Accountant (Payroll)

Salary : $78,077.26 - $99,648.58 Annually
Location : Medford, OR
Job Type: Full-Time (with benefits)
Job Number: 2025-20133-01
Department: Finance
Opening Date: 04/21/2025
Closing Date: 5/4/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: Non-Represented & Management

Summary
Discover Medford: Employment, Applicant Support, and Benefits within Our Vibrant City
Are you a detail-driven accounting professional who thrives in a collaborative environment? The City of Medford is seeking an Accountant (Payroll) to bring their precision, problem-solving, and payroll expertise to our dynamic Finance team.

In this key role, you'll perform a variety of professional-level accounting functions with a primary focus on payroll. From preparing detailed reports and reconciling complex transactions to supporting audits and labor cost analyses, your work will play a vital role in keeping City operations running efficiently.

This is a fast-paced, high-responsibility position that offers a big-picture perspective on how payroll impacts the City's overall financial health. If you're ready to apply your skills in a meaningful way-we'd love to hear from you!
Required Education and Experience:

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent; and
• Three (3) years of experience in accounting.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, or other specific area of study as deemed applicable may substitute for one (1) year of experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience interpreting collective bargaining agreements.
• Experience with processing payroll and quarterly tax reporting.

Available Schedules:

• 8 hours daily, Monday - Friday
• Opportunity for alternate schedule after the first 90-days:
  • 9-80 (nine-hour workdays with a three-day weekend every other week)
  • Tuesday - Friday, 10-hour shifts

Compensation & Information on Benefits
This position is part of the Non-Represented employee group.

Learn more about our benefits HERE.
**Scheduled salary increases and a potential 2.5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) are anticipated effective July 1, 2025**

The anticipated hiring range for the Accountant (Payroll) position is $37.54(first step) to $39.41or $41.38(second or third step).The City of Medford determines starting pay based on an evaluation of relevant education, experience, andqualifications as provided by the applicant in their application materials, alongside others who perform work of comparable character consistent with the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Six steps are included in this salary range, allowing opportunity for annual movement through the steps.

Healthcare Benefits:

• Medical, vision and dental benefits for employee and family, paid at 100% by the City with the opportunity to buy-up to a lower deductible plan
• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance - policy value of $50,000 paid by the City
• Long-term disability insurance provided by the City
• Health Reimbursement Account (HRA-VEBA) contributions provided by the City

Retirement Benefits:

• Oregon Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) lifetime pension after retirement at no cost to employee
• PERS is 100% fully paid as the City pays both the employer and the employee's (6%) contributions
• Deferred Compensation retirement plan (Section 457 Plan) for employee's retirement planning

Additional Benefits:

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• The City's Wellness Program promotes physical, social, emotional, intellectual, financial and environmental wellness with various goals and challenges to participate in throughout the year. Employees may qualify for wellness incentives by completing milestones set within the program up to $200 annually
• Access to the City's fully equipped fitness center 24/7

Examples of Job Duties

Essential Functions of the Position:

• Prepares, updates, analyzes and reviews a wide variety of complex financial transactions, statements, records and reports.
• Performs year-end reconciliations and adjustments, such as, compensated absences, Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards, and various accruals.
• Prepares reporting for workers' compensation to be used in year-end reporting and audit.
• Prepares position costing spreadsheets for labor negotiations, budget process, and as needed based on department requests.
• Performs grant reporting and allocating labor costs to projects.
• Acts as a liaison with other departments for complex payroll questions.
• Performs the fixed asset accounting process. Maintains the fixed asset inventory control records for the City.
• Participates in the coordination of the annual fiscal audit; serves as a liaison with auditors for payroll questions.
• Conducts research and provides accounting information to other City departments and external organizations and agencies.
• Participates in the biennial budgeting process.
• Maintains communication with City officials, department heads and outside agencies and organizations regarding financial and economic matters.
• Works with the payroll coordinators as needed to process payroll, prepare manual checks, and reconcile payroll accounts payable.
• Scope of the assigned area will depend on departmental and/or citywide operational structure and is at the discretion of the Chief Financial Officer.

Other Functions of the Position:

• Performs other duties as assigned to support the overall function of the department and organizational goals.
• Demonstrates regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
• Upholds the values of the organization and has strong customer service orientation.
• Handles job stress and interacts effectively with others in the workplace.
• Fosters an environment that embraces diversity, integrity, trust, and respect.
• Is an integral team player, which involves flexibility, cooperation, and communication.

