Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist

Rancho Santiago Community College District

Salary Range: Grade 13: $73,338.25 - $93,670.77

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: CL26-01432

Location: 2323 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA

Division: DO Business Services

Closing: 7/22/2026 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 supervision of the Accounting Manager-Payroll, performs complex and technical payroll accounting work related to the preparation of the District payroll, including the coordination and application of current federal and state laws, county and district policies in the preparation, audit, and processing of a variety of payroll documents.

Representative Duties

Performs specialized, technical financial record keeping operations related to the complex elements of the district's payroll activities; audits and analyzes payroll timesheets and other documents to prevent and correct errors in salary payments; inputs data, updates and maintains district and county computer databases for personnel/payroll-related records; liaisons with Information Technology Services (ITS) in maintaining and updating the in-house payroll/personnel system; executes a variety of complex computations involving gross pay, retirement, taxes, contract calculation, retroactive pay, and leave records; monitors all employees' eligibility/enrollment in PERS, STRS, social security, Medicare, or any other retirement system; liaisons with Risk Management office and Payroll Manager in monitoring worker's compensation absences, approval, and payments; maintains current insurance files on all eligible employees and prepares and processes payment to all insurance companies; liaisons with the benefit person in personnel in monitoring enrollment, terminations and insurance changes; responsible for processing and maintaining records of employee voluntary deductions and makes payments to proper companies; maintains files on employees' sick and vacation records; prepares and distributes accrual notices; responds to inquiries concerning payroll, sick and vacation accrual balances; prepares and submits employment verifications, unemployment audits, IRS information inquiries, subpoenaed information as well as PERS, STRS, social security and any other retirement system requests for information; independently prepares correspondence, reports, spreadsheets, and other payroll-related documents using a computer; sorts and distributes employee payroll checks on appropriate paydays and W-2 forms at year end; performs other related duties as required.

Organizational Relationships

This class reports to the Accounting Manager-Payroll.

QUALIFICATIONS

Training and Experience

Any combination of training and/or experience equivalent to an AA degree and at least two years of experience in payroll preparation and practices, preferably in a college or school district environment.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of : principles and techniques involved in payroll preparation, monitoring, and control; pertinent federal and state laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures affecting payroll records and programs; practices and principles of financial and statistical record keeping, including general and basic timekeeping and record keeping; record keeping associated with fringe benefit programs, their applicable contracts, laws, and regulations; modern office practices, procedures and equipment, including use of computer for data entry, word processing, spreadsheets, database operations, and other office applications; correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.

Ability to : perform complex and technical accounting work related to the preparation of the district payroll; plan, prioritize and organize a large volume of work 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 angry, upset employees who may be verbally abusive.

Skills : skillfully operate various office equipment and machines including ten-key calculator, computer terminal, keyboard, printer, copier, and 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).

Foreign Degrees

Transcripts from countries other than the United States must be evaluated by an agency that is approved by or a member of the National Association of Credentials Evaluation Service ( NACES ) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ( AICE ), or Commission on Teacher Credentialing ( CTC ).

Application Screening
Job announcements will include screening criteria to be used during screening and interviews. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Education experience (breadth and depth)
• Work experience (breadth and depth)
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with others
• Bilingual ability (if needed)
• Demonstrated experience and sensitivity to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Professional growth activities
• Specialized skills training
• Leadership skills
• Written and/or oral communication skills
• Presentation
• Problem Solving.

Based on the information presented in the application materials, a limited number of candidates with qualifications most pertinent to the position will be invited to participate in the selection process, which may include a written test and an oral interview. Meeting the position's minimum requirements does not guarantee advancement in the selection process. Candidate qualifications will be assessed to determine those who meet and exceed requirements and are deemed the most competitive in the applicant pool.

Interview
Applicants selected for an interview may be required to take additional tests or assessments and will be notified of such prior to the date of the interview. During the oral session, those selected for interviews will, in addition to the above, also be evaluated on the following factors:

• Oral communication skills
• Presentation
• Problem-solving skills

A predetermined set of questions will be asked of all applicants interviewed. Applicants are requested to provide thorough yet concise information on their related experience to ensure the correct evaluation of their qualifications. Evaluation criteria will be applied consistently to all applicants.

Disability Accommodations

Individuals who require reasonable accommodations in the Application or Interviewing Process in accordance with ADA should notify the Recruitment Office in the Human Resources Division at least two days prior to the closing date, by calling (714) 480-7455.

Conditions of Employment
The selected candidate is required to complete the following before employment as part of the onboarding process:

1. Present original documents for proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
2. Provide a certificate of Tuberculosis Exam.
3. Fingerprints (by a Live Scan Agency at the candidate's expense, and clearance must be received before the first day of employment)

EEO STATEMENT

The Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is an equal opportunity employer. The policy of the District is to encourage applications from persons who are economically disadvantaged and individuals belonging to significantly underrepresented groups within the District's workforce, including ethnic and racial minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. No person shall be denied employment because of ethnicity or race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or political or organizational affiliation.
RSCCD will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional employment offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if RSCCD is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

To apply, please visit

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