Payroll Specialist

Job Requisition ID: 49279
Closing Date: 09/02/2025
​Agency: Department of Early Childhood
Class Title: HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST - 19693
Skill Option: None
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $6,589 monthly; Full Range $6,589 - $9,541 monthly
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code: RC062 Technical Employees, AFSCME
Merit Comp Code:

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.

Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.

Position Overview:

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood is seeking to hire a Payroll Specialist to serve as the designated lead worker and Payroll Coordinator for IDEC. This important role coordinates payroll vouchering, computes and processes payroll transactions, processes back wage and supplemental payrolls, and will be a leader in continuous quality improvement audit activities, ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of this essential function of the Human Resources Section. The successful candidate will have experience overseeing and executing complex payroll operations in compliance with state and federal laws and collective bargaining agreements. Apply today to join a team committed to making Illinois the best place in the nation to raise a family!

Illinois Department of Early Childhood offers a robust benefit package including:

• Monday-Friday schedule
• Health, life, vision, and dental insurance
• Paid Parental leave
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation, and other pre-tax benefit programs
• Employees earn (12) paid sick days annually
• (10-25) paid vacation days (based on years of service)
• Employees earn (3) paid personal days (pro-rated based on start date)
• (13-14) paid state holidays annually

Work hours and schedule will be mutually agreed upon by supervisor during the onboarding process.

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Essential Functions

• Serves as Payroll Coordinator for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC)
• Performs complex, specialized professional duties relating to transactions, benefits, and timekeeping functions for IDEC
• Compiles and directs the preparation of various written and/or statistical reports
• Serves as designated lead worker
• Conducts periodic continuous quality improvement audit activities of payroll records

Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Specialized Skills

• Two (2) years of professional work experience overseeing and executing complex payroll operations for a Code-Covered State Agency utilizing Central Payroll Systems, eTime, and CTAS
• Two (2) years of professional work experience interpreting and applying state or federal statutes and administrative rules related to personnel transactions, such as the Illinois Personnel Code (20 ILCS 415), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, and collective bargaining agreements

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college.
• Requires two (2) years of professional human resources experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers two (2) years of professional work experience overseeing and executing complex payroll operations for a state, federal, or private entity
• Prefers two (2) years of professional work experience interpreting and applying state or federal statutes and administrative rules related to personnel transactions, such as the Illinois Personnel Code (20 ILCS 415), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, and collective bargaining agreements
• Prefers two (2) years of experience independently processing payroll transactions using human resources and payroll systems including Central Payroll System (CPS), eTime, CTAS, SAP, IMSH, Personnel Examination PEERS, and Employee Central or similar system.
• Prefers two (2) years of professional experience managing and reconciling employee transactions, including promotions, transfers, salary adjustments, garnishments, deductions, leave balances, and direct deposit setup, while maintaining confidentiality and accuracy across multiple systems and pay periods.
• Prefers two (2) years of experience coordinating or supporting internal/external payroll audits and quality assurance processes.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires a criminal history check
• Requires the ability to work from the office regularly.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Requires ability to use agency-supplied equipment (e.g., laptop, monitor, personal computer, telephone).
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This requires the ability to work evenings and weekends.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description

About the Agency

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) was signed into law in June of 2024 with the focus of making early childhood education and care services simpler, better and fairer for families with young children across the state. During fiscal years FY25 and FY26, IDEC will be working through transitioning data, programs and services from three state agencies – the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), – to IDEC in order to be fully operational by July 2026.

  Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Work Location: 313 S 6th St Springfield, IL 62701-1805
Agency Contact: Sally McDaniel-Smith
Email: [email protected]
Phone #: 217-900-0865
Posting Group: Employee Services

This position [DOES] contain “Specialized Skills” (as that term is used in CBAs).

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Use the “Apply” button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.

If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so. 

State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees – a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.

Non-State employees should log in on the using the “View Profile” link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.

If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:

State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid

Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com – click “Application Procedures” in the footer of every page of the website.

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]