A Payroll Accountant organizes and maintains payroll records and makes employment-related tax payments for a company and its employees. Calculates employee paychecks and tax and benefit withholding amounts. Completes reports on employee compensation. Reviews payroll and tax documents as needed for audits.
Position is subject to the provisions of the Merit System Rules pursuant to Arizona Law.
OPENS:
Monday, August 3, 2026
CLOSES:
Monday, August 17, 2026, at 5 p.m.
ANTICIPATED RATE OF PAY
$22.34 to $27.92 hourly plus a comprehensive benefits package to include membership in the Arizona State Retirement System.
PLEASE NOTE
All positions at Cochise County require a pre-employment background screening.
NATURE OF WORK
: Under general supervision, performs professional accounting work of some difficulty; performs related work as assigned. As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is
ILLUSTRATIVE
ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class.
TYPICAL DUTIES
: (Illustrative Only) Responsible for the accurate, timely, and confidential administration of payroll ensuring full compliance with labor legislation, tax regulations, Social Security requirements, and policies and procedures; ensures the integrity of payroll data, statutory compliance, payroll reconciliations, and internal controls; applies principles of accounting to analyze financial information and prepares financial reports: compiles and analyzes financial information to prepare entries to accounts, such as general ledger accounts, documenting transactions; analyzes financial information detailing assets, liabilities, and capital, and prepares balance sheet and other reports to summarize current and projected financial position; may audit contracts, orders, and vouchers, and prepares reports to substantiate individual transactions assists in departmental budget process; may assist with County budget process. A Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning recognized by the US Department of Education; one (1) year of experience as an accountant and one (1) year of experience utilizing computerized budget/financial tracking and reporting programs; must possess and maintain a valid Arizona Driver's License and the ability to be covered by county insurance. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved may be considered.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
: Preference may be given to individuals with payroll experience and/or government accounting experience.
Considerable knowledge of:
principles, practices, theories and procedures of accounting; financial record keeping and reporting procedures; automated accounting systems and applicable software applications; principles and practices of fund accounting; modern office practices and procedures; the principles and practices of management and supervision.
Some knowledge of:
public sector budgetary and accounting principles and practices. Considerable skill in : performing difficult mathematical computations; using computerized budget/financial tracking and reporting programs.
Ability to:
analyze financial records and recommend corrective action; solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public; read, write and speak English; communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
: Work is primarily performed under general supervision. Incumbent generally performs work in a typical office setting with appropriate climate controls.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
: Essential functions of this position require: lifting, manual dexterity, ability to communicate.
Sedentary Work:
Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body; involves sitting majority of time; walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Mental Application:
Utilizes memory for details, verbal instructions, emotional stability, critical thinking, adaptability and creative problem-solving skills are important. Reasonable accommodations will be made for those that are able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation. Cochise County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
