Senior Payroll Specialist

Job Description

Are you a payroll professional with a strong foundation and a desire to grow your expertise in a public service environment? The City of Raleigh is looking for a Senior Payroll Specialist to join our Finance Department, where you’ll play a key role in supporting accurate and timely payroll operations for the city’s workforce. In this role, you’ll apply your working knowledge of payroll processes to assist with payroll runs, reconciliations, and employee transactions such as garnishments, separations, and benefit deductions.

You’ll also help identify and resolve routine payroll issues, support audits, and contribute to process improvements. While we are looking for someone to bring valuable experience to the table, this position also offers opportunities to expand your skills through collaboration, cross‑training, and exposure to broader fiscal functions. This is a great opportunity for someone who’s confident in their payroll abilities, detail‑oriented, and ready to take the next step in their career within a mission‑driven team.

The City is seeking a detail‑oriented payroll professional with a solid understanding of payroll processes and a passion for accuracy. The ideal candidate will have prior experience working with payroll systems, handling employee transactions, and knowing their way around reconciliations and reporting. Understanding candidates may not have tackled every complex payroll scenario yet, we are seeking candidates who are eager to learn, grow, and take on new challenges.

The ideal candidate will thrive in a collaborative environment, communicate clearly, and take pride in providing excellent service to both employees and colleagues. We are seeking an organized, dependable individual who is ready to contribute to a team that values integrity, public service, and continuous improvement.

• Experience in payroll processing within a local government, public sector, or similarly structured organization, including familiarity with timekeeping systems, deductions, and payroll cycles.
• Working knowledge of payroll regulations and compliance and regulatory requirements, such as FLSA, tax with holdings, garnishments, and benefit deductions.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, especially when reviewing payroll data, performing reconciliations, and/or preparing reports.
• Proficiency with financial or payroll software systems (e.g., Enterprise Resource Planning systems, timekeeping platforms, or Human Resources Information Systems, along with Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet and Microsoft Office tools).
• Excellent communication and customer service skills, with the ability to respond timely and accurately to employee inquiries and collaborate effectively with internal departments.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, priorities and deadlines, while maintaining confidentiality and demonstrating sound judgment in handling sensitive payroll information.

The Payroll Division of the Finance Department processes end‑to‑end biweekly payroll for more than 5,500 full and part‑time employees. This is a team‑oriented, accuracy‑driven environment where your work ensures timely, reliable compensation – and contributes to the City’s broader financial health. Our Finance Department prides itself on fiscal integrity, accountability, and smart decision‑making, with a focus on efficiency, compliance, financial reporting, and strong internal controls.

After onboarding, you’ll also enjoy the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule that supports work‑life balance – making this an excellent opportunity for professionals who want to make an impact while enjoying flexibility.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job‑related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

• Ensure every paycheck counts:
  Perform end‑to‑end payroll processing, including data verification, audits, and corrections to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time.
• Handle the complex with…