Accounting Specialist - Payroll

Position Overview

COME JOIN A TRANSFORMATIVE TEAM, with a record of proven, positive impact to the State of Illinois.

The Illinois Office of the Comptroller is seeking applicants for the position of Accounting Specialist for Payroll.

The Comptroller is the chief fiscal control officer for the Illinois government, charged by the Constitution with maintaining the state’s central fiscal accounts and ordering payments into and out of the appropriate funds. The office processes more than 16 million transactions annually and serves as a “fiscal watchdog” to ensure that all state payments meet the requirements of the law. The Comptroller’s office provides meaningful and timely fiscal information to help state policymakers adopt effective policies. The office continually seeks new ways to improve how it serves the public. The Comptroller has updated and streamlined the Comptroller’s website and has led the process of updating the state’s payroll and accounting systems. Comptroller Mendoza is committed to running the Office of Comptroller as a financial watchdog for the interest of Illinois citizens and to installing the most modern and transparent systems to make the state’s financial information available to all. 

Major Function

Under administrative direction of the Public Service Administrator for the Payroll Unit, the incumbent determines State Agency and State employee liability for FICA and Medicare. Assists State agencies with reconciliation of their FICA and Medicare accounts, reconciles end of month reports to balance with Federal and State taxes, FICA, and Medicare. The incumbent maintains the position classification number file and assists in maintaining the overall workload of the payroll unit. The Accounting Specialist reviews and processes retirement voucher for payment, reviews and responds to CMS back-wage information requests, assists with end of month tax accounting, review and balancing reports. The incumbent acts as a back-up for various other payroll procedures and performs other duties as needed within the payroll unit.

Job Responsibilities

• Processes retirement system payments
  • Downloads retirement fliles.
  • Reviews vouchers and files for errors.
  • Releases for processing once it has passed all pre-audit requirements.

• Determines State Agency and State Employee liability for FICA and Medicare and assists state agencies with reconciliation of FICA and Medicare accounts.

• Assists in maintaining the overall workload of the payroll unit.
  
  • Validates authorized signatures on payroll vouchers.
  • Sorts and distributes mail entering the payroll unit.
  • Answers phones
  • Assists with filling duplicate tax statement requests, data entry, mailing tax statements, and filing the request documentation.

• Reconciles end of month reports to balance with Federal and State taxes, FICA and Medicare accounts.
  • Maintains the statewide position classification number files.
  • Reviews and responds to CMS back-wage information requests.

• Provides assistance with incoming phone and/or mail inquiries from state agencies, state employees and retirees as necessary. Acts as a back-up for other payroll unit procedures as may be necessary.

• Performs other duies as assigned which are reasonable to the duties defined above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of two (2) years of college and one (1) year of technical accounting experience OR four (4) years of related clerical bookkeeping experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers previous experience similar in nature to state government payroll, accounting, or auditing operations and systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Requires knowledge of office practices, procedures, and programs.
• Requires working knowledge of electronic data systems, the operation and use of a personal computer, and a variety of software.
• Requires ability to apply established accounting methods and techniques.
• Requires ability to operate commonly used manual and automated office equipment.
• Requires ability to use analytical and fact-finding techniques.
• Requires ability to follow written and oral instruction of moderate complexity.
• Requires good written and oral communication skills.
• Require ability to maintain satisfactory working relationships with other employees and the general public.
• May require working kowledge of accounting techniques and procedures.
• May require ability to prepare financial statements and reports.
• May reqiuire ability to analyze routine accounting records and documents.

*With or without reasonable accomodation

Benefits

This position is eligible to be a member of the State of Illinois Group Insurance program which includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage options. Additionally, this position will annually accrue 12 paid sick days, a minimum of 12 paid vacation days, 4 paid personal days, and be afforded 14 paid state holidays, prorated based on start date.

Equal Employment and Commitment to Diversity

The Illinois Office of Comptroller provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. The Illinois Office of Comptroller is committed to the fair and equal employment of individuals with disabilities under the ADA. It is the Illinois Office of Comptroller's policy to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the company. The Illinois Office of Comptroller prohibits any harassment of, or discriminatory treatment of, employees or applicants based on a disability or because an employee has requested reasonable accommodation. 

The Illinois Office of Comptroller is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the agency and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives. This commitment is embodied in agency policy and organizational culture.