Accounting Technician (Payroll)

Salary: $94,681.60 - $121,201.60 Annually
Location : 5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 02034-E
Division: Financial Planning and Management Services
Unit: General Accounting
Opening Date: 11/03/2026
Closing Date: 11/13/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Overview:

Valley Water is seeking a detail-oriented and dependable Accounting Technician (Payroll) to join our General Accounting Unit within the Financial Planning and Management Services Division. This position plays an essential role in ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while supporting the smooth operation of Valley Water's biweekly payroll process.

In this role, you will perform a variety of technical payroll functions, including reviewing and processing timesheets, maintaining employee payroll records, processing payroll adjustments, and managing deductions, wage garnishments, and leave-related transactions. You will also assist employees with payroll inquiries, resolve discrepancies, and help ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures, and regulations.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Set up and maintain employee direct deposit information, tax data, allowances, and other payroll deductions. Process and maintain wage garnishment orders and related payroll deductions.
• Complete missing timesheets for biweekly payroll. Review leave without pay timesheets and holiday-related entries. Process Accounts Payable check requests for returned direct deposits, process leave donations, and file payroll-related documents.
• Enter plant operators' paper timesheets and leave-of-absence timesheets into the payroll system.
• Review and process prior-period timesheet adjustments, including on-call and jobsite pay.
• Respond to employee payroll inquiries, answer payroll hotline calls, and distribute payroll checks and direct deposit slips.

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience:

• 3 years of increasingly responsible accounting, payroll support, accounts payable or financial records experience, preferably in the public sector.
• Experience in using automated financial systems such as Infor, Dayforce, PeopleSoft, SAP or similar enterprise-systems.
• Experience providing customer service to employees and managers related to payroll, timesheet, leave-related questions, or other payroll-related inquiries.

Ideal Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to proficiently use Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and web-based programs, or equivalent.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally.
• Ability to interpret and apply payroll procedures, policies, collective bargaining agreement provisions, and applicable federal and state requirements.
• Ability to identify discrepancies, research issues, and process corrections within established payroll deadlines.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple recurring tasks in a deadline-driven biweekly payroll environment.

Ideal Knowledge:

• Knowledge of basic accounting and payroll principles, practices, procedures, and terminology.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state payroll, tax-withholding, and wage-garnishment requirements.

Ideal Training and Education:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by two years of college level course work in accounting, business administration or a related field.

Required License or Certificate

No License is required for this position.

To review the Classification Specification, please click

General Accounting Unit (Position Code 213)Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite, after completion of the probationary period (one year).
Selection Process
(1) The selection process may include one or more of the following: application review, application assessment, performance exercise, written exercise and/or interview.
(2) The Employment Application, Qualifying Information Questions and/or Supplemental Questions will be evaluated based on the ideal candidate criteria listed above. Resumes are highly recommended.

NOTE: Position and start date is subject to availability of funds. Valley Water retains the right to repost this position as deemed necessary.
Consideration may be given to existing applicant pools within the same classification.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District, now known as Valley Water, offers a comprehensive benefit package including, vacation, holidays, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, EAP, life and disability insurance. In addition, Valley Water participates in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). To view a summary of benefits, click
01

I acknowledge that I have entered my Work Experience and Education on the employment application, and I am aware these are required fields. If they are not completed, the application is considered incomplete, and I will be disqualified as an applicant for the position.

• Yes
• No

02

Please answer the supplemental questions thoroughly, clearly, and concisely as the responses provided (along with the application) will be carefully reviewed to determine which candidates will move forward in the recruitment process. Responses that refer to attachments (e.g., "see resume") will not be considered. Each question must be answered in full to ensure a fair and complete evaluation. I have read this information and am aware of the importance of responses to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

03

Please list all high school level or college-level degrees that you have obtained including the educational institution and the field of study.
04

How many years of accounting support, bookkeeping, clerical or accounting technician work with payroll?

• None
• 0 - 3 years
• 3 plus years

05

Please list the enterprise-level automated payroll and financial systems you have used.
06

Please list your level of experience in using Excel as a reconciliation tool.

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Expert

07

How many years of experience in accounting in a public sector?

• None
• 0 - 2 years
• 2 plus years

08

Describe your education and experience working in Payroll or other areas of general accounting.
09

Describe your accounting experience utilizing an enterprise-level payroll system, including the modules used and any other external tools used for reconciliation.
10

Describe your accounting experience and challenges encountered related to the processing of payroll transactions such as direct deposit, tax data, PERS deductions and other employee deductions.
11

Employment with Valley Water requires employees to take an Oath as a Disaster Service Worker within California and to live within 150 miles of Valley Water Headquarters in San Jose, California by the start date. Valley Water does not cover relocation costs. If you live further than 150 miles from Valley Water Headquarters, please discuss your willingness to relocate if offered the position. If this does not apply to you, write "N/A".
12

Please list the full name of the regular/permanent Valley Water employee who referred you to this position (only one name will be accepted, so if multiple are listed, the first name provided will be documented as the referring employee). If this does not apply to you, write "N/A".
Required Question