Payroll Clerk

We are looking for a detail-oriented Payroll Clerk to support payroll operations for a Contract to hire position based in Sacramento, California. This role is responsible for ensuring employee pay is handled accurately, on schedule, and in compliance with applicable regulations. The ideal candidate brings strong payroll processing experience, sound judgment when handling sensitive data, and the ability to work effectively with HR, benefits, accounting, and external providers.

Responsibilities:

• Administer end-to-end payroll activities for semi-monthly pay cycles, ensuring all entries are completed accurately and within established deadlines.
• Review payroll data before final submission, reconcile totals, and verify reports to confirm accuracy prior to release.
• Maintain compliance with payroll tax requirements by coordinating timely quarterly filings at the federal and state levels, including Washington State labor-related reporting.
• Manage wage garnishments and other deductions by applying correct calculations and following applicable legal guidelines.
• Collect and document required authorizations for special payments such as retroactive earnings, stipends, and off-cycle checks before processing.
• Support year-end payroll activities, including preparation and validation of W-2 and 1099 information, and update accruals tied to non-routine compensation.
• Enter and maintain payroll system changes for wages, hours, tax withholdings, retirement contributions, and benefit deductions, while providing a secondary review of transactions submitted by HR.
• Reconcile payroll vendor statements, benefit invoice amounts, and related payroll records, then coordinate with internal teams to resolve discrepancies and support payment approval.
• Provide training to employees on timekeeping practices, complete time and attendance setup and audits, process terminations, and prepare ad hoc payroll, financial, and audit-related reports as needed.
• Assist with annual compliance activities such as 401(k) reporting, provider updates for employee status changes, and workers' compensation audit support in partnership with HR.