Title: Payroll Accountant

Hiring Range: $63,776 - $80,000

Pay Band: UG

Agency: Virginia Lottery

Location: Virginia Lottery

Agency Website: www.valottery.com

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

For more than three decades, the Virginia Lottery has worked to build a strong reputation, one synonymous with providing fun, entertaining experiences and doing so responsibly and with integrity. Proceeds from traditional Lottery games support K-12 public education in Virginia. Taxes generated by sports wagering and casino gaming, which are regulated by the Lottery, benefit other priorities of the Commonwealth.

Do you have a passion for games? Are you a FUN, ENERGETIC, and CUSTOMER-FOCUSED team player with extensive experience delivering “WOW” customer experiences and working in a forward-looking organization? If so, we have an exciting career opportunity for you! The Virginia Lottery, an independent state agency, is seeking a Payroll Accountant to join its team. This position is located in Richmond, Virginia.

The Payroll Accountant will be responsible for handling payroll transactions, resolving errors, and implementing procedures for both routine and non-routine items. This position operates within a two-person peer group, ensuring collaboration and mutual support. The incumbent processes the agency's payrolls, manages transportation programs, and ensures strict compliance with established procedures. Additionally, the Payroll Accountant provides timely account analyses and diligently maintains all relevant documentation. Accuracy and timely processing are critical to this role, as they directly impact the agency's financial integrity and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities Include:
Reviewing and reconciling a variety of reports and functions on a periodic basis and preparing accounting transactions to correct or adjust accounts balances:
• Preparing payroll related bank deposits and entering accounting transactions to report deposit data.
• Preparing healthcare billing statements to ensure accurate charges to the agency.
• Ensuring precise accounting and processing of required payroll transactions.
• Ensuring accurate payroll accounting functions and complete them promptly.
• Maintaining accurate and properly documented payroll and leave records
Maintaining agency and state payroll systems to ensure accountability and accuracy of wages, taxes, deductions, and direct deposits:
• Ensuring that leave records are complete and accurate to facilitate the reporting of the Lottery's monthly and annual compensated       absences liabilities on financial statements.
• Serving as primary payroll contact regarding processing, inquiries, and authorization of employee data related to the Virginia Sick and Disability Program, Virginia Retirement Systems, Workforce Transaction Act payments, and the in-house HR/Payroll system.
• Providing clear and effective verbal and written communication to employees at all levels concerning payroll and leave issues and problems.
• Acts as a payroll system administrator for the state payroll system.
• Managing semi-annual leave bucket loads, reviewing system-generated leave accruals, and make necessary adjustments for seniority differences, military service, and other relevant factors.

Communicating changes, issues, and problems regarding salary rate, leave activity, health care billing, deductions, direct deposit, employer contributions, short-term disability, and the HR/Payroll system.

• Responsible for maintaining current comprehensive knowledge of payroll concepts, practices, procedures, and current Federal and State tax laws related to payroll processing.
• Resolving employee inquiries and discrepancies, and providing support to lottery employees regarding usage of in-house time and attendance system.
• Assisting in implementing and training as required due to upgrades in the time and attendance system.
• Responding to inquiries from external agencies requesting payroll data.
• Providing wage analysis information to the Department of Human Resources Management.

Performing administrative functions and other projects assigned:

• Enhancing or developing controls that promote efficiency and effectiveness with the guidelines of the Lottery, government, and Department of Accounts’ policies and procedures guidelines.
• Editing tax records, scheduling payrolls, establishing new deductions and earnings, and administering state payroll system processes.
• Oversee the agency’s transportation program to include distributing parking discs, transit cards, vanpool vouchers; generating purchase requisitions; and receiving commuter bucks in the financial system.
• Performing annual review of qualifying criteria for transportation programs and managing disciplinary initiatives. Managing all transportation programs and developing/maintaining comprehensive procedures for all.
• Processing bulk payroll transactions.
• Training other payroll employees.

Performing as a backup to Accounts Payable for voucher and deposit processing.

Other duties may be required based on supplementary assignments.

Minimum Qualifications

The person selected for this position will have:
Minimum 5 years of experience in processing payroll, preferably as a payroll manager.

Comprehensive knowledge of accounting theory and principles (GAAP); payroll concepts, practices and procedures; and current Federal and State tax laws related to payroll processing.

Capability to work independently to resolve problems based on research and analysis.

Strong skills in problem resolution to address reconciliation issues and develop processes to avoid prevent future discrepancies.

Proficiency in desktop applications, including but not limited to, Microsoft Word and Excel.

Exceptional analytical and communication skills, both oral and written.

Demonstrated aptitude for handling sensitive and confidential information.

Proven ability to work under pressure of continuous deadlines.

Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, research, and time management practices.

A comparable amount of training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

Additional Considerations

Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or other related field from an accredited college or university.

Experience using the Commonwealth’s Payroll System Cardinal HCM.

Certified Payroll Professional or Fundamental Payroll Certification.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

The selected candidate will be required to complete a background investigation and possess a valid Driver’s License.

The Virginia Lottery is an independent state agency, and as such all positions are exempt from the Virginia Personnel Act, as well as most Executive Branch human resources policies. The Virginia Lottery is a fun place to work and values diversity in the workforce. We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits. The Virginia Lottery is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Only online applications completed in their entirety will be accepted for this position. The Virginia Lottery will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of accommodation in order to provide access to the application and/or interview process. If any assistance is needed when applying online, please contact the Virginia Lottery’s Human Resources Department at (804) 692-7000. Applications will be accepted until a suitable pool of candidates is received. After 5 business days, this position may be closed at any time.

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: N/A

Email: N/A

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.