Payroll Administrator

Job Description

Job Description

We are looking for a Payroll Administrator to support accurate and compliant payroll operations for a team in Los Angeles, California. This role is responsible for managing payroll activities with close attention to wage rules, timekeeping accuracy, and employee support. The ideal candidate brings strong payroll knowledge, experience working with structured labor environments, and the ability to communicate clearly while protecting confidential information.

Responsibilities:

• Administer recurring payroll for employees, ensuring all earnings and deductions are processed accurately and on schedule.

• Examine timekeeping records to confirm hours worked, overtime, break compliance, and premium pay are calculated correctly.

• Interpret and apply union pay provisions, wage tables, and related work rules when entering and reviewing payroll data.

• Investigate missing punches, inconsistent entries, and policy exceptions, then coordinate with department leaders to resolve issues before payroll is finalized.

• Maintain employee payroll records by updating hires, separations, pay adjustments, and job-related changes within the payroll system.

• Prepare payroll-related reporting such as labor summaries, audit support files, dues deductions, benefit remittances, and other required documentation.

• Contribute payroll data for period-end accounting activities, including labor accruals and explanations for cost variances.

• Answer employee questions about compensation, deductions, taxes, and system self-service tools in a clear and timely manner.

• Ensure payroll practices align with California labor requirements and support internal or external reviews by providing organized, accurate records.

• Recommend process improvements that strengthen payroll accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency.

• At least 5 years of payroll experience, ideally within hospitality, hotels, or other service-driven environments.

• Hands-on experience processing full-cycle payroll for employee populations ranging from approximately 100 to 500 workers.

• Union Payroll experience

• Strong working knowledge of payroll administration in unionized settings, including contract interpretation and union dues handling .

• Proficiency with payroll and timekeeping platforms such as Paycom or ADP Workforce Now.

• Solid understanding of California wage and hour requirements, including break rules and other payroll compliance considerations.

• Advanced attention to detail with the ability to audit data, identify discrepancies, and maintain a high level of accuracy.

• Effective communication and customer service skills, with the ability to explain payroll matters clearly to employees and managers.

• Strong Excel and reporting skills; bilingual English/Spanish ability is an advantage.