Payroll Specialist

Position Type: Support Staff/Payroll Specialist Date Posted: 1/30/2026 Location: West Hartford Public Schools Education Center Date Available: ASAP Closing Date: Until Filled POSITION: Payroll Specialist LOCATION: Budget and Business Office - Town Hall REPORTS TO: Director of Finance and Planning UNION: Secretarial START: As soon as filled SALARY: $60,626 to $79,211 West Hartford Public Schools seeks to fill a position for a full-time Payroll Specialist at the Budget and Business Office at Town Hall. DUTIES: Duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following: Process semimonthly payroll for approximately 1,400 salaried employees represented by eight unions; payroll for salaried non-bargaining employees; separate summer payrolls; and summer retirement unused sick leave payroll. Review and process timesheets and pay stipends related to assigned payrolls, including verifying accuracy and conformity with collective bargaining agreements. Serve as primary liaison to the State Teachers' Retirement system, including responding to inquiries, attending trainings, and reconciling and remitting monthly filings. Process updates related to tax forms submitted, retirement account enrollments or changes, benefit election updates, union deductions, and 401(a) accounts, recurring throughout the year and in anticipation of school year personnel, contractual, and IRS changes. Process personnel action changes, calculate pay adjustments, setup employee pay types, deductions, etc. and communicate changes to employees as needed. Provide customer service by responding to employee payroll questions and resolving discrepancies. Respond to internal departments and State agency requests for data including employment or wage verifications, unemployment requests, workers' compensation detail, and other payroll information. Maintain and reconcile wage garnishments, flexible spending accounts, tax sheltered annuities (403(b) and 457), union dues, and track other expenditures. Responsible for opening and maintaining payroll, generating and closing the semimonthly payroll, verifying longevity payments, reviewing any changes made and reconciling the appropriate areas to ensure readiness for processing. Maintain accurate manual and electronic employee files for active and terminated employees. QUALIFICATIONS: Ability to multitask and work efficiently with multiple competing deadlines and interruptions Ability to perform responsibly, work independently, and resolve issues and concerns with discretion and diplomacy Excellent mathematical computation skills Efficient data entry and analysis skills with attention to detail and accuracy Strong communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills Ability to work with confidential information Ability to coordinate and efficiently manage multiple responsibilities Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and Google Docs MUNIS Payroll Software experience preferred Payroll or accounting experience preferred Please include a current resume, transcripts, and 3 letters of recommendation dated within the last 365 days. Equity and Anti-Racism Vision We, the members of West Hartford Public Schools, dedicate ourselves to the pursuit of equity. Equitable schools are those that value and honor ALL in our community as unique individuals capable of maximizing their true potential. We make a solemn promise to identify and dismantle all elements of systemic racism and historical inequities. We vow to clear paths, with a relentless duty to those in traditionally marginalized groups. We pledge to partner with ALL families in the service of the success of each child. Attachment(s): WHFES Secretarial 2022-2026 Contract revised 12 1 2022.pdf

Created: 2026-03-04