Position: Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Employer: Inland Valley Development Agency (supporting IVDA and the San Bernardino International Airport Authority)

Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Reports to: Human Resources Manager

Location: San Bernardino International Airport

Salary: $25.68 - $33.50 per hour with full benefits

Job Description:

Under the general supervision of the Human Resources Manager, the Benefit and Payroll Specialist is responsible for providing administrative and technical support related to the processing of benefits and payroll transactions for the Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) and the San Bernardino International Airport Authority (SBIAA). This role ensures the accuracy, compliance, and efficiency of payroll and benefits administration while maintaining confidentiality and adherence to policies and regulations.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives administrative direction from the Human Resources Manager. Exercises no supervision of staff.

Essential Duties

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth.

• Processes bi-weekly payroll for IVDA, SBIAA in the HRIS system; ensuring accuracy in timekeeping, attendance, and pay calculations.
• Reviews payroll reports and registers, generates paychecks and direct deposits and provides required funding documentation to the Finance Department
• Ensures correct application of pay rate changes, promotions, demotions, step increases, acting pay, retroactive adjustments, and separations/terminations
• Ensures employee timesheets are submitted and recorded accurately, leave balances are administered in accordance with policy, compensation is correctly calculated, and deductions are applied. Verifies accurate reporting of changes in pay, taxes, and other deductions
• Maintains confidential personnel files; assists with employee onboarding and offboarding, ensures completion of appropriate documentation and notification of employee benefits.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including tax filings, wage laws, and reporting requirements.
• Responds to internal and external inquiries, research and answers questions regarding benefits, payroll, retirement, and other matters.
• Provides guidance to management and staff concerning payroll administration and processes.
• Ensures appropriate control procedures are applied to payroll processes, designs and implements improvements to optimize effectiveness and reduce errors.
• Processes special payroll transactions including garnishments and child-support payments.
• Manages the annual open enrollment process, reviews annual provider quotes, meets with employees to assist with benefit selection, submits required paperwork for billing and payroll.
• Creates Purchase Requisitions as required to process provider invoices, reviews invoices for accuracy. Manages budget for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Reconciles bi-weekly retirement contributions and prepares for Finance to fund.
• Manages the record retention of all employee files, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and internal policies.
• Establishes, maintains, and fosters positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including the. public, vendors, contractors, and agency staff.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Knowledge of:

• General office support practices and use of standard office equipment and software.
• Employee benefits and applicable laws.
• Payroll processing, compensation administration, payroll processes and applicable laws.
• Effective use of the English language, including proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and verbal communication.
• Customer service techniques required for dealing with internal and external customers
• Record-keeping methods and filing systems.

Ability to:

• Use initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Understand act upon instructions and policies
• Evaluate and establish priorities and adhere to deadlines; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Organize and maintain accurate and complete files and records.
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential personnel issues and employee situations.
• Maintain and secure confidential information, written and verbal.
• Learn and apply new processes and practices related to the field of benefits and payroll.

Education and Experience

A Bachelor's degree or equivalent coursework in Business or Public Administration, Human Resources Management, or a closely related field, plus three (3) years of working experience in payroll and benefit administration.

Conditions of Employment

• This position requires driving agency vehicles, possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s License by the time of appointment.
• Successfully complete background checks to obtain and maintain federally mandated security clearances where required.
• Completion of a 10-panel drug screen for all substances deemed illegal by the Federal Government

Physical Demands

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. Primarily sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Required occasionally to bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Environmental Elements

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.