Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist

SUMMARY OVERVIEW
The Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate, timely, and compliant processing of payroll for the organization. This role compiles and audits payroll data, calculates wages, taxes, and deductions, and ensures employees are paid correctly and on schedule. The Payroll Specialist maintains payroll records, responds to employee payroll inquiries, and partners with Human Resources to administer employee benefit deductions and other payroll-related transactions. In addition to core payroll processing, this position performs payroll audits and reconciliations, reviews tax withholdings and deductions, processes garnishments, and ensures compliance with union and California payroll requirements. The role is also responsible for researching and resolving payroll-related issues while supporting continuous process improvement and operational excellence. The Payroll Specialist stays current on federal, state, local, and provincial payroll laws and regulations to ensure ongoing compliance. Due to the sensitive nature of payroll information, this position requires the highest level of confidentiality, integrity, professionalism, and attention to detail.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accurately process and manage payrolls for all employees, ensuring timely and error-free payments in a high volume fast paced environment.
• Verify and reconcile time and attendance records to calculate hours worked, including overtime and special pay rates
• Collaborate with HR to maintain and update employee records, including tax information, direct deposit details, and deductions
• Calculate and process various payroll adjustments, such as bonuses, commissions, and reimbursement requests
• Stay up to date on federal, state, and local tax regulations to ensure compliance with withholding and reporting requirements
• Generate and distribute employee paychecks or electronic payments on scheduled pay dates
• Address employee inquiries submitted via the Payroll Ticketing System and resolve payroll-related issues promptly and professionally, must meet KPI thresholds as set by management.
• Ensure accurate tracking and deduction of garnishments, child support, and other court-ordered payments
• Ensure accurate tracking and deductions of union dues, initiation fees, and other union mandated payments
• Maintain strict confidentiality and data security of payroll and employee information
• Perform any additional duties as assigned by management

QUALIFICATIONS

• 18 years of age or older
• Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment.
• Ability to work in office, onsite, Monday-Friday
• Must hold a valid driver's license.
• Communicate effectively in English (reading, writing, speaking)
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in payroll processing; specifically, California and Unions
• In-depth knowledge of payroll systems, labor laws, and tax regulations
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Intermediate knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
• Bilingual in English/Spanish a plus

• Effectively communicate with colleagues and clients, both in-person and through electronic means

• Pass a background check and drug screen
• Must be flexible to work extended hours on occasion to support our field operations

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential requirement satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the work environment, knowledge, skill, and/or ability. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential requirements.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY/WORKING CONDITIONS MAY INCLUDE:

• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds

• Position is generally sedentary, sitting for long periods of time
• Be able to hear and respond to the spoken voice and to audible alarms
• Tasks may involve repetitive motions of the arms, wrists, hands and/or fingers
• Specific vision abilities required for this job include: Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less); distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more); peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point); depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships); ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus)