Fiscal Analyst - Payroll
AGRICULTURE - A Cornerstone of Washington's Economy
The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.
The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page.
For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us at www.agr.wa.gov
ABOUT THIS POSITION: The Fiscal Analyst (FA1) position is responsible for recording time and attendance information for new and existing WSDA employees in the Cross Application Time Sheet (CATS) of the HRMS system. This position provides guidance and quality customer service to employees, time and attendance personnel, and agency programs. The Fiscal Analyst is a direct contributor to ensure that the various payroll functions are performed in timely and accurately. This position directly reports to the Payroll Supervisor in Financial Services within the Director's Office.
Duties
Reviews, analyzes, and interprets semi-monthly payroll information that is entered in the Cross-Application Time Sheet (CATS) and HRMS Systems:
- Records absence and attendance information into CATS.
- Interprets and applies RCWs, WACs, Bargaining Agreements and other payroll-related policies and procedures as it related to employee time, leave and attendance.
- Assigns time to cost centers or activities when there are exceptions to the assigned cost distribution (Labor Distribution).
- Corrects absence, attendance, and cost center information.
- Records employees' temporary work schedules into HRMS.
- Corrects leave quota information.
- Provides guidance to employees regarding leave accruals/balances.
- Runs and distributes leave reports to Agency Time and Attendance personnel.
- Maintains necessary contact with assigned Time and Attendance personnel, Division Coordinators, Financial Services staff, and employees.
- Provides backup to Payroll Processors in HRMS by creating and maintaining payroll information for new and existing employees in the HRMS system.
- Assists higher-level fiscal personnel with summary information and analysis of records and reports.
Maintain employee payroll files:
- Maintains confidential payroll files.
- Prepares files for archiving.
- Organizes file cabinets to separate on-staff, seasonal and off-staff payroll files.
- Under guidance from higher-level fiscal personnel, labels, and stores records in compliance with Secretary of State retention schedules for employee records.
Processes wage/employment verifications:
- Responds to employment verification requests from banks or other financial and lending institutions.
- Responds to Employment Security (ESD) requests for information.
- Performs additional tasks as assigned by the Payroll Supervisor.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED.
- Two years of experience in payroll, accounting, bookkeeping, auditing or other professionally based fiscal fields.
- Higher education which includes 18 quarter, or 12 semester hours of accounting, auditing, or budgeting may substitute year for year experience.
- Knowledge of basic math and keyboarding skills.
- Ability to apply practical accounting techniques.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of information accessed or discussed in performing the work of this position.
- Knowledge of, or the ability to quickly learn state laws, collective bargaining agreements, and various state agency policies as they pertain to payroll leave and benefit entitlements.
- Ability to process large quantities of fiscal data accurately while paying close attention to detail.
- Ability to communicate effectively and work cohesively with customers and co-workers.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree that includes 18 quarter, or 12 semester hours in accounting, auditing, or budgeting.
- Good organizational skills and basic knowledge accounting practices and principles.
- Knowledge of the Public Employees Retirement Systems (PERS), HRMS, PAY1 or use of mainframe database programs.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook).
Supplemental Information
How to Apply:
You must complete your careers.wa.gov profile and answer the supplemental questions. In addition to completing the online application, and supplemental questions applicants must attach the following documents to their profile to be considered for this position:
- A letter of interest to describe why you are the best candidate and how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.
- Current resume detailing experience and education
- Please include 3 professional references in the application or as an attachment
By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.
Applications with comments "see attachments" will be considered incomplete.
If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524- 5627 or email support@neogov.com.
Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact the Human Resource Office at (360) 902- 2020 or Recruitment@agr.wa.gov.
Prior to a new appointment into the Department of Agriculture, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of your application and the materials submitted. All information may be verified, and documentation may be required. Applications received via e-mail will not be accepted in lieu of applying through the state's on-line recruitment system.
The Human Resources Division may use referrals from this recruitment to help fill future similar vacancies for up to six months.
COVID-19 VACCINATION:
Pursuant to Washington State Governor Inslee’s Proclamation on August 9, 2021, all employees who work for the Washington State Department of Agriculture must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18, 2021. Proof of fully vaccinated status against COVID-19 must be shown to WSDA’s human resource office prior to employment.
Veteran's Preference: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, or other verification of military service. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.
Military Spouse Preference: To take advantage of military spouse preference, you will have an opportunity to identify your status in the questionnaire. We thank you and are grateful for your service!
The Department of Agriculture celebrates our differences, and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Persons with a disability, who need assistance with their application or need this announcement in an alternative format, may call 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.