Senior Payroll & Accounting Specialist

Compensation $87,875 - $95,000 (based on experience)
Status: Full-time, Non-exempt, Year-round

Location: Richmond, CA

Job Function: Finance & Business Operations

Compensation & Benefits: We offer a competitive compensation package, comprehensive healthcare options, retirement plans, and paid time off.

When you join Making Waves Academy (MWA), you’re joining a team dedicated to moving the world forward.
At our school, we build the foundation for future leaders. The Business Office is the heartbeat of our campus operations, ensuring our educators and staff have the resources and financial clarity they need to succeed.

We are seeking a Payroll & Accounting Coordinator who takes pride in absolute precision. In this role, your top priority is simple: deliver flawless, on-time, zero-defect bi-weekly payroll for 160+ team members. When you aren't running payroll, you'll apply your passion for numbers to core general accounting operations like Accounts Payable (AP) and journal entries. This is an ideal role for an experienced California payroll professional who wants a hands-on, high-impact position with room to grow into senior finance compliance.

What you’ll be doing:
You will own the day-to-day execution of our full-cycle payroll operations while supporting broader business office financial health.

• Executing End-to-End Payroll: Independently process bi-weekly payroll for faculty and staff using modern payroll systems (UKG experience preferred).
• Ensuring California Compliance: Strictly enforce CA wage and hour rules (overtime, meal/rest break rules, final paychecks) and manage complex adjustments including teacher summer hold-backs, stipends, and garnishments.
• Managing Retirement & HR Workflows: Handle monthly CalSTRS retirement reporting and reconciliations. Partner closely with HR to verify timesheets and track leave balances.
• Supporting Core Accounting: Handle daily Accounts Payable (AP), process vendor invoices, manage employee reimbursements, and post payroll journal entries to Sage Intacct.
• Reconciling Accounts: Perform month-end close tasks, process routine accruals, and clear payroll-related balance sheet accounts.
• Growing Your Career: Learn specialized California public school finance operations, including Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) coding and state/federal grant compliance.

What we’re looking for:
You love working with numbers, operate with extreme attention to detail, and take personal ownership of meeting deadlines with zero errors. You are a clear communicator who can explain complex payroll details to staff with patience and clarity.

You’ll need to have:

• 3+ years of direct, hands-on experience processing full-cycle payroll for organizations with 160+ employees.
• Deep knowledge of California labor and payroll laws (overtime, meal breaks, final pay regulations).
• 1–2 years of General Ledger & AP experience, including posting journal entries and balancing accounts.
• Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables) and strong comfort with numerical data.
• High School Diploma or GED.

Even better if you have:

• Experience with UKG payroll software and Sage Intacct accounting software.
• Prior experience with California public school finance, CalSTRS reporting, or SACS account coding.
• An analytical "systems-thinker" mindset with a desire to build efficient internal workflows and grow into a senior finance role.