Competencies:

Creativity - Effective performers generate original ideas, encourage new ways of thinking, explore options, and develop innovative solutions. They challenge pre-existing conceptions and offer alternatives. They find new ways to look at old problems. They encourage others to challenge old assumptions and try innovative improvements.
High Standards - Effective performers establish and model standards that guarantee exceptional quality and necessary attention to detail. They continually seek to improve processes and products and hold staff accountable for quality. They find best practices, share them, and then improve upon them.
Organizing & Planning - Effective performers have strong organizing and planning skills that allow them to be highly productive and efficient. They manage their time wisely and effectively prioritize multiple competing tasks. They plan, organize, and actively manage meetings for maximum productivity.
Problem Solving & Decision Making - Effective performers can identify problems, solve them, act decisively, and show good judgment. They isolate causes from symptoms, and compile information and alternatives to illuminate problems or issues. They involve others as appropriate and gather information from a variety of sources. They find a balance between studying the problem and solving it. They readily commit to action and make decisions that reflect sound judgment.
Written Communication - Effective performers write clearly and concisely, composing informative and convincing memos, e-mails, letters, reports, and other documents. Regardless of the format, they can use the written language to convey both substance and intent with accuracy.

Work Environment & Physical Demands: This position will primarily work indoors in a professional office setting characterized by regulated and minimal environmental variations. The majority of work is conducted while seated, utilizing computer equipment. The work area may include an ergonomic desk that allows an employee to also stand at the workstation. The noise level in the work area is typically moderate to medium. Typical office lighting conditions, which may include fluorescent lighting and potential glare from computer monitors. This position may also include interactions with members of the public.

The physical requirements outlined are essential for successful job performance. This role involves both sedentary work requiring extended periods of sitting while using computer equipment, and periods of standing and walking for tasks such as accessing files and utilizing office equipment. The position may involve the option to work in a standing or sitting posture, utilizing an available ergonomic desk. The employee must be able to crouch, bend, stoop, twist, turn, and maintain balance. Sufficient manual dexterity for operating computers, printers, copiers, calculators, and telephones is required, along with good vision and hearing for accurate task completion and communication. May occasionally lift and/or carry up to 15 pounds. Ability to reach with hands and arms. Excellent fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination for tasks such as keyboarding and using a mouse. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively verbally.
Supplemental Information
IMPORTANT (Please read):

• It is important your application shows all the relevant experience you possess.
• Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
• Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an online application; an application will be considered incomplete with a "see resume" response.
• Please complete the application and answer the supplemental questions thoroughly to ensure our subject matter experts can appropriately evaluate your experience as we compare applicants.

How to Apply:

Applications are only accepted online and must be received by the posted closing date/time.

Selection procedures and timelines subject to change.

Those selected must be able to provide proof of legal right to work in this country.

Use of AI-Generated Content in Employment Applications
Employment with the City of Medford can be competitive, often there are many qualified applicants for each open position. We want to see application materials that reflect an applicant's unique personality and that accurately reflect their experience. The use of AI-generated content to complete employment applications and/or supplemental questions is discouraged and may result in disqualification. Each submission will be verified for originality and authenticity. However, AI tools for grammar checking and resume formatting are permitted.

Hiring will be subject to successful completion of the following:

• Criminal history background investigation
• Clear drug screen following federal law
• Professional reference check

Questions or Assistance:

• If you have questions about the job posting, please contact the Human Resources department at (541) 774-2014.
• For technical assistance completing your online application, please contact Government Jobs at (855) 524-5627.

VETERAN'S PREFERENCE:

Qualifying veterans and disabled veterans may obtain preference during the hiring and/or promotional selection process. As verification of eligibility, a Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215) must be uploaded with the online employment application. Disabled veterans must also upload a copy of the veteran's disability preference letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs unless the information is included in the DD Form 214 or 215.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT:

The City of Medford is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, ancestry, status as a protected veteran, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.
ADA:

The City of Medford complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you consider yourself disabled and require assistance in the application process, please contact (541) 774-2074 or email: ada@cityofmedford.org.
The City of Medford offers an excellent total comprehensive benefit package to all full-time employees.

This position is part of the non-represented employee group. Please visit our webpage for more details.