Summary

This job involves managing and verifying employee benefits like health insurance, dental, retirement, and disability to ensure everything is accurate and follows state rules, while also checking payroll data for errors.

You'll handle tasks such as reconciling records from different systems, running reports, and helping staff with benefit questions.

It's a good fit for someone detail-oriented with experience in payroll or HR who enjoys working with numbers and regulations in a government setting.

Key Requirements

Experience in payroll processing, benefits administration, or fiscal analysis
Knowledge of state laws, Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), and regulations from HCA and DRS
Proficiency in auditing and reconciling financial data from HRMS and other systems
Ability to manage employee benefits enrollments, changes, terminations, and open enrollment
Skills in running and distributing reports from HRMS and Total Time systems
Strong attention to detail for data quality control and error identification
Current employment with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (internal only)

Full Job Description

Title- Benefits and Reconciliation Specialist

Classification- Fiscal Analyst 3

Job Status- Full-Time / Permanent / Internal Only
WDFW Program- Financial Services Program – Payroll Unit
Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County
Hybrid/Telework- Following the completion of a probationary period, the selected candidate may be able to telework/work remotely up to 2 days per week at the discretion of the supervisor.
Internal Only- This recruitment is open to current WDFW employees only.

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Photo Caption: Yellow Warbler – Photo Credit: Bill Hebner

As the Benefits and Reconciliation Specialist, perform several complex stand-alone, time sensitive duties that promote the financial accuracy and wellbeing of all WDFW employees’ payroll and entitled benefits.

In this role, you will support the agency in ensuring the coordination and reconciliation of employee benefits, including insurance and retirement.

With your experience, you will provide fiscal and data quality control by auditing payroll and benefit actions (entries) and calculations.

What to Expect-

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Benefits and Reconciliation Specialist will,

Manage and Reconcile Employee Benefits:

Analyze employee master data entered by HR or Payroll staff and how it affects entries to the general ledgers.
Reconcile employee and employer data against reports provided from Human Resource Management System (HRMS), Health Care Authority (HCA), and Department of Retirement Systems (DRS).
Manage all aspects of employee health benefits, dental benefits, life insurance, long-term disability, and retirement eligibility, sign-up, changes, inquiries, terminations, and the annual open enrollment process in accordance with all state laws, Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), HCA and DRS regulations, and agency policies and procedures.
Identify, communicate, and maintain off season benefits for eligible seasonal employees.
Audit Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) worksheets completed by staff for accuracy and correct benefits eligibility. Assist staff in interpreting and applying payroll and benefit laws and rules, regulations, bargaining unit contracts, policies, and procedures.
Act as a liaison and Subject Matter Expert (SME) with the staff regarding insurance enrollments and changes.
Monitor payroll processor staff for accurate, timely updates, and maintenance of employee benefit eligibility forms, files, open enrollment, and miscellaneous changes.
Verify entries made into HRMS or Benefits 24/7 for accuracy from reports ran from HRMS or HCA.

Reporting:

Run existing reports in HRMS. Distribute reports to payroll staff to ensure accuracy of payroll during payroll cutoff.
Run existing reports in Total Time. Distribute reports to payroll staff and the agency contacts to ensure accuracy of payroll during payroll cutoff.
Run and distribute payroll reports to agency contacts after payroll close or month close.
Run on-demand HRMS reports when requested from agency management. This can entail compiling and analyzing data.

Working Conditions:

Work Setting, including hazards: Work occurs in a busy office environment with typical office hazards including long periods at a desk working on a computer and performing repetitive tasks.

Schedule: Typically, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Scheduled work hours may be flexible. May occasionally be required to work more than 40 hours in a week or on weekends to meet deadlines during payroll cutoff and open enrollment periods.

Travel Requirements: Limited travel to attend trainings and meetings.

Customer Interactions: Interact with a broad scope, which may include: all WDFW employees (including Fiscal Staff, Management, and Executive Management Team (EMT)), State and Federal Auditors, and various state and federal entities (such as Office of Financial Management (OFM), Department of Enterprise Services (DES), and Internal Revenue Service (IRS)).

Interact daily with WDFW employees, occasionally assisting those who are experiencing distress or frustration.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

Option 1: Four (4) years of professional experience in accounting, budget, finance, payroll, or public administration.

Option 2: Associate’s degree in general studies, business, public administration, accounting, economics, statistics, or relevant field

AND

Two (2) years of professional experience in accounting, budget, finance, payroll, or public administration.

Option 3: One (1) year of professional experience in accounting, budget, finance, payroll, or public administration.

And at least one of the following:

Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, accounting, economics, statistics, or relevant field
Certification as a Public Accountant (CPA)
Certification as an Internal Auditor (CIA)
Certification as a Governmental Financial Manager (CGFM)
Certification as a Management Accountant (CMA)

Option 4: Six (6) months as a Fiscal Analyst 2.

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:

Experience with Washington State Agency payroll, benefits, and leave policies and procedures.
Experience using Washington State Agency’s SAP HRMS with responsibility for performing the following tasks:
Processing payroll, benefit, and leave transactions
Analyzing employee leave balances
Adjusting leave accruals
Three (3) or more years of experience with General Ledger reconciliations.
Knowledge of LEAN management processes and implementation.

Your application must include the following:

A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
An up-to-date resume.
A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
At least three professional references with current contact information.

Additional Information

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

Important Note:

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work.

If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States.

For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Union - WFSE:

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). This recruitment may be used to fill positions in addition to those listed.

Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice:

Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:

Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov.
Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
- Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2026-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications.

Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully.

All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer.

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity.

Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email Jayme.Chase@dfw.wa.gov, or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

Technical Difficulties: If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or support@neogov.com.

Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to danielle.gustafson@dfw.wa.gov and reference job #2026-02588.

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Benefits and Reconciliation Specialist - Fiscal Analyst 3 - Permanent - Internal Only - 2026-02588

Job Description

Summary

Key Requirements

Full Job Description

Additional Information

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