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Payroll Specialist (Fiscal Analyst 2) (In Training)

Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the hiring process, prior to their start date. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

Financial Services within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Payroll Specialist (Fiscal Analyst 2) (In Training) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.

In this role, you will review, analyze, process, and maintain agency payroll actions, benefits and leave, including garnishments/wage assignments, overpayments, retirement, and health care, for approximately 1/3 (700 employees) of the agency. You will calculate necessary adjustments and input transactions into the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) and PAY1. You will partner with the Human Resources team for personnel transactions, employee leaves of absence, retirements, organizational changes, and salary, and position changes. You will also counsel new and existing employees on agency benefits, timekeeping, and leave processes.
 
Financial Services provides centralized financial support in accounting, budget, contracts, purchasing, and inventory. The result is Ecology managers, the Governor, State Auditor, Office of Financial Management, and the Legislature have confidence in Ecology and our financial information, and can use it to make crucial decisions affecting the environment.

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embrace the value of people.

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

  • A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
  • An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
  • Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
  • A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
  • Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.


Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.
 
Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.
 
Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.
 
Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.
 
Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.
 
We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. In this role, after successfully completing the review period and effectively demonstrating the ability to perform work independently, you may be eligible to telework 2-3 days per week, at the discretion of the team leader and with a telework agreement in place. The ability to work remotely depends on the nature of the tasks performed and the presence of a remote work environment that is safe and has an appropriate level of reliable connectivity (“bandwidth”). If telework is granted, you must be willing and able to adjust your telework schedule at any time to attend mandatory meetings, trainings, etc., at the Lacey Ecology location. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding building occupancy, mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. 

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of December 6, 2021. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before December 5, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
Duties

What makes this role unique? You will find this role unique and challenging due to the ever-changing tax laws, bargaining agreements, labor laws, and expanding family benefits in Washington State. There are routine, strict deadlines to process pay and leave, but you have a variety of duties to perform, so the job never becomes routine.

What you will do: 

  • Process employee payroll.
  • Process employee leave.
  • Process employee benefits including health and retirement.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify. 

Education and Experience FA2 Level - pay range 44 ($3,446.00-$4,509.00 per month)  

  • A Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 18 quarter or 12 semester hours of college-level accounting and a minimum of two years of relevant experience, including accounting, bookkeeping or payroll experience.
  • Professional accounting experience may substitute for education, but not for the minimum accounting credits.
  • A Master’s degree in a financial related field, certification as a Public Accountant, Internal Auditor, Certified Governmental Financial Manager or Management Accountant can be substituted for the professional experience.

Education and Experience FA1 Level - pay range 40 ($3,144.00-$4,083.00 per month)  

  • A Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 18 quarter or 12 semester hours of college-level accounting.
  • Professional accounting experience may substitute for education, but not for the minimum accounting credits.

Computer Skills required at both levels: 

Basic proficiency using Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel and Outlook; is able to create, edit, modify, save, and delete documents and spreadsheets; includes locating and accurately modifying existing files and templates for reuse.

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:


Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

Must sign and abide by the Financial Services/Fiscal Office Agreement on Confidential Information (Part A), Internal Control Responsibility (Part B), Safeguarding and Preventing Misuse of Ecology’s Data (Part C).


Desired Qualifications:

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

• Knowledge and experience with HRMS or comparable payroll/HR system.
• Knowledge and experience preparing federal and/or state employer tax forms.
• Intermediate proficiency with agency standard software applications and systems.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.
Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

  • Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
  • If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
  • If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
  • If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology 

Application Instructions:

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

  • A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
  • A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
  • Three professional references.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable. 
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

  • Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
  • Do not attach documents that are password protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees: 
 
Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

Application Attestation: 

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 

Other Information:
If you have specific questions about the position, please email Sheila Meyer at: sheila.meyer@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Sheila to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagram or our blog.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.