2025-2026 PAYROLL SPECIALIST chez Atlanta Public Schools

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for the processing of payroll data inclusive of leave reconciliation, time entry, retroactive payment calculations, overtime calculation, and wage deductions relating to garnishments, student loans, bankruptcy and payroll adjustments to insure proper payment to employees. Provides training to principals/budgets center managers, timekeepers to ensure a more efficient process. Provides administrative leadership to ensure all transactions relating to payroll are in compliance with APS policies and procedures. Solid communication, analytical and problem solving skills; detailed oriented, team player, and customer focused. The position reports to the Payroll Supervisor.

• Coordinates and reconciles leave time accrual in Lawson and time and attendance in Kronos.
• Communicates with Internal and external customers with calculations, verifications, and reconciliations with salaries to ensure timely and accurate payments are provided. (retro payments, overpayments, salary recalculations, suspensions, bereavement, summer salary, and change of attendance processes i.e., reports, documentation, and any relevant information requested.)
• Responsible for the calculations of various wage deductions and answers to garnishments, studentloans, tax levy, child support, wage assignments, bankruptcy, etc.
• Works with Legal, Human Resources, Accounts Payable, and various worksites.
• Assists in the development of in-service payroll training and materials within the district.
• Maintains and updates departmental procedure manuals for internal and external customers.
• Reconciles and verifies W-2 information and generates duplicate W-2’s as necessary.

• Makes recommendations or decisions which usually affect the entire department.
• Routine: Limited opportunity for independent judgment.
• Requires regular contact within department.
• Professional customer service skills and strong verbal and written communication skills
• Has responsibility or authority which is limited to the direction of temporary workers or trainees.
• Comprehensive knowledge of computer-based applications, i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Outlook, etc.

• High school diploma
• Additional training and/or college preferred.

• N/A

• 2 years of payroll or accounting experience with knowledge of payroll processing and balancing.
• Experience with Lawson, Kronos, and mapping & uploading spreadsheets a plus.