Payroll Accountant II - Classified

About the Department

Colorado Department of Education – What We Do 
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) provides leadership, resources, support, and accountability to the state's 178 school districts, 1,888 schools, over 53,000 teachers, and over 3,200 administrators to help them build capacity to meet the needs of the state's approximately 905,000 public school students. In addition, CDE provides structural and administrative support to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and the Charter School Institute.

As the administrative arm of the State Board of Education, CDE is responsible for implementing state and federal education laws, disbursing state and federal funds, holding schools and districts accountable for performance, licensing all educators, and providing public transparency of performance and financial data.

CDE is a values-based agency that serves students, parents, and the general public by protecting public trust through ensuring adherence to laws, strong stewardship of public funds, and accountability for student performance.

CDE strives to incorporate five core values that we uphold in our work internally and externally.   If you come to CDE, be prepared to incorporate Integrity, Equity, Accountability, Trust, and commitment to Service in what you do.

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.

Why Work For CDE
The work we do is rewarding and impacts the students, families, educators, and communities across Colorado. Our leadership also promotes a culture that puts families and self-care as a priority. Along with meaningful work and an environment that puts employees first, the state also offers rich benefits that intend to make us an Employer of Choice!
The following is a summary of the benefits we offer:

• Flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options that may include flexible working hours, working from home, working in the office, and/or a hybrid working environment.
• Premier medical, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance options. All with a generous employer contribution keeping employee costs as low as possible.
• Employer paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Up to 160 hours of Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals
• Retirement through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) www.copera.org
• Employer paid RTD Eco Pass (certain restrictions may apply)
• Paid professional development opportunities

A wide salary range is posted for this position and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority as compared to others doing substantially similar work. While most salary offers are made within the posted range, occasionally an offer is made below or above the posted range based upon this salary analysis.

Position Duties

Work Environment:

This position is full-time and is eligible for a hybrid work environment.

• Extended hours during the evening or the weekend may be required by business needs
• Commuting to the CDE buildings is required. 
• A Remote (Home) office is required
• Required to report to the work location per business needs.
• Essential Functions (ADAAA)
  • SEDENTARY/Office environment: 
    • Required to sit, view a computer screen, and utilize a keyboard and mouse for extended periods of time
    • Required lifting, bending, stooping, pushing, walking, etc.
      
  • DL Not Required: Required to independently obtain and determine means to complete travel requirements. 

Position Summary:
The primary purpose of the position is to pay all employees at CDE accurately and timely. The position is responsible for payroll-related functions for employees paid on a monthly and biweekly pay cycle. The position is responsible for reviewing timecards in UKG to ensure they are complete, hours are correct, and have proper approvals.  As part of this process, this position assists employees with entering their time and with general and technical questions about UKG. The position is responsible for reconciling payroll accounts to ensure payroll is processed properly and to identify any errors prior to impacting employees.  As time allows, this position could assist in general accounts payable 1 and CORE transitions, including transactions between CDE and DPA for payroll-related items. Finally, this position will assist in the testing and implementation of the new CORE Payroll system. 
The final salary is anticipated to fall within the posted salary range; however, it could be higher or lower depending on the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other qualifications of the preferred candidate while considering internal equity.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Processing Payroll (60%)

• Compiles and calculates monthly and biweekly payroll for CDE employees.  Verifies and enters data into the state payroll system (CPPS) or CORE Payroll, including W-4 information and direct deposit changes.
• Originates and submits batches with any payroll changes in the payroll system. 
• Coordinates electronic deposits and issues payroll checks to new employees.  Works with internal and external parties, including PERA, Credit unions and banks, DPA’s Central Payroll, and the Human Resources unit.
• Maintains CDE employee payroll files so that employees are paid properly for each payroll period and so that the payroll is charged to the proper cost center.  
  • This task includes setting up or verifying initial payroll data and updating it as necessary due to employee-initiated changes, accounting changes, and any other necessary changes. Works with employees on all payroll issues.  Answers all payroll questions of employees in a timely manner through phone calls, instant messages, and monitors the payroll email inbox. 
• Runs other integrations and reports in UKG to verify the accuracy of data.
• This position may also provide or share responsibility to:  
  • Collect and report all ACA information to the Colorado Division of Human Resources. 
  • Consults with employees who are terminating or retiring from the state regarding final leave payouts. 
  • Complete, submit, and certify final salary data to PERA as requested. Train department personnel as needed on payroll issues.  FAMLI overpayment reconciliations & working with employees for repayment.
• Prepares UKG CLAS Export for Monthly payroll for prior month adjustments and/or Biweekly payroll (including checking for accuracy with employee actual paid through CPPS).

