Payroll Specialist na Port of Portland, OR

About the Department

The Port of Portland is hiring a Payroll Specialist!

We’re looking for a highly organized and proactive Payroll Specialist III to contribute to the organization’s success through demonstrating Port values while successfully achieving or exceeding performance goals and objectives.

From the hiring manager: At the Port, we are on the lookout for a talented payroll specialist who thrives on hard work, being proactive, curious, and who  has a passion for solving problems, while providing excellent customer service to all levels of the organization. This role involves managing the entire payroll process from start to finish, ensuring accuracy and timely payments. You'll be responsible for processing bi-weekly payroll for seven union groups and administrative staff, as well as handling weekly certified payroll for our navigation union group. If you have a keen eye for detail and a drive to maintain seamless payroll operations, this is the perfect opportunity for you to excel and make a significant impact. Join us in delivering precise and efficient payroll services!

Schedule: We offer a flexible hybrid schedule to support both work-life balance and team collaboration. You’ll be in the office three days a week, working alongside colleagues to support our various lines of business, and then enjoy the flexibility of working from home two days a week. We believe in fostering strong connections while also providing the balance you need to thrive both professionally and personally! 

Position Duties

• Accurately process weekly and bi-weekly payroll, which includes processing all liabilities (regular and quarterly taxes, PERS contributions, garnishments, union dues, charities, HSA/FSA, and deferred compensation) and balancing and reconciling tax information. Calculate and process miscellaneous checks (retro checks, incentive payments, final checks, etc.) as necessary.
• Set up new plans, accruals, and pay types/tax types in timekeeping and HR system and correct issues that arise when processing payroll; highlight opportunities to improve payroll-related processes; troubleshoot- through problems or issues as they arise to determine the cause and identify a range of possible solutions as well as recommend the preferred approach to resolution; troubleshoot and correct timekeeping issues independently, if possible, or relay issues concisely and accurately to IT and assist in achieving a resolution.  Document new processes and maintain/update existing processes as needed. 
• Balance and reconcile tax information each pay period and file quarterly and annual tax reports; balance, reconcile, and process  W2’s on an annual basis, including the determination of taxable/non-taxable health reporting requirements and relocation expenses, in addition to 457 Plan Deferred Compensation limits; assist with annual total compensation statements as necessary.
• Full position description available upon request. 

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• A high school diploma or GED is required. 
• Minimum five (5) years of dedicated payroll experience or the equivalent combination of education and/or relevant experience. 
  • An ideal candidate will have experience in a multi-group payroll environment, worked in an environment with unions, and have experience working with PERS

• Advanced knowledge of: HRIS systems and time and attendance systems, including configuration of pay types, deductions, and accruals as well as the interrelation among them; reporting and querying; and troubleshooting issues; making W-2 corrections; PERS reporting requirements; tax reporting requirements, garnishments.
• Working knowledge of: Spreadsheet software; PERS/OPSRP rules; accounting concepts; applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes, and/or statutes related to payroll.

Other Qualifications

Selection Process: (tentative schedule):

1. A minimum qualification evaluation of the education, training, and experience of submitted application packets will take place by Human Resources in the week of October 20, 2025.
   
   
2. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials.
   
   
3. Our goal is to schedule virtual first round of interviews with candidates who successfully passed the SME evaluation on October 28. Panel Interviews will be held afterwards on November 12.