Senior Payroll Specialist (Fiscal Analyst 3)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Senior Payroll Specialist (Fiscal Analyst 3) 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.
• A minimum of one day per week is required in the office, though business needs may occasionally require additional in-office presence.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by October 01, 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.

Duties

In this position, you will serve as a senior specialist on the Payroll and Time Accounting team with expertise in payroll processing, 035 reconciliation, and health benefit administration.

Ecology’s mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations. The Payroll and Time Accounting Unit is located within the Fiscal Office. The Fiscal Office and Budget Office make up the Financial Services Division (FSD). The FSD is one of six administrative divisions that serve Ecology. The FSD’s core work is to manage the agency’s financial resources and support agency planning so the agency can meet environmental goals and strategic priorities. The Payroll and Time Accounting Unit supports the Fiscal Office Mission of delivering useful and timely financial information to all levels of agency management.

What you will do:

• Independently conduct reconciliation of employee health benefits to ensure compliance with the Affordable Care Act and Health Care Authority WAC 182-12.
• Conduct reconciliation of general ledger accounts with Payroll Revolving Account 035 in accordance with GAAP and OFM SAAM 90.20.70.
• Process Washington Conservation Corps and Ecology Litter Crew payroll actions.
• Conduct analysis and review of payroll actions and documentation.
• Serve as back-up to the Unit Lead with expertise in the functional areas of the Unit.
• Analyze, reconcile, and process financial data in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, governmental auditing standards, budgeting guidelines, statutes and regulations.
• Assure agency compliance with federal and state policies and requirements relating to expenditure tracking, cash management, and reporting.
• Initiate and develop fiscal management reports for effective accounting and management practices.

Qualifications

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

Required Qualifications:

Seven years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in accounting, auditing, or budgeting.
  Experience must include:
  • 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.
    
• 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:

• 7 years of experience.
• 6 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 5 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 4 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 3 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 1 year of experience AND a Master’s degree OR certification as a Public Accountant, Internal Auditor, Certified Governmental Financial Manager or Management Accountant

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:

• Knowledge and experience with HRMS or comparable payroll/HR system.
• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business, accounting, public administration, or closely related discipline, with a minimum of 18 quarter or 12 semester hours in accounting, auditing, or budgeting. Professional experience may substitute for education but not for the accounting credit hours.
• A Master’s degree in a financial related field, certification as a Public Accountant, Internal Auditor, Certified Governmental Financial Manager or Management Accountant can be substituted for professional experience.
• Experience using Lean or other continuous improvement methodologies to achieve efficiencies and respond to customer needs.

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.

Supplemental Information

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.

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

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.

Ecology Job Opportunities | Careers at Ecology