Payroll and Time Accounting Lead (Fiscal Analyst 4)

The salary listed above does not include the scheduled 3% general salary increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2025. Additionally, the pay range for the Fiscal Analyst 4 classification will move to pay range 57 on July 1, 2025 ($5,241 - $7,043 monthly).

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Payroll and Time Accounting Lead (Fiscal Analyst 4) within the Financial Services Division.

Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.

• One to three days per week may be required in the office, with the possibility of teleworking for two to four days per week, depending on approval.

• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: 

• Apply by May 22, 2025
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered.

As the Payroll and Time Accounting Lead, you will serve as the principal assistant to the Payroll and Time Accounting Manager, providing expert-level support in payroll processing and time accounting for the Department of Ecology. 

This position is part of the Payroll and Time Accounting Unit within the Fiscal Office, which, together with the Budget Office, makes up the Financial Services Division (FSD). As one of six administrative divisions supporting Ecology, the FSD manages the agency’s financial resources and planning efforts to help achieve environmental goals and strategic priorities. 

In this role, your work will directly advance the Fiscal Office’s mission of delivering accurate, timely, and useful financial information to all levels of agency management – ensuring consistent and effective payroll operations across the agency.

What you will do:

• Reconcile employer taxes, labor cost distribution reports, retirement, and Payroll Revolving Account 035.
• Coordinate the preparation and submission of Ecology’s tax reports to the Internal Revenue Service, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, and the Employment Security Department. 
• Train professional payroll staff to process employee payroll, leave, retirement, and accounting transactions.
• Monitor the work products and tasks of payroll processors to ensure accurate and timely processing of salaries and benefits and recording of employee salary expenditures and associated employer taxes in agency and state financial systems. 
• Respond to inquiries from agency managers, budget managers, and agency staff regarding payroll, benefit data, and time accounting reports. 
• Provide consultative services to Ecology staff regarding accounting policies, procedures, controls, and agency financial systems. 
• Assist in testing and attend meetings for any new payroll or accounting systems. 
• Maintain or oversee the creation of payroll procedural documents, eTime job aids, and payroll desk aids to ensure consistent practices within the payroll unit.

For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Eight (8) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in accounting, auditing, or budgeting.
• Education involving a major study in a financial related field; certification as a Public Accountant, Internal Auditor, Certified Governmental Financial manager, or Management Accountant; or any degree which includes 18 quarter or 12 semester hours in accounting, auditing, or budgeting.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 8 years of experience.
• 7 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 6 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 5 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 4 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree or higher. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of State of Washington enterprise systems for accounting and reporting (AFRS, Enterprise Reporting-standard, and Web Intelligence). 
• Knowledge and experience with HRMS or comparable payroll/HR system. 
• Intermediate proficiency using Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, and Outlook; able to create, edit, modify, save, and delete documents and spreadsheets; includes locating and accurately modifying existing files and templates for reuse. 
• Demonstrated ability to plan, prioritize, and organize workloads to meet deadlines. 
• Demonstrated ability to be on the job and be a productive team member in a busy unit with deadlines and seasonal workload issues.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Must sign and abide by the Financial Services/Fiscal Office Agreement on Confidential Information (Part A), Internal Control Responsibility (Part B), Safeguarding and Preventing Misuse of Ecology’s Data (Part C). 

Desired Qualifications:

• Four (4) or more years of relevant professional-level experience in state accounting. 
• Two (2) years of experience as a lead worker or supervisor. 
• Advanced proficiency with agency standard software applications and systems. 
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, work collaboratively with, and present complex financial material to all levels of management and staff. 

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Shari Aguilar at Shari.Aguilar@ecy.wa.gov 
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information 

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.

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