Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

Now Hiring: Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Now Hiring: Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Job Type: Full-time; Exempt

Location: Commerce, CA

Work Arrangement: Hybrid — in-office Tuesday through Thursday, remote Mondays and Fridays

Compensation: $71,000–$80,000 (DOE) + Annual Performance Bonus

About Work World

Work World is the largest specialty retailer of workwear and work boots in the Western U.S. From humble beginnings in 1990, we now operate 30+ stores across California, Nevada, and Washington under the Work World, Shoeteria, and Whistle Workwear brands.

We are dedicated to putting our customers first, and we believe blue-collar workers are the backbone of our communities. We operate on honesty, respect, and integrity, and we are looking for a key team member who shares those values.

About the Role

We are seeking a seasoned, hands-on  Payroll & Benefits Specialist to fully own and manage end-to-end multi-state payroll processing and benefits administration for our retail workforce.

This role requires a true process owner—someone who thrives in a fast-paced retail environment, brings deep knowledge of California wage-and-hour compliance, understands variable-hour ACA tracking, and can accurately manage store commission and SPIF structures.

What You’ll Do

• Payroll Ownership: Lead full-cycle, multi-state payroll processing (CA, WA, NV) for hourly and salaried retail staff.

• Incentive & Commission Processing: Calculate and process retail commissions, store SPIFs, bonuses, pay adjustments, and off-cycle payments accurately.

• Benefits & ACA Management: Fully manage health, dental, vision, 401(k), and FSA administration. Oversee ACA compliance, including ongoing eligibility tracking, measurement periods, and reporting for variable-hour employees.

• Compliance & Reporting: Ensure strict adherence to federal, state, and local wage/hour laws (with heavy emphasis on CA and WA regulations). Oversee CA Pay Data Reporting and EEO-1 submissions.

• Process Improvement: Maintain and improve SOPs, HRIS data integrity, and cross-department workflows with Finance and Operations.

• Employee Support: Serve as the primary HR resolution owner for complex payroll, benefits, and deduction inquiries (via Zendesk).

What You’ll Need (Qualifications)

Required Experience:

• 4+ years of hands-on experience owning full-cycle, multi-state payroll (specifically California and Washington).

• 3+ years of benefits administration, including active management of  ACA compliance and tracking for variable-hour/hourly workforces .

• Direct experience processing  commissions, retail SPIFs, and incentive pay structures .

• In-depth working knowledge of California wage-and-hour laws, final pay rules, garnishments, and pay data reporting.

• Advanced Excel skills (XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, pivot tables, complex formulas for audit reconciliation).

• High degree of autonomy—ability to take full ownership of payroll accuracy without close supervision.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in retail, hospitality, or multi-location industries.

• Experience with Nevada payroll regulations.

• Working knowledge of HR ticketer systems (e.g., Zendesk).

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation + annual performance bonus

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• 401(k) retirement plan

• Employee merchandise discounts

• Career advancement opportunities in a thriving organization

Equal Opportunity Employer

Work World is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.