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Payroll Accountant

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Payroll Accountant

Salary

$64,908.00 - $103,848.00 Annually

Location

Lakewood, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

RAA EDO ACCT2 10823 (7/25)

Department

Department of Public Safety

Division

Executive Director's Office

Opening Date

07/31/2025

Closing Date

8/14/2025 5:00 PM Mountain

FLSA

Determined by Position

Primary Physical Work Address

700 Kipling St., Lakewood, CO 80215

Hiring Pay Rate

up to $6,458.19/month

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

Laura Apodaca, 720-241-4657, [email protected]

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to classified permanent employees of the State of Colorado and individuals currently on reemployment lists.

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Department Information

This position is open only to current Colorado state residents.

A n eligible list established with this recruitment may be used to fill other similar positions within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months.

Our Mission -Engaged employees working together to safeguard lives and to provide diverse public safety services to local communities

Our Vision - Creating safer and more resilient communities across Colorado

Our Core Values – Unity, Honor, Service

The 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.

At CDPS we nurture a centric culture driven by our commitment of creating a safer Colorado, an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their own authentic self. We model a culture of collaboration, support and growth to our employees. Our culture has public service focus, and we strive to provide innovative solutions and services to our fellow Coloradans!

Careers with a purpose

If you are passionate about public safety service, and are eager to dedicate your career to serving Coloradans, this is the organization you want to join!

We are committed to providing public safety services to our fellow Coloradans in their times of greater needs such as: safety on our roads, preparing and mitigating environmental disasters, disaster recovery, combating crime, school safety, and victim recovery.

You’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career while making a difference in our community!

When you join CDPS, you are joining a team of exceptional individuals and together you will be inspired, motivated and supported to become the best you can be.

Unmatched Benefits:

We highly value work life balance and offer excellent work-life programs, training and enriching professional development opportunities and a wide range of benefits.

+ Medical and dental options are available for permanent employees and their dependents. We also offer short and long-term disability coverage, and life insurance that includes legal resources and discounts.

+ State contribution into Health Savings Account when enrolled in HDHP.

+ Job protected medical leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/time-off-leave/family-medical-leave-act-fmla) and the State of Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI) (https://famli.colorado.gov/) .

+ Paid medical leave benefits provided by the State of Colorado.

+ Eligibility for hybrid or other flexible work arrangements based on the nature of the role.

+ We offer unmatched retirement benefits including mandatory PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans. For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), visit Colorado PERA (https://www.copera.org/member-contribution-rates) for details.

+ CDPS provides generous time off including 11 paid holidays annually and accrued annual and sick leave (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/time-off-leave) and annual wellness days.

+ The Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP) is available in every region of the state. It is our effort to support the well-being of employees and the workplace. EAPs provide short-term counseling, referrals and resources, as well as training and organizational development services.

+ Additional benefits offered include tuition reimbursement and reduced college tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.

+ Credit Union of Colorado (https://www.cuofco.org/credit-union-colorado-membership-eligibility) membership eligibility.

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit State of Colorado benefits (https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits) .

Description of Job

About the Work Unit

The work unit exists to provide budget, accounting, procurement and financial reporting services to the Colorado Department of Public Safety (CDPS). Included in these services are employee payroll processing, vendor payments, revenue accounting and collections, expenditure and budget monitoring, capital asset accounting and inventory, contract administration, accounts receivable monitoring and ongoing financial reporting and analysis.

Work Environment

Hybrid (two days in the office minimum)

Work unit core business hours Mon-Fri, 8 am-5 pm. (Flexible schedule available with supervisor approval)

About the Job

This position participates in all aspects of the daily operations of the payroll office. This position prepares complex payroll calculations for the Monthly and Biweekly pay cycles. The Bi-weekly pay cycle is managed by this position and deadlines must be met and data should be accurate and reconciled. Trains/handles more complex payroll issues, reconciles benefits and payroll and makes recommendations on improvement and implementation of new processes. This position is responsible for additional payroll tasks to include processing and reconciling membership dues and clearing Balance Sheet Accounts for Payroll.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll and Benefits Processing and Reconciliation

+ Maintains a highly organized process while adhering to precise payroll deadlines; ensure strict confidentiality

+ Develops and maintains requisite knowledge on all payroll regulations and processing procedures. Prepares, processes and reconciles biweekly and monthly payroll. Contacts division staff regarding any inconsistencies or missing information. Verify hourly rate for regular overtime and employee job class for all timesheets being processed. The accounting templates referenced on the timesheets are compared to the system table to ascertain code has been set-up, and create additional accounting templates as needed. Creates batches, and calculates batch totals for hours, hourly rate and employee counts to be used in verification. Accesses CPPS to enter each line on timesheets. Verifies that batch totals generated by the system agree with the computed batch total.

