Payroll Technician

The Position

The current vacancy is for Payroll Technician in the Finance Department. This is a full‑time and fully‑benefitted position working 40 hours per week. The eligibility list established from this recruitment may be used to fill other Regular and Temporary Payroll Technician vacancies that may occur during the life of the list. The eligibility list established from this recruitment is valid for up to one year from the date established unless the list is extended or abolished by the Human Resources Director.

Under general supervision, the Payroll Technician accurately processes all City employee earnings, benefits and tax‑related information in a timely manner; compiles and maintains a variety of payroll and benefit records and reports; and performs related work as required.

Join the City of Santa Cruz payroll team and play an important role in supporting the dedicated staff who keep our beautiful city running every day. The Payroll Technician will work out of the Finance Department offices located at 1200 Pacific Avenue, Suite 290 in Santa Cruz. Catch some epic surf or stroll our vibrant downtown on your lunch break. Enjoy the mountains and the ocean during your time off.

It’s great to work for the City of Santa Cruz!

• On Thursday, 01/29/26 recruitment will close. All application materials must be received by the Human Resources Department by 5:00 pm; postmarks are not accepted.
• Application - online application only. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of filling out the application form completely. Click the Apply button to begin the online application process.
• Response to supplemental questions - will be a primary tool in the evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Any work experience described here must also be included in your employment history on the main application.
• Weeks of 02/02/26 and 02/09/26:
  Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates will be notified of their status in the recruitment by 02/20/26.
• Week of 03/02 and/or 03/09/26:
  Interviews will be tentatively scheduled for top candidates. The examination process will include an interview and may include a written and/or performance exercise.

Under general supervision, accurately processes all City employee earnings, benefits and tax‑related information in a timely manner; compiles and maintains a variety of payroll and benefit records and reports; and performs related work as required.

This is a specialized class in the accounting series that performs a variety of technical duties in support of the City’s payroll and benefits systems. Incumbents are responsible for the overall preparation and distribution of payroll, maintenance of payroll records, and required reporting in accordance with Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations. This class is distinguished from the Accounting Assistant II by the in‑depth knowledge of the payroll function and related reporting.

• Reviews, verifies, and processes time and payroll records to prepare payroll in compliance with Federal, State, City policies, procedures, regulations and City Memoranda of Understanding.
• Processes, calculates, and maintains records of a variety of payroll actions, including new‑hire set up, retroactive pay, wage garnishments, workers compensation award adjustments, long term disability and final paychecks and pay‑offs based on appropriate provisions; maintains employee records for voluntary and non‑voluntary deductions; verifies pay rate changes, cost of living adjustments, incentive and/or premium pay, and benefit withholding; and prepares payroll checks and wire transfers;
  
  researches and processes unclaimed checks.
• Reconciles and prepares State and Federal payroll taxes including tax deposits, quarterly reports, annual reports, and W-2’s; tax restatements and re‑filings; and reconciles and prepares payments for benefits and insurance.
• Computes, controls and records information relative to employee leaves such as vacation, sick, and holidays.
• Computes and processes claims…