Payroll Specialist

Position: Payroll Specialist 2026-2027
Location: La Joya

Job Title:

Payroll Specialist Wage/Hour Status:
Exempt

Reports to:

Payroll Supervisor Pay Grade: AM 2 Dept./School:
Business, Finance & Administrative Services Initiated Date:
February 2026 WHO WE ARE La Joya Independent School District (ISD) is committed to excellence for students and our community. We have a strong, 100-year, legacy in the Rio Grande Valley. The district's vision - Educational Excellence:
The Right of Every Student - conveys our urgent focus on students. Our work is rooted in five district priorities, which require collaboration and deep commitment to supporting one another as we serve the community.
* Customer Service
* Trust & Transparency
* High-Quality Instruction
* Excellence in Leadership
* Integrity & Accountability We are focused on ensuring every student in La Joya ISD has access to high-quality, best-fit schools as we work to improve from a B-district to an A-rated district. We serve more than 22,000 students across more than 30 schools in six municipalities, spanning more than 220 square miles. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR We seek a highly detail-oriented, organized, and dependable Payroll Specialist who is committed to ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll operations for the District.

The ideal candidate has strong experience processing payroll transactions, validating time and attendance data, reviewing supplemental pay, and maintaining employee payroll records with precision and confidentiality. This individual must demonstrate strong judgment, technical skill, and personal accountability in managing payroll data, identifying discrepancies, and ensuring compliance with district procedures and applicable state and federal requirements. The successful candidate is proactive, solutions-oriented, and customer-focused, able to work collaboratively with Human Capital, Finance, campuses, and departments to support reliable payroll processing, safeguard district resources, and promote trust in employee compensation systems.

WHY LA JOYA ISD You will be joining a district that is building on a legacy of achievement while rapidly developing systems to reach new heights in student outcomes and to improve the District's overall operational efficiency and effectiveness. You will receive intentional, targeted support in your essential role in serving the Business, Finance, and Administrative Services Department of the District.

We are also a district focused on continuous improvement and rigorous analysis of the policies and procedures we have in place to ensure that the financial and business operations of the District are transparent to the public and in keeping with generally accepted accounting principles. QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Certification:

* High school diploma or GED required
* Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred

Experience:

* Minimum of five (5) years of payroll processing experience, or related finance/accounting experience required.
* Experience with integrated payroll and ERP, and timekeeping systems in a K-12 or public sector environment preferred. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
* Strong written and verbal communication skills, including usage of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
* Ability to prepare business correspondence, reports, and documentation with accuracy and professionalism.
* Proficiency in modern office practices, procedures, and electronic document management,
* Advanced knowledge of payroll processing procedures, recordkeeping standards, and regulatory compliance requirements.
* Strong technical proficiency with payroll software, timekeeping systems, and reporting tools.
* Exceptional attention to detail, including proofreading and data validation skills.
* Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and integrity.
* Ability to prioritize tasks, meet strict deadlines, and perform with a high degree of accuracy in a fast-paced environment. MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES Payroll Processing and Accuracy:
* Process assigned district payroll activities accurately and timely in accordance with established payroll schedules and procedures.
* Compute salaries, supplemental earnings, leave adjustments, and applicable deductions for district employees.
* Review, verify, and reconcile payroll data prior to processing to ensure accuracy of employee compensation, deductions, and funding codes.
* Ensure all assigned payroll transactions are processed accurately and in alignment with established payroll deadlines and district procedures.
* Support completion of payroll reviews and corrections in advance of each payroll processing cycle to minimize errors and rework.
* Review and validate information imported from the district's timekeeping and employee management systems.
* Process payroll adjustments related to leave, including FMLA, workers' compensation, docked pay, and other compensation-related changes.
* Prepare and verify payroll checks, direct deposits, and payroll-related reports.
* Maintain accurate…