Payroll Tax and Accounting Supervisor

King County   Pioneer Square, WA   Full-time     Accounting
Posted on May 28, 2023
Salary

$106,326.69 - $134,775.47 Annually

Location

Seattle, WA

Job Type

Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week

Job Number

2023JM17937

Department

DHR - Dept. of Human Resources

Division

Central Employee Svcs Div

Opening Date

04/26/2023

Closing Date

6/28/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines

Summary

Note: An update to the Payroll Tax and Accounting Supervisor qualifications has been made.

The Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations Section (BPROS) of the Central Employee Services Division within the Department of Human Resources (DHR) seeks an experienced Payroll Tax and Accounting Supervisor.

Payroll Tax and Accounting Supervisor will oversee complex work for centralized payroll tax filings to multiple tax jurisdictions while also providing advice to senior management and Central Payroll Operations. This position will handle payroll taxes for the County that annually produces more than 18,000 W-2 Forms for a $1.6 billion dollar payroll with a tax liability of approximately $300 million dollars in a multi-state tax environment. This position will also supervise the payroll accounting team.

Job Duties

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. This role will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices in all aspects of the work. As the Payroll Tax and Accounting Supervisor, you will:
  • Oversee complex work for centralized payroll tax filings to multiple tax jurisdictions while also providing advice to senior management and Central Payroll Operations.
  • Supervise and lead payroll accounting staff. Assign and monitor tasks, distribute, and delegate work, and conduct staff performance evaluations.
  • Prepare and file federal, state, and local taxes quarterly and annually for countywide payroll.
  • Represent the County with the federal and state tax jurisdictions, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) , and the Social Security Administration.
  • Ensure County compliance with all federal, local, and state payroll tax regulations, including applicable taxes to employees working outside of Washington state. Provide training and direction as needed to management, the central payroll operations team, and employees.
  • Serve as project manager, for payroll tax yearend processes that include W-2 form production, delivery, reconciliation, and required reporting to the IRS, Social Security Administration, and other tax jurisdictions as required. Coordinate applicable 1099 form production with Accounts Payable.
  • Serve as the subject matter expert for payroll taxes responsible for technical interpretation laws and regulations for tax withholding, deposits, and interpretation of specific accounting treatment, payroll policies, and tax laws.
    • Research laws and regulations related to payroll taxes and respond to payroll tax inquiries.
    • Keep current with policies, procedures, and changing tax laws for compliance with state and federal regulations, county code, ordinances, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS). Revise procedures and train staff as needed.
    • Provide advice regarding payroll tax issues, system set up, and reporting to County managers, supervisors, and employees, including the Office of Labor Relations and the Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
    • Present payroll tax information to County staff at payroll forums.
  • Serve as the primary contact with ADP Tax Services for tax set-ups and filing in all federal and state jurisdictions.
  • Assist Payroll Manager to plan, organize, delegate, and monitor payroll production and operation activities. This includes recruitment activities, facilitation of training, and mentoring staff.
  • Supervise, coordinate, and participate in audit processes.
  • Train new and existing staff in work procedures related to areas of expertise in payroll taxes, out-of-state employees, and payroll accounting.
  • Research and mediate payroll tax accounting dispute resolution with customers and staff.
  • Administer employee settlements to ensure correct handling of the payment to the employee, taxation, and tax reporting. Advise settlement language to Labor Relations and the Prosecuting Attorney's Offices as required.
  • Other duties as assigned.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Minimum Qualifications
  • Five years of experience in payroll tax preparation, multi-state tax filing and W-2 Form production in an organization of more than 5,000 employees; AND
  • A bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field OR
  • Any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge, and ability required to perform the work.
Additional Qualifications
  • Experience supervising and coaching employees to close developmental gaps and increase capability; develop effective problem solvers.
  • Clear and effective oral and written communication, facilitation, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate with internal and external individuals at all levels.
  • Ability to research and resolve complex payroll tax inquiries from management and employees.
  • Skill in working effectively and cooperatively to independently analyze, problem solve, resolve conflicts, and collaborate with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including sensitivity to and knowledge of various, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic groups.
  • Ability to apply project management principles and practices. Must be able to handle multiple competing priorities and produce quality detailed work within tight timeframes with strong delegation and time management skills.
  • Skill in using report and query tools, writing complex and technical reports.
  • Intermediate level proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience using internet-based software programs with demonstrated ability to quickly learn new technology tools.
  • Advanced experience with financial software and systems.
Desirable Qualifications
  • Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
  • Experience with payroll production processing.
  • Experience with PeopleSoft or other multiple payroll processing system.
  • Experience with Oracle/ EBS financial system.
  • Expert level Excel skills (i.e., the ability to produce graphs and tables, use spreadsheets efficiently and perform calculations and automaton to process large volumes of data).
Work Schedule
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 not represented by a union and is classified as a Business and Finance Officer IV class code: 2131400.

Who May Apply
This recruitment is open to King County employees and the public and will be used to fill one career service position.

Supplemental Information

Selection Process
If you are ready to bring your expertise to public service, please apply online with King County Careers , and include:
  • An online employment application, with employment history going back at least seven years or more to include all relevant experience, and responses to supplemental questions.
  • A cover letter no longer than two pages outlining how your skills and experience make you a fit for this position.
Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. Initial screening will be based on a review of application materials. The employment history detailed in your application materials MUST validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions. If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a series of one or more interviews.

For more information on this recruitment, please contact:
Jen Montoya, Senior HR Analyst, Jen.Montoya@kingcounty.gov

Who We Are
The Department of Human Resources' mission is to provide strategic human resources leadership, modernized systems, customer-focused services, and tools designed to support the management, growth, and development of the King County workforce. The Central Employee Services Division is a division within DHR. The health and safety of employees is the County's number one priority, and the division provides integrated services in the areas of Safety and Claims (Workers' Compensation), Disability and Leaves, Balanced You (Well-being) and Employee Giving, Employee Assistance Program, Benefits Strategy, as well as Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Operations. As a self-insured entity in Washington State, the County self-administers its Workers' Compensation program.

The Payroll Tax and Accounting Supervisor is part of the team that provides critical support to King County departments to pay more than 16,000 County employees bi-weekly.

Teleworking Requirement
The work associated with this position will be performed predominately through a hybrid work schedule of onsite and remote work, with the expectation of two days onsite. 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. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required, including wearing masks in some situations . King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing its carbon footprint.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

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 "True North" , 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:
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
  • 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: King County employees are eligible to 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
  • 12paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
  • Generous vacation and paid sick leave
  • Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Wellness programs
  • Onsite gyms and activity centers
  • Employee giving program
  • Employee assistance programs
  • Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
  • Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits please visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

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. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.

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.