Reconcile Payroll Accounts (15%)

• Reconciles the monthly payroll and/or biweekly payroll distributions from CPPS (CORE Payroll when implemented) by comparing the prior gross and net amounts for each employee to the current month’s/biweekly and net amounts. Biweekly reconciliation also includes hours/hourly rate comparison. The differences must be analyzed to explain all differences.  
• Submits to the supervisor for review prior to the correction payroll input deadline.  
• Reviews the CPPS posting reports in OnBase to ensure the accuracy of the bi-weekly payroll processing prior to the scheduled pay date. 
• Based on the reconciliations, the position must initialize any necessary adjustments that are made to payroll and/or accounting records.   
• Reconciles CPPS and OnBase reports to CORE at the object code level for each payroll to ensure the payroll amounts posted to CORE are accurate.  

Facilitating the Labor Data Collection Time and Effort Expenditure Allocation Process (15%)

• Reviews UKG timecards and analyzes to determine completeness, accuracy, and validity.  
• Pulls, reviews, and uses UKG Integration reports (CLAS Export) to ensure payroll is posting correctly. Review CLAS Export for Monthly paid employees for prior month adjustments (including checking for accuracy with Employee)  

Accounts Payable Assistance (5%)

• Enter General Accounting Expenditure (GAX) documents into CORE as needed.  Ensure that all required documentation is scanned and attached to the CORE document before submitting it for approval.  Select the correct vendor record in CORE; if it is not available, obtain the necessary information from the vendor to add the record. 

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• Other duties as assigned may include cleaning, archiving, system testing, assisting other units with accounting tasks as needed, processing cash receipts, reports, reconciliation, participation on committees, creating and delivering presentations, participating in projects, research, and administrative tasks.
  

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM EDUCATION  AND EXPERIENCE  REQUIREMENTS: 

This position requires six (6) years of experience only, OR A combination of education and experience totaling six (6) years. 

Experience Only:

• Six (6) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work (accounting/payroll) assigned to this position.

OR

Education and Experience:

• A combination of related education (coursework requires 27 semester hours completed in accounting or auditing) and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned, equal to six (6) years
• Current, valid licensure as a CPA by the Colorado Board of Accountancy will count for six (6) years of the requirement

 
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS: 
Qualifications for Success in the Position: 

• Demonstrated ability to maintain employee confidentiality.
• Demonstrated experience in using a variety of payroll systems.
• Demonstrated experience in reading spreadsheets (i.e., Google Docs, Excel, etc.). 
• Demonstrated experience in using a variety of accounting software.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail (proofing work, spelling, grammar, formatting, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to effectively balance quality of work and productivity expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with internal and external customers (e.g. school districts, other CDE units).
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and organize work to accommodate and meet the changing needs of the department and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and exhibit a proactive approach to work.
• Demonstrated ability to identify problems and recommend solutions prior to the standard being jeopardized.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as on a team.
• Ability and willingness to commute to the CDE buildings. 

Preferred Qualifications (Preferred/Not Required):

• Experience in working with state payroll systems.
• Experience in utilizing different systems such as CPPS (Colorado's state payroll system), HRDW, UKG, OnBase, Benefits Solver, and the PERA employer website.
• Experience in utilizing Microsoft systems (such as Outlook email, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint). 

Conditions of Employment (Required):

• Must be willing and able to submit to the pre-screening process and pass a background check.
• Ability and willingness to independently commute to CDE buildings. 
• Work extended schedule per business needs.
• Report to work location per business needs.
• DL Not Required: Required to independently determine and obtain means to complete travel requirements.

Other Qualifications

Complete Applications must include:

• Completed Online Application: Required - Submitted through our ATS.
• Transcript: Required if using education to meet MQs - Attached to the online application and meeting requirements as described under "College Transcripts".

College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or a foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school and that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position. 

**Failure to submit a complete application as defined above by the announcement close will result in your application being removed from consideration.**

** Resumes and Cover Letters WILL NOT be reviewed for minimum qualification screening. 

FOR CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF COLORADO:
Per the requirements of the Step Pay Program implemented on July 1, 2024, any State employee must be paid a rate that is equal to or greater than the appropriate step pay rate within their classification’s pay range based on completed years in their current class series as of June 30. All current and former State employees must ensure that your entire work history within the State Classified System, including at Institutions of Higher Education, is indicated in your application so that your time-in-series can be calculated accurately. 
 
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 "[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.

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 at www.colorado.gov/spb.
 
A standard appeal form is available at: https://spb.colorado.gov/ . 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.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Equal Employment Opportunity
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, a medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
 
The Colorado Department of Education 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 performing 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 [email protected].

Benefits

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.
 

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerState of ColoradoAddress See the full announcement by clicking
the "Printer" icon located above the job title
Location varies by announcement, Colorado, -- Website https://careers.colorado.gov/