Company Overview
Yampa Valley Electric Association (YVEA) is a member-owned cooperative delivering electricity to nearly 26,500 meters across 2,840 miles of line. Its vast 7,000 square mile service territory covers parts of Northwest Colorado (including Steamboat Springs and Craig) and Southern Wyoming. Governed by a nine-member elected board and led by President/General Manager Scott Blecke, YVEA employs over 60 staff. The cooperative purchases its wholesale power from the Western Area Power Administration and Xcel Energy, owning no generation facilities.
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Payroll Specialist – Yampa Valley Electric Association
Yampa Valley Electric Association (YVEA) is seeking a detail-oriented and reliable Payroll Specialist to manage payroll processing and reporting for the cooperative and its subsidiary. This vital role ensures accurate and timely compensation for all employees, maintaining compliance with federal, state, and organizational policies. Working closely with Finance and Human Resources, you will support employee benefits administration, maintain meticulous payroll records, handle required reporting, and play a key part in upholding operational integrity through strict confidentiality.
Your Responsibilities:
- Process bi-weekly payroll accurately for all employee types, including salaried, hourly, union, and seasonal staff, ensuring validation of timekeeping records.
- Prepare, input, review, and analyze payroll data to guarantee precise compensation and deductions.
- Maintain organized and accurate payroll records and generate necessary reports (e.g., gross payroll, hours worked, PTO accruals, tax and benefit deductions).
- Handle sensitive employee information with the utmost confidentiality while performing required tasks.
- Provide essential payroll data for auditors, tax preparers, and management, and generate annual W-2s.
- Ensure all payroll activities comply with IRS policies and relevant labor laws.
- Collaborate with Human Resources to accurately reflect employee changes like new hires, terminations, promotions, and benefit elections in the payroll system.
- Respond professionally to employee inquiries regarding pay, deductions, and tax information.
- Actively participate in the continuous improvement of payroll systems and processes, staying current on regulations and best practices.
Required Skills and Experience:
- Strong communication, interpersonal skills, and exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
- Proven ability to manage confidential information with the highest level of discretion and integrity.
- Self-motivated and organized, with the ability to work independently to meet deadlines.
- Required: 2+ years of experience in accounting or payroll, including knowledge of internal control concepts. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
- Preferred: An Associate Degree in Accounting or a related field, a strong understanding of payroll regulations, tax laws, and labor laws, and a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).
Position Details:
- Schedule: Full-time, 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday – Friday.
- Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
- Status: Non-exempt, Confidential Employee, Non-Union
- Reporting: Reports directly to the Finance Manager, with a dotted line to the Human Resources Manager.
- Travel: Occasional travel between offices may be required. Overtime is rare.