"Senior Payroll Specialist"

Job Details

Senior Payroll Specialist
Rancho Santiago Community College District

Salary Range: Grade 14: $77,286.48 - $98,744.37
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: CL25-01362
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Division: DO Business Services
Closing: 3/16/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

POSITION DETAILS

About Rancho Santiago Community College District
Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is one of the most established districts in the state and has been in operation for nearly 50 years. Located in the heart of Orange County, it is one of the largest of California's 72 community college districts, based on the number of credit and non-credit students. RSCCD encompasses 25 percent of Orange County's total area and serves a population of more than 700,000 residents in the communities of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Santa Ana, Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Tustin, and Yorba Linda. The district includes Santiago Canyon College and Santa Ana College, as well as the Centennial and Orange Continuing Education Centers, the Digital Media Center, the Joint Powers Fire Training Center, the Orange County Sheriff's Regional Training Academy, the College and Workforce Preparation Center, and the District Operations Center. RSCCD's three (3) auxiliary Foundations are actively involved in supporting both community and campus programs.
RSCCD's student population is a direct reflection of the diverse communities in the surrounding neighborhoods. As a whole, the district has the honor of serving approximately 55,537 students: 51% Hispanic/Latinx, 20% White, 9% Asian & Filipino, and 2% are African American. RSCCD is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and serves predominately historically underrepresented students. There is a commitment to foster student centered values among our employees to provide equitable student learning, academic excellence, and workforce development. By delivering high-quality educational programs and student support services, the district ensures that students have the appropriate resources to achieve their goals.
At RSCCD, our mission is to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice into all aspects of student academics and employee relations. Thus, creating transformational experiences that prepares students and employees to engage in the world with a renewed sense-of-self. Through this commitment, Rancho Santiago Community College District strives to cultivate a learning environment that prioritizes respect, to ensure that RSCCD stakeholders feel valued and supported throughout their academic and professional careers.
About the Position
The ideal candidate will demonstrate cultural competency in serving diverse community college populations, including faculty, management, and students from varied ethnic, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This includes those with differing abilities, AB 540 students, DACA recipients, Foreign Residents, VACA participants, and Continuing Education students. They will support RSCCD's mission to promote self-awareness, knowledge, and communication skills, enabling all members of the college community to participate creatively and confidently in an ever-changing world.
Candidates will contribute to an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture that supports the diverse needs of faculty, management, staff, and students. They will effectively provide services and support to individuals with differing academic preparation levels and unique learning or workplace needs, ensuring equitable access and opportunities for success. Candidates should demonstrate cultural competency, sensitivity, equity-mindedness, and a commitment to anti-racism in all interactions and contributions. Through their role, they will empower students to achieve their educational and career goals while promoting a positive and inclusive environment where faculty and management can thrive, fostering creativity, confidence, and lifelong learning throughout the college community.
Class Summary
Under general direction of the Accounting Manager-Payroll, implements and coordinates the operation of the payroll department. Assist the Payroll Manager in the development, design, and implementation of payroll policies, procedures, and systems for the department. Directly responsible for the daily operation of payroll processing, including payments, employee benefits, reporting to county and state agencies, and assisting auditors in the completion of audit reports. Must apply and interpret current Federal, State, County, and retirement laws as it relates to payroll and employee benefits, as well as California Ed. Code and collective bargaining agreements.
Representative Duties
Trains and directs other support staff and student workers in the department; responsible for the daily planning and workflow of the department. Coordinates payroll functions and operations with district departments, personnel, governmental and private agencies. Assists the payroll manager in the preparation of various payroll tax reports, and in the development, design, and implementation of payroll policies, procedures, and systems to improve the effectiveness of payroll operations. Responsible for updating and maintaining accurate information in the county computer databases for personnel/payroll-related data; liaisons with information technology services (ITS) in maintaining and updating the in-house payroll/human resource system. Maintains current insurance files on all eligible employees and retirees, including enrollment, terminations, and insurance changes, prepares and processes payment to insurance companies; compiles data and maintains files of all active and retired employees for district insurance agencies and insurance surveys; assists the payroll manager with computing and publishing of insurance premium costs; responsible for the computation of the employees fringe benefits and the proper deductions from the employees pay. Performs specialized complex technical payroll accounting calculations involving gross pay, retirement, taxes, contract calculation, retroactive pay, fringe benefits and leave records. Verifies and audits rate change and pay adjustment documents received from human resources, performs specialized, technical payroll accounting calculation related to the complex elements of the district's payroll activities; liaisons with risk management office and payroll manager in monitoring workers' compensation absences, approval and payments; responsible for processing and maintaining records of employee voluntary deductions. Provides technical recommendations and information to management and staff regarding employee payroll; resolves and troubleshoots district wide related payroll problems; assists the external auditors in the completion of audit reports. Interprets the laws and regulations regarding employees eligibility/enrollment in PERS, STRS, PARS, Social Security, Medicare or any other retirement system, and processes and monitors the proper enrollment, memberships, reporting and payment to various retirement systems. Responds to employees' inquiries concerning payroll, sick and vacation accrual balances, and to requests from agencies for employment and statistical information. Independently prepares correspondence, reports, spreadsheets, and other payroll-related documents using a computer; attends payroll and benefit related meetings; performs other related duties as required.
Organizational Relationships
This position reports to the Accounting Manager-Payroll.
QUALIFICATIONS
Training and Experience
Any combination of training, education and experience equivalent to an AA degree; and three years of experience in specialized, technical payroll preparation and practices, preferably in a college or school district environment, or a high school diploma and five years of experience in specialized, technical payroll preparation and practices, preferably in a college or school district environment.
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: principal and techniques involved in payroll preparation, monitoring, maintenance, and control; verification and processing of payroll records; pertinent federal and state laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures affecting payroll records and programs; practices, principles and methods of accounting; auditing of financial statistical record keeping, including general and basic time keeping and records keeping; record keeping associated with fringe benefit program, their applicable contracts, laws and regulations; modern office practices, procedures and equipment, including use of computer for data entry; word processing, spreadsheet, database operations and other applications; correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.
Ability to: perform specialized, complex and technical accounting work requiring independent judgement and initiative related to the preparation of the district payroll; train, coordinate, plan, prioritize and organize a large volume of work of other payroll staff to successfully meet constant payroll deadlines; prepare necessary reports; follow through on own initiative to clear up discrepancies or obtain necessary support materials; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; read, understand and interpret laws, rules, and regulations; explain various payroll related procedures and practices; establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties; use diplomacy in dealing with complaints and difficult employees.
Skills: skillfully operate various office equipment and machines including ten-key calculator, computer terminal and printer, copier, microfiche equipment.
Additional Qualifications
Candidate must demonstrate clear evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff, and the community.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To ensure full consideration, all applicants must submit a complete Rancho Santiago Community College District online application that includes the items listed below by the position's closing date. Recruitment will review all applications for completeness, and only complete application packets will be forwarded to the screening committee for further review.
A Complete Application Packet Must Include the Following:
1. RSCCD Online Application
2. Resume - details all relevant education, training, and other work experience
3. Academic Transcripts (Unofficial copies of undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate transcripts).