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Payroll Supervisor

Why Join Team SB

Help keep the City of San Bernardino running smoothly—one paycheck at a time!
We’re seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Payroll Supervisor to lead a high-performing team and ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll services for our workforce.

About the City:
As a future member of our team, you’ll be joining a city with deep roots, cultural diversity, and exciting momentum. Located in the heart of Southern California’s Inland Empire, San Bernardino is the county seat and largest city in San Bernardino County, home to more than 222,000 residents. Its rich history — shaped by Native American, Mexican, and Spanish influences — continues to inspire the city’s evolving identity.

San Bernardino offers access to major transit corridors, natural beauty, and a wide range of housing and lifestyle options. It’s a place where public service careers are supported by a strong sense of community and purpose — and where motivated professionals can grow, contribute, and be part of something meaningful.

About the Position:
As the Payroll Supervisor for the City of San Bernardino, you will oversee the daily operations of the payroll division, ensuring that every employee is paid accurately and on schedule while maintaining full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This role offers the opportunity to lead process improvements, strengthen internal controls, and collaborate with departments Citywide to ensure efficient and transparent payroll operations.

The ideal candidate is a proactive and analytical leader with strong technical expertise, exceptional attention to detail, and a commitment to integrity and public service. If you’re ready to make an impact in a dynamic organization that values teamwork, accountability, and excellence — join the City of San Bernardino and help power the people who serve our community.

What You'll Be Doing Here

The Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced, detail-driven environment. They are highly organized, dependable, and motivated by accuracy and compliance. With strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of payroll systems and tax regulations, they take pride in ensuring every paycheck is right the first time. This individual is also a natural mentor—someone who enjoys supporting staff development, improving processes, and fostering collaboration across departments.

A successful Payroll Supervisor at the City of San Bernardino demonstrates:

Expertise in public-sector payroll operations and reporting requirements.
Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to motivate and guide a team.
Commitment to confidentiality, integrity, and continuous improvement.
Comfort working with technology and implementing system enhancements.
A proactive, solution-oriented mindset that balances compliance with customer service.

A Day in the Life Consists Of:
A typical day as the Payroll Supervisor begins with reviewing the latest payroll reports and ensuring data accuracy before approvals. You’ll check in with your team to prioritize tasks, resolve discrepancies, and provide guidance on complex payroll issues. Throughout the day, you’ll collaborate with Finance, Human Resources, and department payroll contacts to answer questions, clarify procedures, and ensure alignment with City policies and union agreements.

You may spend part of your day analyzing payroll trends, reconciling tax filings, or testing system updates with IT staff. When needed, you’ll research new regulations, prepare reports for leadership, and identify process improvements to strengthen efficiency and compliance. By the end of the day, you’ll have supported the City’s most valuable asset—its employees—by ensuring they’re paid accurately and on time.

For more information on this position, please click here: Job Description

What You Need to Qualify

Minimum Qualifications:

Any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential job duties of the position is qualifying.

Education and Experience:
Associates Degree in Finance, Accounting, or a closely related field; and at least three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in performing payroll duties and functions, at least one (1) year of which were in a lead capacity; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Experience in a public agency is especially desirable.

Licenses, Certifications, and Equipment:
A valid California driver’s license is required.

Knowledge of:

Federal, state, and local laws, regulations, rules, and guidelines applicable to timekeeping, payroll preparation, and pay reporting.
Principles and practices of governmental accounting, including internal control and auditing, as they apply to payroll functions.
City policies, practices, and procedures governing payroll and related transactions.
Methods, practices, documents, and terminology used in processing payroll transactions and in payroll recordkeeping.
The City's payroll system and associated practices and procedures for processing payroll information and interpreting input and output data.
Principles and practices of public administration, including budgeting, purchasing, contract administration, and public records maintenance.
Research methods and statistical and financial analysis techniques.
Principles and practices of computer-based financial and accounting systems.
Operation of computers and standard business software, including word processing and spreadsheet applications.
Principles and practices of sound business communication.
Principles and practices of effective management and supervision.
City human resources policies, Personnel Rules, and provisions of the City's Memoranda of Understanding with bargaining units.

Skill in:

Planning, supervising, coordinating, and integrating the work of staff engaged in preparing, processing, and maintaining City-wide payrolls and related records and reports.
Analyzing and making sound recommendations on complex payroll issues, data, and operations.
Understanding, interpreting, explaining, and applying federal, state, and local policy, law, regulations, and court decisions regulating the City's payroll accounting, reporting, and record keeping.
Developing and implementing sound financial and accounting procedures and controls.
Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.
Preparing clear, concise, and comprehensive reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
Exercise sound, expert independent judgment within general policy guidelines.
Preparing clear and accurate payroll records and files.
Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
Maintaining confidentiality of City documents and records.
Exercising tact and diplomacy in interpersonal dealings with sensitive situations.
Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

Recruitment Timeline

1st Review Deadline to Apply: Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 11:59pm

1st Interview: Week of May 24, 2026, or agreed upon date by both HR recruiter & Dept (TENTATIVE)

Department Interview: Week of May 31, 2026, or agreed upon date by both HR recruiter & Dept (TENTATIVE)

**All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the personnel officer**

How to Apply and What to Expect Next

All applicants are required to submit an online application through the City’s official website at www.sbcity.org. This recruitment will remain open until filled, or until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

Applications must be fully completed and clearly demonstrate that the minimum qualifications for the position are met. All information provided is subject to review, investigation, and verification. While resumes may be uploaded as supplemental documentation, they will not be accepted in place of a fully completed City application.

Following the initial screening, the most qualified candidates whose backgrounds best match the needs of the City will be invited to continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement. Candidates will remain under consideration until a final selection is made and an offer is accepted. The City of San Bernardino reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time and may determine that none of the applicants, including those who meet the minimum qualifications, are suitable for the position.

Successful candidates shall be required to:

Pass a reference and background verification. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.
Degree verification
Pass a pre-employment medical exam, which includes a Drug screen.
Starting salary based on education and/or experience and internal equity.

E-Verify Participation

The City of San Bernardino participates in the E-Verify program. In compliance with federal law, all employers are required to verify the identity and employment eligibility of individuals hired to work in the United States.

Accordingly, the City will provide information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm authorization to work in the United States.

For more information about E-Verify, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website at www.uscis.gov

Disclaimers

The City of San Bernardino is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The City follows a nepotism policy, which may impact hiring decisions if an applicant has relatives currently employed by the City.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Each request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department directly at (909) 998-2060.

This bulletin is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract, expressed or implied. Its contents may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice.

For questions regarding this recruitment, contact Human Resources at 909-998-2060 or email Janet Sirob at Sirob_Ja@sbcity.org.

Additional information is available at www.sbcity.org.

The City offers an attractive Management/Confidential Group benefit package, which includes:

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