Payroll Administrators
Apply NowCompany: King County, WA
Location: Seattle, WA 98115
Description:
Salary: $36.60 - $46.39 Hourly
Location : Chinook Building 401 5th Avenue Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Job Number: 2025JM4249
Department: DHR - Dept. of Human Resources
Division: Central Employee Svcs Div
Opening Date: 03/20/2025
Closing Date: 4/3/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: F3A : L117-P&T
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week
Summary
The Central Employee Services Division (CESD) within King County's Department of Human Resources (DHR) seeks experienced Payroll Administrators to become part of the team that provides critical support to King County departments and agencies to pay our County employees.
These positions sit within the Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations Section (BPROS) in CESD. BPROS isresponsible for producing pay for more than 17,000 employees with an annual payroll totaling $2 billion dollars. This recruitment will be used to fill two Career Service positions.
The Payroll Administrators will support and provide payroll direction for assigned county departments and/or agencies. The ideal candidates will be exceptionally organized and highly team oriented, with a passion for customer service. This is an exciting opportunity to work with the BPROS team and make a difference in serving our employees.
As one team, the CESD supports a thriving King County employment experience and provides integrated compensation, benefits, work/life well-being, safety, and retirement planning services. Ensuring the health and safety of employees is the number one priority.
Job Duties
Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices in all aspects of the work. As a Payroll Administrator, you will:
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Minimum Qualifications
Other Qualifications
Desired Qualifications
Other Position Information
This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and not overtime eligible. Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule, every other Thursday, comprising a 40-hour workweek, normally 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This position is represented by Local 117: International Brotherhood of Teamsters - Professional & Technical and Administrative Employees.
Teleworking Requirement
The Department of Human Resources has a hybrid workforce with employees working both onsite and from home. The successful candidates will be expected to train onsite for the first week and then work a hybrid schedule with at least one day a week onsite. Frequency of onsite work may change, based on business and operational needs.
Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
For more information, contact:
Jen Montoya, Senior HR Analyst at
Supplemental Information
Who May ApplyThis recruitment is open to King County employees and the public and will be used to fill two Career Service positions.
Forms and Materials Required
An online employment application completed at The employment history should go back at least seven years or more to include all relevant experience, and responses to supplemental questions. A cover letter no more than two pages summarizing how you meet the required experience, qualifications, knowledge, and job skills. In addition, share why you are interested in this position. This is a required application material. If a cover letter is not received, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be considered.
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed as received, and they will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. All materials will be evaluated for spelling, grammar, and punctuation usage. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in a series of interviews.
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
01
Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
02
If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided:1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff
03
Please choose the response below that best describes your experience processing payroll.
04
Do you have payroll processing experience in a highly unionized environment?
05
If you answered yes to the question above, please list the employer where you had payroll processing experience in a highly unionized environment. If you answered no, type in N/A.
06
Please list all the HR/Payroll systems you have experience with. If you do not have experience, type in N/A.
07
Do you have experience with PeopleSoft Time and Labor and PeopleSoft Payroll?
08
Which of the following choices most closely describes your skill level with PeopleSoft Time and Labor and PeopleSoft Payroll?
09
Which of the following choices most closely describes your skill level with Microsoft Excel?
10
In addition to the online employment application, a cover letter is a required application material. If a cover letter is not received, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be considered. Have you attached your cover letter (no longer than two pages) summarizing how you meet the required experience, qualifications, knowledge, and job skills listed in the job posting and why you are interested in the Payroll Administrator position?
Required Question
Location : Chinook Building 401 5th Avenue Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Job Number: 2025JM4249
Department: DHR - Dept. of Human Resources
Division: Central Employee Svcs Div
Opening Date: 03/20/2025
Closing Date: 4/3/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: F3A : L117-P&T
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week
Summary
The Central Employee Services Division (CESD) within King County's Department of Human Resources (DHR) seeks experienced Payroll Administrators to become part of the team that provides critical support to King County departments and agencies to pay our County employees.
These positions sit within the Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations Section (BPROS) in CESD. BPROS isresponsible for producing pay for more than 17,000 employees with an annual payroll totaling $2 billion dollars. This recruitment will be used to fill two Career Service positions.
The Payroll Administrators will support and provide payroll direction for assigned county departments and/or agencies. The ideal candidates will be exceptionally organized and highly team oriented, with a passion for customer service. This is an exciting opportunity to work with the BPROS team and make a difference in serving our employees.
As one team, the CESD supports a thriving King County employment experience and provides integrated compensation, benefits, work/life well-being, safety, and retirement planning services. Ensuring the health and safety of employees is the number one priority.
Job Duties
Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices in all aspects of the work. As a Payroll Administrator, you will:
- Represent Central Payroll Operations to department and agency staff; build relationships of trust, respect, and partnership to process accurate and timely payroll for County employees.
- Support and train department/agency timekeepers and payroll processing staff for bi-weekly payroll for their employees.