+ Collects real time data for our payroll office using Kronos and pulling detailed reports for analysis to ensure data being processed is accurate

+ Performs Benefits reconciliation. Ensures employee and employer benefits are accurately processed. Prepares and processes payroll adjustment worksheets for adjusted benefit premiums. Develops and implements a reconciliation process for ongoing Biweekly benefit premiums for new hires. Collaborates with the Benefits Administrator on process improvement initiatives.

+ While maintaining a high level of strict confidentiality, communicates with Human Resources regarding personnel issues and terminations

+ Following nightly processing, reviews batch reports for errors in data entry or system errors. Verifies that batches have no errors and were accepted by payroll system, or correct any errors preventing acceptance of batches. Works with co-worker and go through each batch line by line to review and ensure all payroll data has been entered correctly.

+ Performs several levels of payroll reconciliation throughout each pay cycle process. Review and check batches as they are entered prior to processing. Reconciles CPPS entries to timesheets and pay reports for each pay period within two days of processing to ensure deposits can be canceled if necessary. Reconciles CPPS-LDC-CORE GA reports to ensure data transitioned to the financials accurately.

+ Uses central payroll forms to process refunds, overpayments, PAWs, CHOPs, overtime/shift corrections, and LWOP as needed.

+ Maintains a positive and professional relationship with the Central Payroll division and the CDPS Human Resources department.

+ Applies accounting theories and concepts in accordance with GAAP and GASB in order to ensure compliance with accounting standards and Statewide accounting systems. Application of these theories and adherence to Fiscal rules and procedures is used for analyzing accounting data and to adapt principles to modify processes to meet financials goals and needs of the Divisions.

+ Identifies discrepancies between payroll reports and payroll reconciliation and determine if Revised October 2024 Colorado Department of Public Safety 3

payroll batch or reconciliation worksheet requires adjustment.

Financial Data Processing

+ Gathers PERA retiree information throughout the month. Liaise with employee prior to retirement to explain the final pay process.

+ Ensures the employee has submitted one of the required PERA letters and their 6 month salary report

+ Enters the PERA retirees on the 900 batch each month and make a copy for the batch and keep the other copy in the employee file.

+ When check is received, make a copy of the check for your batch. Mails the check to the retiree.

+ Once the payroll has run, enter the 6 month salary report in PERA STARS by the 15th of the following month.

+ If any additional pay is processed for tile retiree after the 900 batch is processed. Process a revised 6 month salary report into PERA STARS

+ Obtain W-4 and EFT information for new employees and enter data into Web Based CPPS prior to payroll run.

+ Prints, enters and tracks 401 K, W-4, EFT, HSA, and additional direct deposit. Once tracked, enter the employee data updates into the Web Based CPPS prior to payroll run.

+ Prints screen print from CPPS showing the correction and/or entry. Gives entered documents to 2nd party to double check the entered data.

+ Act as a 2nd party to double check co-workers entered data and confirm that it is entered into CPPS correctly.

Payroll Accounting CORE Document Entry

Processes all payroll CORE documents on a monthly basis. This is to include:

+ CDOT rent ITI

+ BSA 2251 998A ITI to move funds in specific balance sheets over to CDPS. The balance sheets will usually be 2278 (PPA Dues) and 2270 (CDOT Rent), and sometimes 2268 (Parking) etc.

+ PPA Dues GAX

+ Worker Compensation CR

+ ITI and CR Benefit Pre-pays

Processes all payroll CORE documents that occur on a less frequent bases, to include:

Quarterly Unemployment Insurance

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Note, to be considered for this position, you must meet one of the following options for consideration.

YOU MUST BE A CLASSIFIED PERMANENT EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION

Proven Experience, Knowledge, Skills

Six (6) years of professional experience of payroll or financial data processing.

OR Education and Experience, Knowledge, Skills

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in accounting or a degree which included 27 semester hours of accounting or auditing coursework plus two (2) years of payroll or financial data processing.

OR

A c urrent, valid licensure as a CPA by the Colorado Board of Accountancy.

