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Payroll Accountant II Classified

State Of Colorado

Job Location:

Denver, CO - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 68832 - 75888

Posted: 22 July 2026 (30+ days ago)

Application Deadline: 19 October 2026

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Department Information

This position is only open to current Residents of Colorado.

Incumbent will be required to complete work for CDE within Colorado.

Colorado Department of Education What We Do
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) provides leadership resources support and accountability to the states 178 school districts 1888 schools over 53000 teachers and over 3200 administrators to help them build capacity to meet the needs of the states approximately 905000 public school addition CDE provides structural and administrative support to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and the Charter School Institute.

As the administrative arm of theState Board of Education CDE is responsible for implementing state and federal education laws disbursing state and federal funds holding schools and districts accountable for performance licensing all educators and providing public transparency of performance and financial data.

CDE is a values-based agency that serves students parents and the general public by protecting public trust through ensuring adherence to laws strong stewardship of public funds and accountability for student performance.

CDE strives to incorporate five core values that we uphold in our work internally and externally. If you come to CDE be prepared to incorporate Integrity Equity Accountability Trust and commitment to Service in what you do.

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do including hiring employment and advancement opportunities.

Why Work For CDE
The work we do is rewarding and impacts the students families educators and communities across Colorado. Our leadership also promotes a culture that puts families and self-care as a priority. Along with meaningful work and an environment that puts employees first the state also offers rich benefits that intend to make us an Employer of Choice!
The following is a summary of the benefits we offer:

Flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options that may include flexible working hours working from home working in the office and/or a hybrid working environment.

Premier medical dental vision and dependent life insurance options. All with a generous employer contribution keeping employee costs as low as possible.

Employer paid short-term disability and life insurance

Up to 160 hours of Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)

11 paid holidays per year

Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals

Retirement through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)
Employer paid RTD Eco Pass (certain restrictions may apply)
Paid professional development opportunities

A wide salary range is posted for this position and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience education certifications and state seniority as compared to others doing substantially similar work. While most salary offers are made within the posted range occasionally an offer is made below or above the posted range based upon this salary analysis.

Description of Job

Work Environment:

This position is full-time and is eligible for a hybrid work environment.

Extended hours during the evening or the weekend may be required by business needs
Commuting to the CDE buildings is required.
A Remote (Home) office is required
Required to report to the work location per business needs.
Essential Functions (ADAAA)
- SEDENTARY/Office environment:
  - Required to sit view a computer screen and utilize a keyboard and mouse for extended periods of time
  - Required lifting bending stooping pushing walking etc.
- DL Not Required: Required to independently obtain and determine means to complete travel requirements.

Position Summary:
The primary purpose of the position is to pay all employees at CDE accurately and timely. The position is responsible for payroll-related functions for employees paid on a monthly and biweekly pay cycle. The position is responsible for reviewing timecards in UKG to ensure they are complete hours are correct and have proper approvals. As part of this process this position assists employees with entering their time and with general and technical questions about UKG. The position is responsible for reconciling payroll accounts to ensure payroll is processed properly and to identify any errors prior to impacting employees. As time allows this position could assist in general accounts payable 1 and CORE transitions including transactions between CDE and DPA for payroll-related items. Finally this position will assist in the testing and implementation of the new CORE Payroll system.
The final salary is anticipated to fall within the posted salary range; however it could be higher or lower depending on the knowledge skills abilities and other qualifications of the preferred candidate while considering internal equity.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Processing Payroll (60%)

Compiles and calculates monthly and biweekly payroll for CDE employees. Verifies and enters data into the state payroll system (CPPS) or CORE Payroll including W-4 information and direct deposit changes.
Originates and submits batches with any payroll changes in the payroll system.
Coordinates electronic deposits and issues payroll checks to new employees. Works with internal and external parties including PERA Credit unions and banks DPAs Central Payroll and the Human Resources unit.
Maintains CDE employee payroll files so that employees are paid properly for each payroll period and so that the payroll is charged to the proper cost center.
- This task includes setting up or verifying initial payroll data and updating it as necessary due to employee-initiated changes accounting changes and any other necessary changes. Works with employees on all payroll issues. Answers all payroll questions of employees in a timely manner through phone calls instant messages and monitors the payroll email inbox.
Runs other integrations and reports in UKG to verify the accuracy of data.
This position may also provide or share responsibility to:
- Collect and report all ACA information to the Colorado Division of Human Resources.
- Consults with employees who are terminating or retiring from the state regarding final leave payouts.
- Complete submit and certify final salary data to PERA as requested. Train department personnel as needed on payroll issues. FAMLI overpayment reconciliations & working with employees for repayment.
Prepares UKG CLAS Export for Monthly payroll for prior month adjustments and/or Biweekly payroll (including checking for accuracy with employee actual paid through CPPS).