- Administer employee garnishments, tax levies, and other involuntary payroll deductions to ensure compliance.
- Coordinate and monitor timely entry of payroll data by departments and agencies within strict guidelines and deadlines to ensure timely payroll production.
- Review and validate payroll data submitted by County departments and agencies for correct format and reasonability, including resolving errors or discrepancies for system processing.
- Research and respond to payroll related inquiries from employees, supervisors, and human resources. Serve as a resource for payroll issues.
- Identify and recommend process improvements and remove obstacles to produce accurate and timely payroll for employees.
- Other duties as assigned.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Minimum Qualifications
- Three years payroll processing experience in a highly unionized environment; or
- Any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge, and ability required to perform the work.
Other Qualifications
- Working knowledge of payroll processing procedures, payroll tax principles, wage and hour laws, state and county regulations, and ordinances related to payroll production.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to provide excellent customer service with discretion, patience, and professionalism.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive and difficult situations.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Experience using PeopleSoft Payroll and PeopleSoft Time and Labor modules or comparable HR/Payroll systems.
- Intermediate level proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite: Outlook, Word, and Excel.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate with diverse individuals at all levels, both internally and externally.
- Ability to work with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including sensitivity to and knowledge of various ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic groups.
- Ability to manage multiple and shifting priorities, meet deadlines, and do so in collaboration with other team members.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience in a large central payroll operations setting of 3,000+ employees.
- Certified Payroll Professional with the American Payroll Association.
- Associate or Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Mathematics, or Information Technology.
Other Position Information
This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and not overtime eligible. Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule, every other Thursday, comprising a 40-hour workweek, normally 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This position is represented by Local 117: International Brotherhood of Teamsters - Professional & Technical and Administrative Employees.
Teleworking Requirement
The Department of Human Resources has a hybrid workforce with employees working both onsite and from home. The successful candidates will be expected to train onsite for the first week and then work a hybrid schedule with at least one day a week onsite. Frequency of onsite work may change, based on business and operational needs.
Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
For more information, contact:
Jen Montoya, Senior HR Analyst at
Supplemental Information
Who May ApplyThis recruitment is open to King County employees and the public and will be used to fill two Career Service positions.
Forms and Materials Required
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed as received, and they will be screened for clarity, completeness, and competitiveness. All materials will be evaluated for spelling, grammar, and punctuation usage. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in a series of interviews.
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite activity centers
- Employee Giving Program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
01
Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?
- Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
- No.
02
If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided:1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff
03
Please choose the response below that best describes your experience processing payroll.
- I do not have experience.
- I have less than one year of experience.
- I have at least one year of experience but less than two years.
- I have at least two years of experience but less than three years.
- I have at least three years of experience but less than four years.
- I have at least four years of experience but less than five years.
- I have five or more years of experience.
04
Do you have payroll processing experience in a highly unionized environment?
- Yes
- No
05
If you answered yes to the question above, please list the employer where you had payroll processing experience in a highly unionized environment. If you answered no, type in N/A.
06
Please list all the HR/Payroll systems you have experience with. If you do not have experience, type in N/A.
07
Do you have experience with PeopleSoft Time and Labor and PeopleSoft Payroll?
- Yes
- No
08
Which of the following choices most closely describes your skill level with PeopleSoft Time and Labor and PeopleSoft Payroll?
- None, but I am willing to learn.
- Very Limited. I have completed training but have not used it much.
- Experience with PeopleSoft Time and Labor and/or PeopleSoft Payroll for at least one year.
- Experience with PeopleSoft Time and Labor and/or PeopleSoft Payroll for at least two years.
- Experience with PeopleSoft Time and Labor and/or PeopleSoft Payroll for at least three years.
- Advanced. Experience with PeopleSoft Time and/or Labor and PeopleSoft Payroll for more than four years.
09
Which of the following choices most closely describes your skill level with Microsoft Excel?
- None, but I am willing to learn.
- Very limited. I have completed training but have not used it much.
- Beginner. I can create, open, and save spreadsheets; cut, paste, and delete cells; enter numbers; change font size, margins, and paper size; print and use the print preview.
- Intermediate. In addition to the beginner-level skills, I am able to use the insert and auto-sum function; replace text; change the format of numbers to currency, percentage, etc.; set print areas; protect cells; display charts; audit and validate data; create formulas; set up filters; link data; use statistical functions.
- Advanced. In addition to the beginner and intermediate-level skills, I can create macros, perform horizontal lookups, create functions and formulas, use pivot tables, use solver, use goal seek.
10
In addition to the online employment application, a cover letter is a required application material. If a cover letter is not received, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be considered. Have you attached your cover letter (no longer than two pages) summarizing how you meet the required experience, qualifications, knowledge, and job skills listed in the job posting and why you are interested in the Payroll Administrator position?
- Yes
- No
Required Question