Position Summary Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.
We're hiring an Payroll Management Analyst to join a collaborative team that helps ensure employees across the organization are paid accurately, on time, and in compliance with payroll laws and regulations. Payroll is a critical service that supports every employee, and this role plays an important part in maintaining the financial accuracy, accounting integrity, systems, processes, and reporting that keep payroll operations running smoothly.
In this role, you'll work on a variety of responsibilities, including payroll tax compliance, financial reconciliations, general ledger balancing, journal entries, regulatory reporting, payroll systems administration, and process improvement initiatives. You'll have the opportunity to analyze financial and payroll data, investigate discrepancies, reconcile accounts, prepare and review accounting entries, solve complex issues, support system enhancements, and contribute to projects that improve the accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness of payroll and financial operations.
Working closely with partners across Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, and other departments, you'll help address operational and financial challenges, implement improvements, support accurate financial reporting, and ensure compliance with evolving business and regulatory requirements. This position is well suited for someone who enjoys combining accounting knowledge, analytical problem-solving, attention to detail, customer service, and continuous improvement while making a meaningful impact on employees and organizational operations.
As the Payroll Management Analyst you will:
- Perform payroll tax administration and compliance activities, including federal, state, and local payroll tax processing, account maintenance, tax payments, reconciliations, corrections, reporting, and resolution of agency notices, audits, and inquiries.
- Coordinate and support year-end payroll reporting requirements, including W-2 reconciliation and reporting, quarterly tax filings, Multiple Worksite Reports, SAIF reporting, workers' compensation reporting support, and other regulatory reporting obligations.
- Oversee payroll tax accuracy and compliance by auditing employee tax setup, monitoring taxable wages, reviewing payroll transactions, validating jurisdictional tax calculations, and ensuring compliance with changing payroll laws and regulations.
- Perform and oversee accounting activities related to payroll operations, including reconciling payroll accounts, reviewing financial transactions, researching discrepancies, and ensuring accurate recording of payroll-related expenses, liabilities, deductions, and payments.
- Prepare, review, and post journal entries related to payroll processing, payroll adjustments, benefit deductions, tax liabilities, accruals, and other payroll-related accounting transactions. Ensure entries are properly supported, accurately coded, and recorded in the appropriate accounting periods.
- Perform general ledger reconciliations and balancing activities, including reconciling payroll subledger activity to general ledger accounts, reviewing chartfields and account combinations, investigating variances, and ensuring financial records are complete and accurate.
- Monitor and reconcile payroll-related balance sheet accounts, including payroll clearing accounts, accrued payroll liabilities, tax payable accounts, benefit deductions, and other related accounts. Identify outstanding items, research reconciling differences, and coordinate timely resolution.
- Support monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes by preparing reconciliations, analyzing payroll expenditures, reviewing account balances, preparing adjusting entries, and providing supporting documentation for financial reporting and audits.
- Administer payroll system configuration and maintenance, including earnings and deduction code updates, tax updates, fiscal year chartfield and general ledger combination code changes, payroll calendar reviews, and testing of system updates and enhancements.
- Troubleshoot payroll and accounting issues; manage financial and operational data requests; analyze trends and variances; and ensure accurate payroll processing and reporting.
- Support payroll system projects, including system implementations, upgrades, integrations, testing, process improvements, and cross-functional initiatives to improve efficiency, financial accuracy, compliance, and service delivery.
- Partner with Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, Benefits, Total Rewards, HRIS, and other stakeholders to support audits, collective bargaining agreement and leave program changes, troubleshooting efforts, financial reconciliations, data validation, and operational improvements.
- Provide advanced payroll and accounting technical support and consultation, including reviewing complex payroll transactions, off-cycle payments, settlement agreement payments, payroll accounting corrections, journal entries, workflow monitoring, and resolution of payroll processing issues.
- Develop, maintain, and improve payroll and accounting procedures, reconciliation documentation, internal controls, and business processes while responding to internal and external information requests and supporting continuous improvement efforts across payroll operations.
Attributes for Success
- Understanding of payroll principles, accounting practices, and applicable laws and regulations.
- Experience with payroll accounting, financial reporting, general ledger reconciliations, and journal entries.
- Ability to analyze financial data, identify discrepancies, and resolve complex payroll and accounting issues.
