PERA Analyst

Analyze, maintain and coordinate Central Payroll files, data and activities specific to PERA and Retiree Health processing and research for all City employees.  Be a resource for other Central Payroll staff, City timekeepers and other departmental staff on all aspects of PERA and payroll processing at the City of Albuquerque; perform detailed research and analysis; prepare comprehensive reports and coordinate payroll activities directly and indirectly related to PERA wages and contributions reporting and Retiree Healthcare wages and contributions reporting.

Job descriptions are intended to present a general list of tasks/duties performed by employees within this job classification. Job Descriptions are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Essential functions may include, but are not limited to the functions listed below. Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

1. Responsible for auditing, maintaining and updating all employee PERA records retained by Central Payroll.
2. Responsible for the biweekly balancing of PERA and Retiree Healthcare wages and contributions, timely submission of the requisite information files to PERA and Retiree Healthcare authorities as well as correcting any errors identified by the submission and balancing processes prior to PERA deadlines.
3. Responsible for monitoring collective bargaining contracts, city policies and state legislation as it relates to PERA and for communicating any changes to Central Payroll, and when necessary, ERP for system configuration updates.
4. Process retroactive pay changes including the more complex retroactive wage payments which may require further research, backup and authorizations, including external PERA calculations; gather the appropriate data by verifying dates and rules; assure that all required backup and signatures have been attained; calculate the amount of the backpay assuring that wages are appropriately coded, PERA and Retiree Health contributions percentages are correctly calculated; enter the amounts due to the employees in the payroll system; edit, balance, and verify the payments, taxes and deductions on employee checks.
5. Process Workers' Compensation payment lists received from the Risk department in accordance with the City's Injury Time Policies and appropriate state laws; work with Risk and other City departments to assure the proper timing and amounts for Work Comp payments and Injury Time payments, including the verification of Light Duty assignments; enter Work Comp amounts into the payroll system; review wage calculations for the Work Comp entries to assure Retirement and Taxable wages are correct.
6. Respond to inquiries and requests from PERA, employees, Timekeepers, City departments, attorneys, courts, public information requests, internal and external auditors and other outside entities regarding various types of data requests according to Payroll Department instructions and guidelines.
7. Develop and maintain new audit processes in response to new and/or changing PERA and Retiree Healthcare regulations and requirements, including those introduced by the CBAs.
8. Monitor the entire biweekly payroll process through the review of edit/error reports as well as the preliminary paycheck calculations; assure all employee payments and deductions adhere to Union contracts, Rules and Regulations and PERA salary statutes.   Verify that all entries submitted and all changes made for the biweekly pay period calculate correctly including the calculations for Retirement contributions and Taxation purposes.
9. Serve as a functional and technical resource for Central Payroll, departmental timekeepers, payroll officers, HR staff and employees for payroll and time processing as it relates to retirement including the setup and design of the system and processes for adherence to union contracts, city rules & regulations, federal and state laws, tax rule and regulations, PERA and Retiree Health statutes. 
10. Design and maintain electronic/paper filing system for various payroll and time and labor documents to adhere to federal and state laws and internal retention policies and PERA requirements; verify all settlement documents that include and require PERA calculations, PERA inquires, and public information requests are filed and maintained according to governing policies.
11. Perform front desk duties of greeting, assisting and guiding employees, departmental timekeepers, and others in the completion of payroll forms, data/information requests, and information on other internal or outside contacts when other Central Payroll staff are unavailable.  Collect appropriate fees where required and deposit according to internal City policy.
12. Must be able to work independently, review, research and analyze historical data as well as reconstruct historical events based on the available data.

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of payroll, time and labor.
2. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Education and experience directly related to the minimum requirements below may be interchangeable on a year for year basis. 

Associate's degree from an accredited college or university; and

Five (5) years accounting or direct payroll experience.

Experience with payroll systems comparable to the City of Albuquerque's system is preferred.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Work holidays, weekends or irregular hours may be required with possible extension of shift hours, at times with short notice.

Environmental:

Office environment; exposure to computer screens.

Physical:

Essential and supplemental functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting, walking or standing for prolonged periods of time.