Reconcile Payroll Accounts(15%)

Reconciles the monthly payroll and/or biweekly payroll distributions from CPPS (CORE Payroll when implemented) by comparing the prior gross and net amounts for each employee to the current months/biweekly and net amounts. Biweekly reconciliation also includes hours/hourly rate comparison. The differences must be analyzed to explain all differences.
Submits to the supervisor for review prior to the correction payroll input deadline.
Reviews the CPPS posting reports in OnBase to ensure the accuracy of the bi-weekly payroll processing prior to the scheduled pay date.
Based on the reconciliations the position must initialize any necessary adjustments that are made to payroll and/or accounting records.
Reconciles CPPS and OnBase reports to CORE at the object code level for each payroll to ensure the payroll amounts posted to CORE are accurate.

Facilitating the Labor Data Collection Time and Effort Expenditure Allocation Process(15%)

Reviews UKG timecards and analyzes to determine completeness accuracy and validity.
Pulls reviews and uses UKG Integration reports (CLAS Export) to ensure payroll is posting correctly. Review CLAS Export for Monthly paid employees for prior month adjustments (including checking for accuracy with Employee)

Accounts Payable Assistance (5%)

Enter General Accounting Expenditure (GAX) documents into CORE as needed. Ensure that all required documentation is scanned and attached to the CORE document before submitting it for approval. Select the correct vendor record in CORE; if it is not available obtain the necessary information from the vendor to add the record.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

Other duties as assigned may include cleaning archiving system testing assisting other units with accounting tasks as needed processing cash receipts reports reconciliation participation on committees creating and delivering presentations participating in projects research and administrative tasks.

Minimum Qualifications Substitutions Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

MINIMUMEDUCATION ANDEXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

This position requires six (6) years of experience only OR A combination of education and experience totaling six (6) years.

Experience Only:

Six (6) yearsof relevant experience in an occupation related to the work (accounting/payroll) assigned to this position.

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education (coursework requires 27 semester hours completed in accounting or auditing) and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to six (6) years
Current valid licensure as a CPA by the Colorado Board of Accountancy will count for six (6) years of the requirement

QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS:
Qualifications for Success in the Position:

Demonstrated ability to maintain employee confidentiality.
Demonstrated experience in using a variety of payroll systems.
Demonstrated experience in reading spreadsheets (i.e. Google Docs Excel etc.).
Demonstrated experience in using a variety of accounting software.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Strong attention to detail (proofing work spelling grammar formatting etc.).
Demonstrated ability to effectively balance quality of work and productivity expectations.
Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with internal and external customers (e.g. school districts other CDE units).
Demonstrated ability to prioritize and organize work to accommodate and meet the changing needs of the department and meet deadlines.
Demonstrated ability to take initiative and exhibit a proactive approach to work.
Demonstrated ability to identify problems and recommend solutions prior to the standard being jeopardized.
Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as on a team.
Ability and willingness to commute to the CDE buildings.

Preferred Qualifications (Preferred/Not Required):

Experience in working with state payroll systems.
Experience in utilizing different systems such as CPPS (Colorados state payroll system) HRDW UKG OnBase Benefits Solver and the PERA employer website.
Experience in utilizing Microsoft systems (such as Outlook email Teams Excel Word and PowerPoint).

Conditions of Employment(Required):

Must be willing and able to submit to the pre-screening process and pass a background check.
Ability and willingness to independently commute to CDE buildings.
Work extended scheduleper business needs.
Report to work location per business needs.
DL Not Required: Required to independently determine and obtain means to complete travel requirements.

Supplemental Information

Complete Applications must include:

Completed Online Application:Required - Submitted through ourATS.
Transcript:Required if using education to meet MQs- Attached to the online application and meeting requirements as described under College Transcripts.