Payroll Special Projects Analyst

Job Description and Duties

Analyst II This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by performing as the expert staff resource responsible for a wide variety of technical and analytical work associated with training, personnel, payroll, benefits, leave accounting issues, and special projects. Including, but not limited to, appointments, separations, benefits, Leave Accounting Balance audits, and special projects.

The incumbent will assist with managing workload associated with vacant rosters, complex technical issues, and backlogged work. Successful performance of these duties requires the incumbent to develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external departmental staff as well as control agency personnel.

Analyst I This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by performing work of average difficulty and complexity in a wide variety of technical and analytical work associated with training, personnel, payroll, benefits, leave accounting issues, and special projects. Including, but not limited to, appointments, separations, benefits, Leave Accounting Balance audits, and special projects.

The Analyst I classification is distinguished from the Analyst II classification by the scope of responsibility, complexity of work performed, independence of action, decision-making, and level of supervision received. This classification consists of three alternate ranges and as the Analyst I advances within the classification ranges, their responsibilities are expected to show broader knowledge of the work environment, and organizational and/or departmental requirements while the scope of work increases.

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

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Working Conditions

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Special Requirements

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week , and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY) . Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

A completed State application (STD. 678) and any other relevant documents (e.g. unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers Account. Please reference Job Control #(526853) and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application . Please remove any confidential information (i.e. social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers Account at Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.

If you are unable to submit your application electronically through your CalCareers account, please email [email protected] for assistance and a CDPH Human Resources Division staff member will contact you to assist with the online application process or, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method as explained in the How to Apply section below. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Knowledge and experience in the California state payroll processes, including employee pay auditing, pay verifications, correction of pay-related discrepancies, and California state pay systems
• Experience in applying CalHR, State Controller’s Office (SCO), CalPERS, and other control agency rules and regulations in payroll, benefits, and leave accounting work
• Ability to develop or deliver training materials, job aids, desk procedures, and process documentation related to state payroll, benefits administration, and leave accounting.
• Experience coordinating accounts receivable and salary advance audits, including identifying payroll overpayments and supporting recovery or adjustment.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with internal HR staff and external agencies such as SCO and CalPERS to resolve payroll and benefits issues.
• Experience serving in a lead capacity, guiding staff, or overseeing payroll-related projects and audits at a California State Department/Agency.
• Ability to review and reconcile benefit program issues, audit statements, retirement contribution discrepancies, and other payroll-related financial records.
• Skill in conducting or supporting employee leave audits, including identifying errors and collaborating with control agencies (as needed) for resolution.
• Experience with Dependent Reverification (DRV) and other state benefits compliance activities that directly impact payroll and benefit eligibility.
• Ability to analyze and implement changes driven by updates to state payroll policies, laws, rules, and procedures, including those issued by control agencies.
• Experience researching and resolving escalated payroll, benefit, or personnel-related issues, including complex audits or employee claim corrections.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for preparing payroll-related correspondence, audit responses, policy updates, and employee notifications.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

1. Describe your experience in each of the following areas in a numbered response, and include the length of time, along with the start and end dates (month and year) of each position:

1. Analytical (and level of responsibility)

2. Clerical

3. Technical (and level of responsibility)

4. Customer service

5. Years of academic education from an accredited college or university

If your experience is in the Analyst I classification, please specify your range.

Note : Applicants are not expected to have experience or education in all areas. For a glossary of terms, please click .

1. Describe in detail how you meet each of the “Desirable Qualifications” listed, using specific examples and outcomes.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  Please see Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) instructions below at end of posting . Applications received without a written response to the SOQ may be rejected.