Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist

Rancho Santiago Community College District, Santa Ana, CA. Grade 13, $73,338.25 - $93,670.77. Full Time. Job Number: CL26-01432. Closing:
July 22, 2026.

The Payroll Specialist supports RSCCD’s mission by ensuring accurate and compliant payroll processing for all employees, including faculty, staff, and contractors. The role involves complex payroll accounting, record keeping, data management, and coordination with county and district policies.

Key responsibilities include:

• Perform complex and technical payroll accounting work for district payroll.
• Audit and analyze payroll timesheets and payroll documents to prevent and correct errors.
• Input data, update, and maintain personnel/payroll databases.
• Coordinate with ITS to maintain the in‑house payroll/personnel system.
• Execute computations for gross pay, retirement, taxes, contract calculation, retroactive pay, and leave records.
• Monitor employee eligibility for PERS, STRS, social security, Medicare, and other retirement systems.
• liaise with Risk Management and Payroll Manager for worker’s compensation absences, approvals, and payments.
• Maintain insurance files and process payments to insurance companies.
• Process voluntary deductions and prepare payments to companies.
• Maintain sick and vacation records and prepare accrual notices.
• Respond to payroll inquiries and provide verifications, audit information, and subpoenaed data.
• Prepare correspondence, reports, spreadsheets, and payroll-related documents.
• Sort and distribute employee payroll checks and W‑2 forms.
• Perform other related duties as required.

AA degree and at least two years of payroll preparation experience, preferably in a college or school district environment.

• Principles and techniques in payroll preparation, monitoring, and control.
• Applicable federal and state laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Financial and statistical record keeping, basic time‑keeping and recording.
• Fringe benefit programs, contracts, laws, and regulations.
• Modern office practices and equipment, including computers, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.

• Perform complex accounting work related to district payroll.
• Plan, prioritize, and organize large volumes of work to meet payroll deadlines.
• Prepare necessary reports and follow through to resolve discrepancies.
• Communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Read, understand, interpret laws, rules, and regulations.
• Explain payroll procedures and practices.
• Maintain effective relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Use diplomacy in dealing with complaints and upset employees.

• Operate office equipment and machines such as calculator, computer terminal, keyboard, printer, copier, and microfiche equipment.

Clear evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff, and the community.

The Rancho Santiago Community College District is an equal opportunity employer. The district actively encourages applications from persons who are economically disadvantaged and from underrepresented groups, including ethnic and racial minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. No person will be denied employment because of protected characteristics.

RSCCD considers qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. Disclosure of criminal history is not required until a conditional offer is made.