Payroll Assistant Jobs in Renton, WA (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $36.21 - $45.90 Hourly
Location : Chinook Building 401 5th Avenue Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service (Exec)
Job Number: 2026PX26829
Department: DCHS - Community & Human Srvcs
Division: Comm & Human Svcs Admin
Opening Date: 05/15/2026
Closing Date: 5/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours/Week: 40 hours/week
Summary
King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community.
The DCHS Finance Section is seeking a skilled, knowledgeable, and highly motivated team player to serve as the Payroll Specialist to support the department's payroll processing and position control functions for over 700 staff. The Payroll Specialist will process payroll and timekeeping actions to collect, organize, edit, and report data from multiple systems (including PeopleSoft and Tableau) to Central Payroll operations for production. This position will also assist in other payroll related activities; support agency-wide position control, maintain human resources and payroll related records; and provide information to management and employees regarding compensation and employment.
Job Duties
To be considered minimally qualified applicant must demonstrate a background that provides the knowledge, skills and ability to:

• Prepare, process, code, maintain and verify accuracy of payroll, benefit and personnel information.
• Ensure payroll and related documents are in compliance with County Personnel Guidelines, union bargaining agreements, state and federal statutes, and Department policies.
• Respond to telephone inquiries, correspondence, requests for information and questions regarding payroll, benefits and contract administration (as it pertains to payroll/benefits) from employees, peers, supervisors and other County agencies in a timely, courteous and professional manner.
• Investigate and resolve payroll issues and discrepancies in a timely and accurate manner.
• Use queries, spreadsheets and word processing software to analyze and calculate payroll data including retroactive calculations, create correspondence and develop forms.
• Assist with gathering, summarizing, analyzing payroll and position data from multiple systems for special projects, as requested.
• Support and audit position control for the agency.
• Solve technical problems related to the PeopleSoft system.
• Organize, update, and maintain the hard copy and electronic files.
• Act as the payroll subject matter expert for DCHS.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE:

• A minimum of (2) years of recent experience using PeopleSoft Payroll and PeopleSoft Time and Labor modules or comparable HR/Payroll systems.
• Strong mathematical skills.
• Good communication skills, both oral and written; effectively using discretion, patience, etiquette and professionalism.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent customer service, people management and interpersonal skills, including ability to work with all levels of management and staff across organizational lines and outside agencies under challenging conditions.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality with sensitive and personal information.
• Ability to effectively plan, organize and prioritize work on a daily basis.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills.
• Ability to process HR transactions using an enterprise - wide software Payroll/HR system program compliance with policies, procedures, program requirements.
• Excellent organizational skills, and the ability to prioritize work assignments and adjust priorities in a multi-task environment.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS:

• Experience using PeopleSoft system (or a similar system)
• Experience using Tableau Software

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:

• This position has been designated Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit and the
• The Finance team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is Chinook, 401 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
  King County has a robust collection of to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• This position is scheduled to work 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm. This position meets the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible with supervisory pre-approval.
• This position is not represented by a union.
• Classification: Payroll Specialist

WHO MAY APPLY:
This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around June 15, 2026. Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the requested and relevant information in the online application and supplemental questionnaire. Applications and/or supplemental questionnaires that state, "see my resume" are considered incomplete and will not be considered to be competitive. If you have any questions, please contact Phitsamai Xaxouthep,
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what's best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
01
Are you applying to this position as an eligible Priority Placement Program Participant who is a current or previous King County Employee impacted by layoff? ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? ANDDo you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?

• Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
• No.

02
If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided:1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff
03
How many years of recent work experience do you have in using PeopleSoft Payroll and PeopleSoft Time and Labor modules or comparable HR/Payroll systems?

• I have no experience yet, but am willing to learn
• Less than one (1) year of experience
• More than one (1) year but less than two (2) years of experience
• Two (2) or more years of experience

04
Please describe your recent experience providing payroll processing in a complex organization.
05
Please identify your experience in Excel.

• I don't have experience but am willing to learn
• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced

06
Please describe the functions in Excel that you have utilized, and for what purpose.
07
King County has transformed its work on equity and social justice from an initiative to an integrated effort that applies the principle of "fair and just" intentionally in all the county does to achieve equitable opportunities for all people and communities. What is the most important equity or social justice issue to you and why?
Required Question