Payroll Specialist

We are looking for a detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to join our team in Santa Barbara, California on a contract basis with the potential for a permanent position. This role is ideal for someone who can manage payroll operations with accuracy, maintain compliance across multiple states, and support employees through timely and reliable pay processing. The successful candidate will bring strong knowledge of payroll systems, tax requirements, and high-volume payroll administration in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities:

• Administer end-to-end payroll processing for a large employee population, ensuring wages are calculated accurately and delivered on schedule.
• Manage payroll activities while applying current federal, state, and local regulations to maintain compliance.
• Review employee time records for completeness and accuracy, following up on discrepancies before payroll is finalized.
• Process bi-monthly payroll cycles and verify deductions, earnings, reimbursements, and adjustments are properly recorded.
• Maintain payroll data within systems such as ADP Workforce Now and Paylocity, ensuring employee information remains current and accurate.
• Prepare and reconcile payroll tax information, support filings, and address payroll-related issues in coordination with internal stakeholders.
• Respond to employee questions related to pay, timesheets, deductions, and payroll records with professionalism and timeliness.
• Assist with payroll reporting, audits, and other payroll functions that support operational accuracy and compliance.