Salary : $84,448.23 - $102,022.41 Annually
Location : 1541 Second Street, Napa, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 26-FN05-FN2
Department: Finance
Division: FINANCE ACCOUNTING
Opening Date: 06/16/2026
Closing Date: 6/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

DESCRIPTION
Do you have a passion for payroll and reconciliations? Has your collaborative work style allowed you to bring value and make positive impacts? Do you enjoy solving complex payroll questions and ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements?

If so, APPLY today and grow your career with us!
We are seeking qualified candidates to fill one (1) Payroll Specialist vacancy within the Finance Department. In this role, you will support the Accounting Division by performing complex payroll transactions, reconciliations, and related financial processes. Key responsibilities include preparing and processing bi-weekly payroll, maintaining accurate pay records, and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and policies.

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to a high-performing team while showcasing your expertise in payroll administration, attention to detail, and strong analytical and research skills. Your work will directly support City staff and help ensure the accuracy and integrity of payroll operations.

The Finance Department is comprised of 26 full-time employees and operates with an annual budget of $7.2 million for FY 2025/26. The department includes the Administration, Accounting & Auditing, Revenue, and Budget divisions. It is responsible for safeguarding public financial resources, providing the City Council with strategic policy analysis and fiscally sound funding recommendations, developing and managing the City's budget, overseeing utility billing and purchasing activities, and supporting departments in implementing programs through effective budget planning and management. The department also ensures that the City's financial activities are reported clearly and transparently to both internal stakeholders and the community.
Save the Date:The in-person test is tentatively scheduled for July 8, 2026 and is a required component of the selection process. Additional details regarding the test location, time, and instructions will be provided to qualified candidates after the application filing period has closed. Please note that the date is tentative and subject to change.
In addition to meeting the qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will have shown success in demonstrating:

• Technical Knowledge and Skill - Technical, functional, and/or professional skill or knowledge in position-related areas; keeping up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise; using knowledge to accomplish results.
• Emotional Intelligence - Establishing and sustaining trusting relationships by accurately perceiving and interpreting own and others' emotions and behavior; using insights to effectively manage own responses so that one's behavior matches one's values and delivers intended results.
• Information Monitoring - Setting up ongoing procedures to collect and review information needed to manage an organization or ongoing activities within it.
• Decision Making - Identifying and understanding problems and opportunities by gathering, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative information; choosing the best course of action by establishing clear decision criteria, generating and evaluating alternatives, and making timely decisions; taking action that is consistent with available facts and constraints and optimizes probable consequences.
• Quality Orientation - Accomplishing tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how detailed; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes and tasks; being watchful over a period of time.
• Customer Service - Ensuring that the (internal or external) customer's perspective is a driving force behind strategic priorities, business decisions, processes, and individual activities; crafting and implementing service practices that meet customers' and own organization's needs; promoting and operationalizing customer service as a value.
• Resolving Conflict - Helping others deal effectively with an antagonistic situation to minimize damage to the relationships and promote shared goals; using appropriate interpersonal methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people and facilitate agreement.
• Adaptability - Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment (e.g., people, processes, structure, or culture); adjusting effectively to change by exploring the benefits, trying new approaches, and collaborating with others to make the change successful.

This recruitment and examination is being conducted to fill one (1) full-time vacancy and may be used to fill future similar full-time vacancies as they occur during the active status of the employment list.The active status of this employment list will be at least 6 months unless abolished sooner or extended beyond that date in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.

For the Payroll Specialist class specification, please click here.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
***NOTE: CITY OF NAPA EMPLOYEES SHOULD USE A PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS***
SELECTION PROCESS

The City of Napa utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad outreach efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to take part in a process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, an eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments and eligible lists may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

Candidates who have participated in a testing process for a recruitment are not eligible to re-take the same test within six (6) months.
What happens next?

• We will review your application and all supplemental materials to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the selection process. Application appraisal includes a review of qualifications, education, training, and experience related to the job, as well as supplemental questions if applicable.
• Applicants moving forward in the selection process may be asked to participate in any combination of the following (at any phase of the selection process): online assessment, written examination, job-related exercise, phone interview, and panel interview. These testing steps may be conducted on a pass/fail basis, and/or percentage-based scoring methodology.
• Based on the City Charter, the final phase of the selection process is the Probationary Period, which in most cases is six (6) months but may be twelve (12) months depending on the classification.
• When three or fewer candidates are available, the testing procedures outlined in the Job Announcement may be waived by the Human Resources Department.

Language Equity

• If you need assistance with the recruitment and selection process in Spanish, contact us at 707-257-9505. These request will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• Si necesita ayuda con el proceso de reclutamiento y selección en español, contáctenos al 707-257-9505. Estas solicitudes se evaluarán caso por caso.

Reasonable Accommodations

The City of Napa Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate qualified disabled applicants. Individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation in the testing process must inform the HR Department in writing by the final filing date. A Reasonable Accommodation Request Form is available from HR and may be obtained by calling 707-257-9505, or dial 7-1-1 for the California Relay Service, offering free text-to-speech, speech-to-speech, and Spanish-language services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
01

Please describe your relevant experience as it relates to the Payroll Specialist role, including any work in a local government or public sector environment. Include the number of employees, frequency, and systems used.
02

Please describe your role in processing payroll for a governmental agency, including your level of responsibility?
03

How does your payroll process ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., tax laws, retirement systems, and labor agreements)? How do you stay current?
Required Question