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies

+ Must be well versed with State Fiscal Rules and Fiscal Procedures and State Controller's Office technical guides

+ Understands federal and state laws and applies those laws to payroll records.

+ Payroll accounting experience with the State of Colorado.

+ Must understand accounting theories and concepts in accordance with GAAP and GASB

+ Experience in CORE (Colorado Operations Resource Engine) or a similar financial system.

+ Basic experience in KRONOS or UKG or similar time management system.

+ Demonstrated experience with accounting functionality in a payroll system such as State's CPPS (Colorado Personnel and Payroll) or a similar system.

+ Accuracy and attention to detail.

+ Excellent customer service skills and sensitivity and discretion with respect to confidential matters.

+ Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks.

+ Ability to multi-task and maintain a tracked workflow in order to put aside projects that do not have a ready solution for items that require immediate attention.

+ Excellent interpersonal skills and intercultural competence.

+ Exceptional verbal, writing, and presentation skills.

+ Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite.

+ Analytic skills to enable accurate, complete, and timely processing of financial data.

+ Ability to pay high attention to detail and instructions and in performing repetitious tasks and duties.

Conditions of Employment

+ Requires successful completion of a background investigation that includes a polygraph exam, a fingerprint based criminal history search, reference checking.

+ Must be Colorado resident at the time of application

Appeal Rights

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for the position, you may protest the action by filing an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the date you receive notice of the elimination. Also, if you wish to challenge the selection and comparative analysis process, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director within 10 days from the receipt of notice or knowledge of the action you are challenging. Refer to Chapters 4 and 8 of the State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, 4 CCR 801, for more information about the appeals process. The State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures are available atwww.colorado.gov/spb. A standard appeal form is available at:www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.

Supplemental Information

Are you in need of an accommodation?

The 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.

Colorado Department of Public Safety 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 reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our Human Resources department at [email protected].

Recruitment Timeline Information and Important Notices

+ Applications are considered complete and accurate at the time of submission. Therefore, additional information may not be solicited or accepted after your application has been received.

+ Closing Date: All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications may proceed to the next step. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.

+ Supplemental Question: Effective responses to Supplemental Questions will directly relate to your professional experience, career accomplishments, and views about organizational values and approaches, and how they relate specifically to this position and requirements as you understand them. Answers generated by AI-tools will typically be unresponsive.

+ Transcripts: An unofficial copy of transcripts must be submitted at the time of application should education be used as qualification. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.

+ Military Veterans: If you are a military veteran you must submit a copy of your DD-214, Member 4 Copy, and VA disability letter if available/applicable at the time of application so we can determine if you are eligible for veteran's preference points. Military personnel who are stationed outside of Colorado may be eligible for this position by submitting the completed DD-2058 "State of Legal Residence" form.

+ Application Tips : For an overview of State of Colorado application process and application tips, please view this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUwZiY6G24U&feature=emb\_logo) .

+ Resumes, Cover Letters, or other documents submitted: will not be reviewed, assessed, or used in the initial stages of the comparative analysis (transcripts submitted to verify that the applicant meets either the education requirement or minimum qualification substitution are exempt from this).

+ Notifications All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be sent via email to the email address listed on your application. Include your current working email address on your application and check the email provided on your application frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position. We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from " state.co.us " and " [email protected] " addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.

+ Comparative Analysis Steps may include :

+ An online skills assessment, possibly the week of August 18th

+ Structured application review by a panel of SMEs possibly the week of August 25th

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

01

Please provide details of your professional payroll and/or benefits experience as it relates to this role.

02

Why does this role appeal to you and what professional experience and skills will you bring to this role?

03

Positions with the Colorado Department of Public Safety require a comprehensive background examination including a criminal history check and polygraph. Are you willing to participate in this process if you receive a conditional job offer?

+ Yes

+ No

04

I understand that employees of the Colorado Department of Public Safety contribute to the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) retirement benefit plan and do not contribute to Social Security.

+ Yes, I understand that

+ No

05

If you are a current or previous State of Colorado employee, please list your Employee Identification Number (EID), dates of employment, and classifications for all State of Colorado Departments or institutes of Higher Education for which you have worked. Your EID begins with 997 and is nine digits long. Please do not enter your Social Security Number. If you are not a current or previous State of Colorado employee, please state "N/A".

Required Question

Employer

State of Colorado

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Website

https://careers.colorado.gov/

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