- Proficiency in payroll, accounting, financial management, and HRIS systems.
- Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and regulatory requirements.
- Strong attention to detail in financial reporting, reconciliations, audits, and regulatory filings.
- Knowledge of internal controls, accounting procedures, and financial compliance.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
- Commitment to process improvement and operational efficiency.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills when working across departments.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.
Learn more about how Metro is advancing diversity
TO QUALIFY
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.
Minimum qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in the program area of specialty,(examples could include; Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Data Analytics or similar) and
- Two years of relevant experience in payroll administration, payroll tax compliance, payroll accounting, timekeeping administration, HRIS support, or a closely related field, or
- Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.
Working Conditions: This role requires working on-site at least two days per week, providing opportunities for in-person collaboration, relationship building, and engagement with your team and department.
If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.
Hybrid Telework This position is designated as “hybrid telework.” You will be required to work onsite and at times have the option to work away from your assigned work location. The specific schedule and balance of onsite and telework will be discussed with the hiring manager at the time of offer. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington to work at Metro. Please note, the designation of hybrid telework may be subject to change at a future time.
Like to have qualifications You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.
- Experience with enterprise payroll, human resources information systems (HRIS), or workforce management systems such as PeopleSoft Payroll, PeopleSoft Time and Labor, UKG Workforce Management (formerly Kronos), Workday, Oracle HCM, or similar systems.
- Experience preparing and reviewing federal, state, and local payroll tax reporting and reconciliations.
- Experience supporting payroll operations in a unionized, public sector, or similarly regulated environment.
SCREENING AND EVALUATION
The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.
- A completed online application
- Complete responses to supplemental questions
The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.
- Initial review of minimum qualifications
- In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
- Consideration of top candidates/interviews
- Testing/assessments (if applicable)
- Reference check
- Background records check for finalist candidate
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATION
The full-salary range for this position is step 1: $77,439.90 to step 7: $103,758.91 annually. However, unless a candidate’s qualifications justify, based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements and Metro’s internal equity review process, the appointment will likely be made between step 1: $77,439.90 to the equity range step 3:$89,598.97 annually.
This position is not eligible for overtime and is represented by AFSCME union. It is classified as a Associate Management Analyst.
Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description.
Questions? Recruiter: Megan Warneke Email: megan.warneke@oregonmetro.gov Additional Information Equal employment opportunity All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.
Non-discrimination in hiring decisions Metro is committed to equal employment opportunity and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws. Metro employment decisions – including recruitment, screening, interviewing, selection, promotion, compensation, and separation – must not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected class.
Accommodation Metro will gladly provide a reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.
Veterans' preference Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.
Pay equity at Metro No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do. Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.
Online applications Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.
How to Apply For tips on how to apply and more information on what the application process looks like, visit Metro’s “How to apply” page.
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Metro Led by an elected council, this unique government gives all residents of greater Portland a voice in shaping the future and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale. We find solutions for our area’s garbage and recycling that protect clean air and water; help plan land use and development to provide jobs and safe transportation; manage local venues that provide a connection to arts and culture and help keep the economy growing; protect 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas, and run the Oregon Zoo, to keep nature close to home.
Benefits
As part of the Metro family, you play a vital role in serving the people of the greater Portland region.
Family members, including eligible spouses, domestic partners, and children, are covered under most of our benefits programs. Benefits vary depending on position and full-time, part-time, and variable hour status.
This is a budgeted, regular status position with a full-time schedule. The position is eligible for these benefits:
- Medical, dental and vision health insurance
- Paid sick leave
- Paid vacation, holiday, and other leave
- Paid parental leave
- Full contribution to Oregon PERS retirement
- No-cost TriMet Hop Pass
- Employee Assistance Program
- Training opportunities
- Flexible schedules depending on position and department
- Hybrid/Telework living in Oregon /Washington depending on position and department
Metro also offers a variety of perks for all employees, including free admission to the Oregon Zoo (including ZooLights!), Oxbow and Blue Lake Regional Parks, membership discount at Lloyd Athletic Club, credit union eligibility and more. Employees also receive access to financial wellness and legal consultation services, as well as first-time home buying and ownership counseling.
Learn more about employee benefits.
Some positions are represented by a union and have additional benefits. View union contracts here.