Payroll Accountant

Posting Details

Posting Details (Default Section)

Closing Date: Open Until Filled Yes Classification Title Payroll Accountant Working Title District Office Accounting Specialist Recruitment Limits Location District Pay Information

Range 27 ($5,353.79- $7,751.35) per month based on the current AFT Classified Professionals - Salary Schedule.

• New employees will begin on Step C ($5,353.79)
• Salary negotiation is not allowed.
• Promoted or transferred employees will be placed as specified in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
• This position is FLSA Non-exempt (may accrue overtime).
• Excellent benefits are provided to all Contract employees with assignments greater than, or equal to, 50% (0.50 FTE) and all eligible dependents. See Additional Information for more details.

A temporary probationary period will apply to the employee entering this assignment. The SDCCD Employee Relations webpage provides a link to employee collective bargaining agreements/handbooks which provide more information about terms and conditions of employment, compensation and benefits.

Position Equivalent FTE:

1.0

No. Months: 12 Position Number: 007363 FLSA Status Non-Exempt (accrues overtime) Position Type Classified Bargaining Unit Classified Professionals Range 27 Department People, Culture, & Tech Services The Position

Applications are currently being accepted for District Office Accounting Specialist (Payroll Accountant) in the People, Culture, and Technology Services Division, located at the District Office in Mission Valley. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm with hybrid and flexible scheduling available. Selected candidate must be willing to adjust work days/hours based on the department's needs.

For advertising purposes, the Working Title, Payroll Accountant, is being used. The Classification Title is District Office Accounting Specialist.

Please note that an employee may be transferred to any site at the option of the Chancellor.

Classification Description

Click for the District Office Accounting Specialist classification description. Working title is Payroll Accountant.

https://www.sdccd.edu/docs/humanresources/classification/descriptions/Office%20Technical/District%20Office%20Accounting%20Specialist.pdf

If you would like to open the link in a different tab or window, right click and select the option.

Desired Qualifications

Experience & Knowledge:

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC)
• Previous experience in payroll or accounting
• Thorough understanding of payroll taxes (federal, state, and local), benefits, and deductions
• Knowledge of various state and local payroll regulations, including tax rates

Technical Skills:

• Attention to detail - payroll requires accuracy, so a high level of attention to detail is essential
• Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, formulas, VLOOKUP) is important for analyzing payroll data and reports
• A solid understanding of accounting principles and standards (e.g., GAAP) for reconciling accounts and ensuring financial accuracy

Soft Skills:

• Payroll processing involves handling large amounts of data, so being well-organized helps ensure everything runs smoothly
• Must communicate effectively with both employees and management, especially regarding payroll-related queries
• Ability to quickly identify and resolve discrepancies in payroll is vital
• Handle sensitive employee information; discretion and ethical conduct are key

Foreign Degree:

Applicants with foreign degrees from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have their coursework evaluated by a professional association that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, INC. (ACEI). A copy of the evaluation must be submitted with your online application.

NACES Link: https://naces.org/

ACEI Link: https://acei-global.org/evaluation-services/

Commitment to Diversity:

All applicants must have demonstrated cultural competency and sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty and classified professionals.

Click for the EEO / Diversity / Nondiscrimination - Policies and Procedures: https://www.sdccd.edu/departments/human-resources/eeo-diversity/policies-and-procedures.aspx

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To ensure consistency, fairness, and alignment with our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA), please submit only the materials specifically requested in this posting (e.g., no personal photos, articles, etc.). Be sure to upload the required documents using the respective document name labels. Uploading extraneous materials, unless explicitly requested, may result in your application not being reviewed. Only complete application packets will be forwarded to the committee.

Application materials sent via mail, fax, or email will not be accepted. All correspondence, including interview invitations, will be communicated via email.

We are dedicated to maintaining the confidentiality of all inquiries, nominations, and applications in the strictest confidence, and we encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

• Complete the online application, including examples and outcomes listed within the Duties section of your Employment History;
• Complete responses to the Supplemental Questions, including examples and outcomes;
• Resume; AND,
• Three (3) references included within the online application.

