Payroll Specialist

With a passion for excellence, Golden Key Group (GKG) helps clients solve their strategic, organizational, and operational challenges to better meet their mission demands. We have serviced more than 25 Federal departments and agencies and several large commercial companies since our inception in 2002.

Golden Key Group's talented professionals, combined with our strategic partners, bring a depth of commercial and government experience and expertise. We are relentless in delivering the highest levels of services to provide tangible value and create sustainable results for our clients.

GKG is seeking a Payroll Specialist to join our team in support of USAID.

Under the technical direction of Direct Hire (DH) staff in the Office of Finance, the Entry-Level Payroll Specialist supports the administration of federal payroll operations for employees under various hiring mechanisms. Personnel utilize automated payroll and personnel systems to execute routine and moderately complex payroll functions in accordance with federal laws, regulations, and Agency policies. The role supports accurate and timely payroll processing while providing responsive customer service in a high-volume, time-sensitive environment. This labor category performs non-inherently governmental functions under established procedures.

Note: This position is posted in anticipation of a contract award and may become available in the future.

Process routine payroll transactions, including time and attendance, leave audits, payroll adjustments, allotments, pay differentials, lump-sum payments, and state tax resolution.
• Support retirement-related payroll actions, including retirement deductions, allotments, and coordination of retirement and survivor benefit applications.
• Assist with complex payroll disbursement activities, including prior service costing actions based on determinations from the Office of Human Capital and Talent Management (HCTM), recalculation of payroll deductions associated with retirement code changes, and processing payroll components of retirement and survivor benefit forms (e.g., DS-765, DS-2896, DS-3100).
• Research, analyze, and resolve payroll discrepancies, including suspense items, manual salary payments, adjustment reports, and system-generated errors.
• Assist in resolving payroll issues related to incentive programs, separation benefits, tax withholding, direct deposit, benefit premium contributions, bills of collection, and paid leave accruals.
• Maintain and reconcile payroll records and reports, including retirement-related data for employees covered under CSRS, FERS, and FSRDS, ensuring accurate posting of payroll and retirement transactions.
• Apply working knowledge of federal payroll policies and procedures, including NFC directives, OMB guidance, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the CFO Act, and the Debt Collection Improvement Act, when executing payroll actions.
• Utilize federal payroll systems, including NFC and associated tools such as PowerTerm, SPPS, EPIC, and GovTA, to process, research, and correct payroll transactions.
• Analyze payroll data to identify inconsistencies, research root causes, and apply established procedures to support accurate resolution of payroll issues.
• Respond to employee and Agency payroll inquiries and provide professional customer service through the Agency's payroll ServiceNow ticketing system.
• Support payroll reporting, documentation, and record retention in compliance with federal requirements and internal controls.
• Perform duties independently in a high-volume, time-sensitive environment while managing multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Follow established procedures and internal controls while maintaining confidentiality of payroll and personnel data.
• Other duties as assigned

• Demonstrated understanding of federal payroll policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of federal payroll systems, including NFC.
• Ability to work independently under technical direction in a high-volume environment.
• Education and experience sufficient to perform the duties described above.