, and communicate effectively with customers 
•    Develop effective written and oral presentations 
•    Utilize Microsoft operating systems: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

EMPLOYMENT SELECTION PROCESS

We anticipate receiving a number of well qualified applicants for this position; therefore, there will be a competitive process. The hiring departments have requested that we proceed with the selection process in an expeditious and timely manner. To honor this request, we will be adhering to a preplanned employment assessment schedule.

The selection process MAY consist of one or more of the following: a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), a Written Test, Technical Project, Writing Project, and/or a Technical interview.

Application materials (your candidate profile, resume and supplemental questionnaire) will be evaluated in relation to the background, experience, and competencies identified for successful performance in this job. For this reason, it is highly recommended that your application materials clearly show all of your relevant background and specialized skills, knowledge, and abilities. For more information about the LAUSD employment assessment process, visit the ‘My LAUSD Career’ section of our website at https://careers.lausd.org/pc.

The testing may be conducted remotely and/or in person, and all applicants will be required to submit a Candidate Confidentiality From prior to testing. Failure to submit these forms before the given deadline will result in the withdrawal of your application from the selection process. Candidates who receive a failing score on any test module will NOT be eligible to move forward in the selection process.

APPLICATION PROCESS

IMPORTANT NOTE: Once you submit your application, you should receive an email message confirming that you successfully submitted your application. If you DO NOT receive this message on the same day you apply, it is likely that you did not submit your application.

DO YOU NEED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE ON-LINE APPLICATION?

Email us at helpmeapply@lausd.net To find out whether the application deadline has been extended, visit the website at: https://careers.lausd.org/pc. The Los Angeles Unified School District intends that all qualified persons shall have equal opportunities for employment and promotion. Reasonable accommodations in completing an application and testing are available to individuals with disabilities. Please call (213) 241-3455 for more information. Reasonable accommodations in completing an application and testing are available to individuals with disabilities. Please call (213) 241-3455 for more information.

Please be sure to include correspondence from @lausd.net AND @successfactors.com as approved senders so that messages aren't accidentally placed into your spam/junk e-mail folder.

If you have questions regarding these instructions or the selection process in general, please contact Monica Topete at monica.topete1@lausd.net.

ADDITIONAL POSTING INFORMATION

The Los Angeles Unified School District is committed to providing a working and learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, abusive conduct, or bullying. The District prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, abusive conduct or bullying based on actual or perceived race or ethnicity, gender/sex (including gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding/lactation status and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, religion, color, national origin (including language use restrictions and possession of a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code), ancestry, immigration status, physical or mental disability (including clinical depression and bipolar disorder, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, epilepsy, seizure disorder, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and heart disease), medical condition (cancer related and genetic characteristics), military and veteran status, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age (40 and above), genetic information, political belief or affiliation (unless union related), a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation in any program or activity it conducts or to which it provides significant assistance. For inquiries or complaints contact our Equal Opportunity Section, (213) 241-7685.

Selection and promotion are based on a competitive employment assessment process. Candidates who pass all parts of the assessment process are placed on a hiring (eligibility) list based on their assessment score. Hiring departments may make job offers to candidates on the top three ranks of the hiring list. Eligibility typically lasts for 12 months. The hiring list resulting from this assessment process may be used to fill open positions in related job classifications.

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