Payroll and Accounting Specialist

Springfield Water and Sewer Commission (SWSC) is seeking an experienced payroll specialist to join the Office of the Comptroller as a Payroll and Accounting Specialist. Commission employees are the stewards of clean water for the lower Pioneer Valley. Our work protects public health and the environment by providing drinking water, fire protection, forest stewardship, clean rivers and streams, and wastewater treatment. The Commission is looking for a professional who wants to be a part of something bigger than themselves and join a team committed to serving the public by providing essential services. The Commission is a dynamic work organization with a fast-paced environment and a plethora of capital projects as well as upgrades and maintenance projects in the city and in the watershed. The Commission has a strong history of growing and promoting its employees. Most employees will spend a significant amount of their careers with the Commission and enjoy opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

About SWSC:

For information about SWSC's current projects, please visit our YouTube channel.

SWSC was established in 1996 as an independently operated and managed regional water and wastewater utility that provides retail and wholesale water and sewer service to approximately 250,000 customers across multiple communities in the lower Pioneer Valley. The SWSC has approximately 250 employees that operate and maintain a system of one thousand miles of water and sewer pipe, treatment plants, reservoirs, watershed land, dams, and other critically important infrastructure that serves the public.

Commission employees protect public health and the environment for 250,000 people by providing drinking water and wastewater service and stewarding the Commission’s expansive watershed and water infrastructure. The Commission is a multi-disciplinary work organization with a current portfolio of large, ongoing infrastructure renewal projects and a workforce dedicated to reliable daily operations and service. The Commission is looking for a mission-oriented professionals to join a team committed to helping customers maintain their trust in and understand the value of their water.

The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable about Massachusetts and federal laws pertaining to wages and hours. The ideal candidate will also be an experienced user of payroll software and HRIS software. Excellent communication skills are required, as is the ability to effective and respectfully communicate with all employees, vendors, and business partners. The ideal candidate will be able to work independently and as part of a team. Although the Payroll and Accounting Specialist will be the person processing payroll and performing the tasks associated with payroll, there is a team that manages payroll jointly and the successful candidate will be required to effectively work as a member of the team. The Commission has 250 employees who are paid weekly and the successful candidate must be able to work under the pressure of deadlines. The pace of the work is fast and the work must be accurate.

Examples of typical duties include:

Processing of the weekly payroll and journalizing all payroll related activities (overtime pay, incentives, spot bonuses, etc.)

Tracking and analyzing employees’ hours, including employees’ use of sick leave and other paid and unpaid time off

Maintaining and monitoring all relevant payroll deductions: ensuring accurate calculation, tracking, and reporting of garnishments, levies, health insurance deductions, flexible spending accounts, and any and all other approved paycheck deductions

As requested, training employees on payroll procedures and payroll software

Acting as the point of contact for all related compliance reviews, regulatory reporting, and audits.

Running reports for administrators in the Commission and/or our partners (retirement, workers' comp TPA, etc.)

This position will also assist the Accounting Manager by preparing invoices for approval and entering data into financial software database.

A complete job description is available upon request.

This position requires 5 years of directly relevant experience in payroll processing; or, a college degree in accounting plus 2 years of directly relevant experience in payroll processing.

The Commission conducts pre-employment criminal background check and drug tests.

The hiring range for this position is $72,000-$78,000 based upon qualifications. The Commission offers a BlueCross Blue Shield health plan that includes dental as well as optional life and disability insurance packages. The Commission offers paid sick, vacation, and personal time as well as 13 paid holidays. Employees are required to enroll in the City of Springfield's retirement plan. Service time in a PERAC retirement plan might be transferrable to the City of Springfield's plan. The successful applicant will be required to complete a pre-employment drug test and physical as well as a pre-employment criminal background check.

To apply, please complete the online application and attach a resume and a letter of interest. The letter of interest is your opportunity to let the hiring manager know how your background, experience, and learning have prepared you for this position.

Review of applications will begin on Monday, September 15, 2025. The anticipated start date is Monday, October 20, 2025.

JOB CODE: 1000052