ASSOCIATE COMPTROLLER, PAYROLL & EMPLOYMENT TAX (BUREAU OF FINANCE) – SHAKMAN EXEMPT

OVERVIEW

Cook County Bureau of Finance is seeking an experienced Associate Comptroller, Payroll & Employment Tax who will be responsible for supporting senior leadership in managing payroll and garnishment operations, including disbursement processing, tax filing, and financial reporting. The role assists with the County‑wide external audit and helps ensure compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. Additional responsibilities include advising leadership on payroll, employment tax, and garnishment practices, as well as contributing to the overall management of the bureau/department through support in service delivery, policy development, and procedural implementation.

Cook County offers great benefits and the chance to participate in a strong tradition of public service. Cook County is home to more than five million residents, roughly 45%25 of Illinois’ population. Cook County Government provides a range of vital services and programs that enhance the quality of life for residents across the region. These services range from health care to urban planning. Cook County is committed to empowering its employees to bring our constituents the best that public service has to offer.

Attention Applicants: Please note that as part of ongoing job architecture initiatives, the County is reviewing job titles and corresponding grades, which may be subject to change.

WHY PURSUE A CAREER WITH COOK COUNTY?

In addition to providing employees with a challenging, rewarding environment for career and personal growth, we are proud to also offer some of the best benefits in the public sphere, including:

• Top Tier Medical Benefits: Medical Plans, Prescription Drug Benefit, Dental Plans, Vision Plan and 9 Additional voluntary benefit plans
• Flexible Teleworking Options
• Generous, Flexible Paid Time Off (13 paid designated holidays; Minimum of 15 vacation days annually; and Paid sick leave)
• Pension Plan
• Financial Support Programs and Resources: Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts – Dependent Day Care, Commuter Benefits, Discounted Parking, PSLF Eligibility, Deferred Compensation and Education Tuition Stipend
• Health/Wellness Perks: Flexible Spending Accounts-Health Care, Employee Assistance Program and MyHealth Connections wellness program.

SALARY RANGE: $129,420 - $158,180 / YEARLY

SNAPSHOT OF COOK COUNTY

• Serves 5.28 million residents of Chicago and its inner suburbs
  • 2nd largest county in America
  • Larger than 27 states
• Cook County employs over 22,000 employees who work in a variety of skilled jobs and trades.
  • Nearly 80%25 unionized workforce
  • 15 unions represented
  • 63 separate collective bargaining agreements
• Highway – Cook County maintains almost 600 miles of roads and highways.
• Land – Cook County assesses the value of more than 1.5 million parcels of taxable land and collects and distributes tax funds as a service for local government taxing bodies.
• Safety – Cook County provides vital services to local government, from conducting elections in suburban areas to offering 911 services in unincorporated areas and municipalities.

LOCATION

Located in the Loop District of downtown Chicago, one of the most formidable business districts in the world, the area has an astounding number of cultural foundations, stunning parks such as Millennial Park and Maggie Daley Park, steps away from the Chicago Riverwalk, award-winning restaurants, and plenty of shopping! In addition, Chicago is serviced by multiple bus and train lines for public transportation from the suburbs to the city, taxis are plentiful, public parking garages for motorists, and bicycle share rentals and local bike lanes for bicyclists.

Job Summary

Supports senior leadership in overseeing payroll and garnishment activities, including disbursement processing, tax filing, and financial reporting. Assists senior leadership with the County wide external audit and in ensuring compliance with statutory or government rules and regulations. Acts as a liaison in advising senior leadership on desirable payroll, employment tax, and garnishment operations. Assists senior leadership in the overall management of the bureau/department, delivery of services, and formulation of policies and procedures. 

Typical Job Duties

• Assists senior leadership in directing subordinates to administer the county wide payroll and garnishment process in an accurate and timely manner.
• Assists in the supervision of the County’s payroll and garnishment disbursement, reporting, compliance, year-end, external audit and system processes.
• Evaluates departmental and county wide payroll and garnishment policies and procedures to plan methods for ensuring timely and efficient processing of bi-weekly and interim cycles, general ledger maintenance, tax deposits, account reconciliations and required reports.
• Assists in the compilation of data and preparation of payroll tax reports, W-2 files and forms and operating reports to ensure accurate and timely distribution or filing of them.
• Make recommendations to senior leadership on improving employment tax compliance, payroll and garnishment processes, internal controls and the reduction of operating costs.
• Aids in the development and enforcement of office wide policies and procedures.
• Assists senior leadership in fulfilling the bureau's/department's responsibilities with communicating employment tax, payroll, garnishment and financial matters or data to senior leadership.

Required for all jobs

Performs other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree or higher and
• Four (4) years in accounting, payroll, employment tax or directly related experience or
• An equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s Degree.
• Six (6) years in accounting and payroll.
• Four (4) years of previous management or supervisory experience.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and/or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge and understanding of payroll or financial management with respect to the role of an administrator.
• Knowledge and understanding of payroll and garnishment policies and procedures, including ability to research changes that have an impact on payroll.
• Ability to verbally discuss payroll and financial problems with department representatives, elected officials and administrative personnel and to prepare oral and written reports.
• Ability to provide strategic leadership, insight, support, and direction to support the unit's mission and goals.
• Ability to utilize payroll, or enterprise resource planning and time attendance systems for processing, analysis, ad hoc reporting and to ensure proper internal controls exist within these systems.
• Ability to implement plans and objectives, and oversee the efficiency and performance of specific processes and operations.
• Ability to recommend solutions to payroll, garnishment and financial problems and implement them as necessary.
• Ability to implement the strategic vision of a department or organization-wide function. 

Physical Requirements:

Sedentary Work involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. 

The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work. 

EMPLOYMENT TERMS                                                                                                                  

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Pursuant to the Shakman Consent Decree, Supplemental Relief Order and the Cook County Personnel Rules, this position is exempt from the County’s career service rules, is at-will and political reasons or factors may be considered when taking any employment action. As an employee in a Shakman Exempt Position, if you do not currently live in Cook County, you will have six (6) months from date of hire to establish actual residency within Cook County.

Please contact shakmanexemptapplications@cookcountyil.gov for inquiries about this position.