SENIOR PAYROLL CLERK (State)
Senior Payroll Clerk sits in the competitive class of New Jersey's state civil service, so reaching it runs through testing and an eligible list instead of a straight hire.
Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $39,358 to $56,481, and state payroll currently lists 9 people in the title, led by Corrections.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 3 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 3 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Senior Payroll Clerk appears on the State payroll at 3 departments, most of them at Department of Corrections.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Corrections | 4 |
| Department of Human Services | 3 |
| Department of Health | 2 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 9 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $44,644. The agencies employing the most are:
- Corrections (4)
- Human Services (3)
- Health and Senior Services (2)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under limited supervision of a Supervising Payroll Clerk or other supervisory official in a state department, institution, or agency, performs the more difficult and complex clerical work involved in and relating to the review, verification, and preparation of payroll or payroll and personnel records, may take the lead in a small clerical payroll unit; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Reviews and checks payroll or payroll and personnel records, statements, documents, certificates, U.S. Savings Bond registers, or time and attendance records.
- Under limited direction, prepares regular, supplemental, and overtime payrolls; adds or deletes employees as required; makes other appropriate changes including union deductions, taxes, charities, pension, and savings bonds, and so forth.
- Processes pension membership applications, beneficiary changes, retirement and loan applications as well as health insurance applications and changes.
- Completes unemployment requests for wage and separation information.
- Computes overtime, emergency rates, and leaves of absence requiring the interpretation and application of relevant rules and regulations.
- Receives regular and supplemental paychecks from Centralized Payroll and separates by payroll and region prior to distribution.
- Prepares and processes personnel and/or payroll forms with responsibility for ensuring that all pertinent information has been included and is accurate; ensures that all applicable rules, regulations, and procedures are adhered to.
- Works with and advises department employees as required.
- Keeps the supervisor and/or management informed of relevant deadlines, changes in rules and regulations, and related pertinent information.
- Handles special requests for information in accordance with prescribed rules and regulations.
- As required, assists in the planning and revision of policies and procedures.
- May consult with representatives of the Department of the Treasury or other outside agencies to exchange information and discuss problems related to payroll rules and regulations.
- Assists employees in completing and processing forms and applications relating to retirement, insurance, payroll deductions, and record changes.
- Will work and maintain a computer terminal and/or word processing equipment.
- Keeps abreast of changes in rules and regulations.
- Prepares miscellaneous payroll-related letters, memoranda, and reports.
- As required, operates various office machines such as adding machines, calculating machines, and photostatic copying machines.
- May assist professional staff in the development of new and revised personnel and/or payroll policies and procedures.
- If in charge of a small clerical unit, guides, instructs, and assigns tasks to other employees.
- Assists in the planning and, when required, in the revision of clerical procedures and office routines.
- Receives, reviews, and adjusts complaints.
- Makes special studies when requested of certain payroll procedures and reports findings to superiors.
- Prepares, reviews, checks, and certifies reports, applications, and other documents where difficult determinations must be made because of the variety of pay plans, activity in the payroll accounts, variety of pay action, and so forth.
- Assists in maintaining and ensuring confidentiality of essential records and files.
- Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
One (1) year of experience in work involving processing payroll, or payroll and personnel activities.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of the relevant rules and regulations concerning salary increments, bonuses, and authorized deductions.
- Knowledge of office methods, practices, routines, and equipment.
- Knowledge of procedures used to maintain accounts for keeping financial records and checking financial documents.
- Knowledge of payroll procedures.
- Knowledge of the methods used to calculate deductions and salary adjustments.
- Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply rules and regulations in accordance with established procedures and policies of the unit.
- Ability to accurately prepare detailed, technical, and confidential payroll forms and documents.
- Ability to take the lead over small groups, organize assigned clerical work and develop effective work methods.
- Ability to make arithmetic calculations quickly and accurately by hand or machine.
- Ability to understand and carry out prescribed procedures quickly from oral and written explanation.
- Ability to effectively convey information to department employees on the pertinent aspects of the payroll function.
- Ability to use varied office machines including adding machines, calculating machines, and copying machines.
- Ability to maintain confidential records and files.
- Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.