Job Details

Position Type:
Human Resources/Payroll

Date Posted:
10/29/2025

Location:
District Support Center

Closing Date:
11/09/25 or Until Filled
Job Description
Position Title: Payroll Specialist
Location: District Support Center
Department: Human Resources
Reports To: Director of Human Resources
Term: Year-round position
Schedule: Mon-Fri Full-time - 8:00-4:30pm
Salary: Position follows the Classified Salary Schedule 2025-2026 at B250. Starting salary begins at $26.30-$31.10/hour, based on experience.
Date of last review: October 2025

SUMMARY: The Payroll Specialist is responsible for accurate and timely preparation and processing of payroll and the maintenance of compensation information, payroll records, and payroll related data. The Payroll Specialist operates within Human Resources (HR) by overseeing general payroll programs and services.

To Apply: Please complete the application and include up-to-date, relevant submissions of your resume, a letter of interest, and three professional references.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and requirement satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required for the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Other duties may be assigned)
Collaboration:

• Owns completing governmental, banking, and other verification of employment requests on all district employees for state reporting purposes.
• Assists new employees with initial employment paperwork on an ad hoc basis.
• Owns reviewing and updating new, and returning, employee information for activation, or reactivation if returning, in the HR systems.
• Partners with Leaves Manager to review and reconcile leave requests and personal leave approvals.
• Supports Payroll & Benefits Specialist by serving as back-up for processing employee terminations, leave payouts, and offboarding from HR payroll systems.
• Develops positive, effective working relationships with learners and staff.

Communication:

• Owns creating, and publishing, of primary payroll schedules and to ensure accuracy and timeliness of payroll processing.
• Provides information to staff and the public by answering questions and requests on an ad hoc basis.
• Owns processing, reconciliation, and submission and annual communication for NDW-R and Federal Exempt forms.
• Connects and shares ideas through appropriate/applicable formats to express thoughts and ideas with integrity.

Compassion:

• Understands the complexities of cultural and global issues and how they relate to employee and learners' experiences.
• Partners with others to resolve potential controversy and conflict through respectful discussion.
• Proactively seeks to understand the ideas, opinions, and skills of others.

Creativity:

• Connects with team members and shares ideas in an effort to improve the overall learner and employee experience.

Critical Thinking:

• Owns inputting, reconciling, and processing payroll information from a variety of sources.
• Owns ensuring all payroll process steps are conducted with accuracy and efficiency.
• Owns processing garnishments, child support, and levies and ensures timely remittance to local, state, and federal agencies.
• Owns reviewing and updating address and name changes for employees in payroll systems.
• Owns entering direct deposits, tax withholding documents, NDW-Rs.
• Owns I-9 documentation upkeep and purging of outdated, expired records.
• Owns performing social security verifications for all new employees and staff.
• Owns importing data from Kronos timekeeping system and reconciles into HR system. Partners with HR/Payroll Supervisor.
• Owns submitting Substitute bonus payments into HR payroll system.
• Owns preparing, reconciling, and submitting quarterly reports for 941, unemployment, and state tax returns.
• Owns preparing, reconciling, and submitting annual reports for W-2, 1095, and teachers' retirement.
• Reasons, interprets, and analyzes information to generate new knowledge and understanding.

Reflection:

• Maintains communication with supervisor and director regarding general feedback, career advancement opportunities, and areas of growth opportunities.

Resilience:

• Maintains composure while dealing with stressful situations.
• Proactively seeks out resolutions and takes initiative to resolve knowledge gaps.

Responsibility:

• Owns managing the supplemental pay system by reviewing, monitoring, and reconciling entries by entering batches into payroll systems for processing.
• Owns managing timely payment of payroll liabilities.
• Maintains current knowledge of payroll rules and regulations to ensure compliance.
• Owns maintaining up to date filing of payroll information and time records.
• Partners with HR department team members to update and verify employee records related to payroll including pay rate, benefits, job status, tax information, and other relevant data on an ad hoc basis.
• Owns maintenance of all payroll related documents for secure storage and maintains a schedule for compliant document destruction.
• Owns processing national certification stipends, meal vouchers, and other taxable benefits.
• Partners with Leaves Manager to action unpaid leave requests and personal leave approvals.
• Owns processing Health Club Credits reports from Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
• Partners with IT to process and reconcile cellphone stipends.
• Owns creation of vendor payment receipts for payroll processing.
• Owns processing Public Service Loan Forgiveness forms on an ad hoc basis.
• Owns submission of all new employees into applicable HR systems to meet North Dakota new hire reporting requirements.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms.
• While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, bend, talk, and hear.
• The specific vision abilities required for this role include close and peripheral vision.
• The employee may be required to lift up to ~30 pounds.
• The employee must work with the public and various WFPS staff while simultaneously managing several competing demands.
• The employee will work in an environment that has a quiet to loud noise level.

Education and/or Experience:

• Associate degree in business, HR, payroll, accounting, or closely related field or equivalent related work experience - 2-year(s) minimum.
• Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, or closely related field is preferred.
• Experience running payroll processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of payroll rules, regulations, procedures, and systems.
• Advanced knowledge and operational skills for Microsoft Excel is preferred.
• Experience working in an educational environment is preferred.
• Experience with School ERP Pro is preferred.

Language Skills:

• Ability to read, write, and comprehend simple instructions and short correspondences in the English language.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally, expressively, and reactively.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Exercise confidentiality, discretion, and good judgement.
• Adhere to the assigned work schedule by maintaining regular and punctual attendance.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• None.

The West Fargo Public School District is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment free from discrimination and harassment in all employment and educational programs, activities, and facilities. The District prohibits discrimination and harassment based on an individual's race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, or other protected status by law. External applicants are eligible for ND Veteran's Preference: North Dakota veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date. Proof of eligibility includes a form DD214, and if claiming disabled veteran's status, a current letter of disability. West Fargo Public Schools is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusivity in all hiring and employment practices. Applicants who incorporate a holistic perspective and a commitment to inclusion are encouraged to apply.

Attachment(s):

• WFPS - Payroll Specialist.pdf