Garnishment Specialist

Overview

The Garnishment Specialist I ensures customers’ employees receive accurate and timely wage garnishment payments. This role supports successful process automation and resolves processing automation failures when needed. The position requires working within established service level deadlines, multitasking, analyzing legal orders, and producing accurate work. Low-frequency regular telephone interactions with garnishment agencies are required.

Responsibilities

• Review and set up garnishment orders, including preparation of orders and correspondence for scanning.
• Maintain garnishment rules in the payroll system, including research and testing with the Sr. Payroll Systems Support Specialist to determine proper withholding from employee wages according to state rules and garnishment type.
• Write, review, and process reports to automate answer letters and interrogatory responses.
• Maintain garnishment screens by entering applicable start and stop dates for each order in a timely manner based on information contained within the order and applicable deadlines.
• Answer and resolve payroll and garnishment questions to provide accurate information in a timely and concise manner to courts, agencies, and employees.
• Coordinate with various internal and external departments to answer questions and resolve issues (external contacts include check collection agencies, courts, and lawyers).
• Process lump sum payments and coordinate with agencies to determine amounts to be withheld for quarterly and annual bonus payments and all other lump sum payments.
• Support special projects as assigned, including account reconciliations, accruals, journal entries, and cross-training with other team members.

Required Qualifications

• General knowledge of payroll functions and processing, including bookkeeping, payroll tax, fringe benefits, and garnishments.
• Proficiency using PC spreadsheet applications.

Preferred Competencies

• Troubleshooting and analysis skills.
• Project management skills.
• Probing and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Process-oriented working style.
• Ability to communicate professionally, using appropriate vocabulary and grammar to obtain information, explain procedures, and adapt to new processes.
• Ability to maintain professionalism in the face of customer resistance.
• Team player with customer service focus.
• Superior organizational skills.