State of Maryland

A Central Payroll Clerk Lead/Advanced is the lead or advanced level of clerical-accounting payroll work with the Central Payroll Bureau.  A Central Payroll Clerk Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Central Payroll Clerks.  A Central Payroll Clerk Advanced performs specialized payroll work that is unique to the Central Payroll Bureau.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Central Payroll Supervisor, Revenue Administrator or other designated administrator.  Employees may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays based on staffing needs.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Central Payroll Clerk Lead/Advanced is differentiated from the Central Payroll Clerk III in that the Central Payroll Clerk Lead/Advanced assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Central Payroll Clerks or performs specialized work that is unique to the Central Payroll Bureau, while the Central Payroll Clerk II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Central Payroll Clerk, Lead/Advanced is differentiated from the Central Payroll Supervisor in that the Central Payroll Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Central Payroll Clerks.

  Both Lead and Advanced Options:

Determines work deadlines and standards in accordance with prescribed rules and procedures;

Communicates with deduction vendors, and other private sector business operations and federal and State tax administrators;

Communicates with outside agencies and employees to resolve problems;

Makes recommendations to supervisor regarding scheduling adjustments, work flow changes and work enhancements;

Maintains retrievable files of source documents for audit trails;

May serve as back-up to routine accounting functions performed by the Central Payroll Supervisor;

Performs other related duties.

   When functioning at the Lead level:

Assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Central Payroll Clerks;

Trains lower-level Central Payroll Clerks;

Provides advice and guidance to Central Payroll Clerks;

Ensures work meets established deadlines and is in accordance with prescribed rules and procedures;

Implements corrective actions for out of balance conditions noted on data entry reports and keeps the supervisor informed of items which might need additional attention;

Reports areas of concern relating either to work efforts of payroll clerks or work reviewed to supervisor;

May assist other Central Payroll Clerks as part of a team or in completing a specialized function.

   When functioning at the Advanced level:

Maintains controls of specialized payroll functions;

Audits and controls time-payment data submitted by agencies and  assures the accuracy and eligibility of entries by applying knowledge of law, regulations and payroll policies and procedures;

May coordinate work with other specialized positions, outside agencies and business entities;

May be cross-trained to work in different assignment areas throughout the office due to staff shortages in critical work areas.

Knowledge of State and federal tax withholding rules and procedures;

Knowledge of personnel, and retirement rules and regulations relating to payroll;

Knowledge of the common books of accounts and of the procedures used in keeping financial records and checking financial documents;

Knowledge of bookkeeping principles, methods and procedures, including the calculation of percentages;

Knowledge of numerous deductions and other earnings, understanding the rules under which these deductions and earnings are permitted and their effect on withholding tax computations and on wages;

Skill in using automated accounting software packages;

Skill in researching discrepancies in accounting and making necessary adjustments;

Ability to complete all assignments regardless of distractions or pressures;

Ability to verify various computer printouts to control, and to reconcile and correct errors;

Ability to interpret and transmit information to others accurately;

Ability to correct and update payroll input accurately;

Ability to examine reports and other statements for accuracy, completeness and conformance with regulations and payroll procedures;

Ability to work cooperatively in a group setting and to maintain a positive attitude in times of change or disruption;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and outside agency staff;

Ability to efficiently use calculators and computers.

When functioning at the Lead level:

Ability to instruct employees, prioritize and schedule workload to meet established deadlines.

When functioning at the Advanced level:

Ability to use taxes and deductions to accurately calculate net pay of employees;

Ability to work independently in a specialized payroll function.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Three years of experience performing clerical-accounting payroll work.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional education in accounting, data processing or business law may be substituted for two years of the required experience at the rate of thirty credit hours for each year of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in financial clerical and technician series classification or financial clerical and technician series specialty codes in the logistics field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions. Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board or Commission member), W (student), X (Used by agency or excluded by executive order), or Z (confidential). As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation. An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.