Tentative Timeline (Subject to Amendments)

Posting: Friday, August 21, 2026 (or sooner)

Closing: Open until filled

First "Soft" Closing: Monday, September 14, 2026

Orientation: Wednesday, September 16 at 11am

Screening: September 16 - 23 (on your own time)

Tally: Thursday, September 24 at 11am

First Interviews: Friday, October 2 from 8-5 (via Zoom)

2nd Interviews: Wednesday, October 7 (in person)

Projected start date: November 1, 2026

Conditions of Employment:

SELECTED CANDIDATE IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING PRIOR TO EMPLOYMENT:

• Submit "official" college transcripts as stated on application (even if a degree is not a requirement for this position);
• Provide a Certificate of Tuberculosis Exam for initial appointment (Note: The certificate must be renewed every 4 years as a condition of continuing employment);
• Have fingerprints taken by a Live Scan computer at the District's expense (Clearance must be received prior to first day of employment);
• Present original documents for proof of eligibility to work in the United States as required by the I9 Employment Eligibility Verification form; AND,
• Attend a new hire processing appointment in People, Culture, and Technology Services located at the District Administrative Offices

EMPLOYMENT AFTER RETIREMENT

If you accept a contract (permanent) position with SDCCD and are a retired annuitant with CalPERS or CalSTRS, you must reinstate from your retirement system. Please reference the CalPERS or CalSTRS website for further information.

CalPERS Link: https://www.calpers.ca.gov/retirees/working-after-retirement/reinstatement-from-retirement

CalSTRS Link: https://www.calstrs.com/retirement-after-reinstatement-enhancements-faq

Additional Information:

SDCCD provides a comprehensive fringe benefit package for its full-time classified employees. The district contributes toward the cost of the premium (including dependent coverage) for the medical insurance plan options. Additional benefits include dental, vision, sick leave, vacation and opportunities for professional development. Contract employees become members of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) upon appointment.

• 100% employer paid medical, dental, and vision
• $50,000 employer paid group term life insurance
• 16 paid holidays + winter recess off
• Educational incentive
• Tuition assistance
• CalPERS pension plus 403B and 457B options available.

Posting Number CL01946

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • I understand that a COMPLETE application packet is required for consideration, which includes the following: 1) All required documents as listed in the special instructions 2) Responses to supplemental questions (clear and detailed responses are required as they will be carefully evaluated to determine the most qualified candidate(s) to be invited for an interview; please do not paste your resume, or put "see resume", or "N/A" or leave blank)

• Yes

• No

• • I understand that my responses to the application supplemental questions are heavily weighted during the application screening and evaluation process, and responses such as "N/A", "see resume", or no responses will result in deduction of points to my application.

• Yes

• No

• • We believe that the application and interview process should be a reflection of your skills, insights, and experiences, and we are looking to understand your unique qualifications for the role. I understand that responses ENTIRELY generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can result in disqualification from the application process.

• Yes

• No

• • Have you personally processed payroll?

• Yes

• No

• • Have you performed quarterly or year-end tax reconciliations/reporting?

• Yes

• No

• • Have you independently performed payroll audits or reconciliations?

• Yes

• No

• • Have you applied Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions to payroll calculations or transactions?

• Yes

• No

• • Describe your experience processing payroll and identify which parts of the process you personally own.

(Open Ended Question)

• • What experience do you have with quarterly and year-end payroll tax reconciliation and filings, including Forms 941 and W-2s?

(Open Ended Question)

• • How many years of professional payroll experience do you have? Include frequency, employee population size, and other relevant information.

(Open Ended Question)

• • How do you audit payroll for accuracy before payroll is finalized?

(Open Ended Question)

• • You are preparing payroll funding and discover that the amount required for the direct deposit file does not agree with the payroll register. What would you do?

(Open Ended Question)

• • The San Diego Community College District has a very diverse student, faculty and classified professional population with respect to academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation and ethnic backgrounds. Describe your professional development, community involvement, and professional experience working with these diverse groups.

(Open Ended Question)

Required & Optional Documents

Required Documents

• Résumé

Optional Documents