Payroll Specialist - Hybrid

Payroll Specialist

• Hybrid

ENTERTAINMENT EARTH, LLC

• 3.8 Simi Valley, CA Job Details $25
• $27 an hour 17 hours ago Benefits Paid holidays Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Tuition reimbursement Paid time off Snacks provided Vision insurance 401(k) matching Qualifications Data integrity assurance VLOOKUP function Confidential information handling Payroll tax Payroll tax processing Data validation techniques HR legal compliance Employment & labor law UKG Pro Certified Payroll Professional California labor law Financial compliance Excel data analysis Full Job Description The Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of payroll for approximately 150•200 + employees, including both hourly warehouse staff and salaried office personnel, utilizing UKG Ready as the primary payroll and HRIS platform.

This role sits within the Human Resources department and reports directly to the HR Senior Manager, with a dotted-line relationship with the accounting department to ensure alignment with financial reporting, audits, and compliance requirements. The ideal candidate brings a high degree of accuracy, discretion, hands-on payroll processing experience, and a strong understanding of California wage and hour laws in a fast-paced distribution environment. This position will work primarily onsite Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Payroll Processing Process payroll, bonus and commission for hourly and salaried employees accurately and on schedule. Handle payroll aspects of the 401K plan, including processing employee 401K deductions, loan repayments, employer contributions, reconciliation of payroll contributions, and ensuring timely remittance of contributions to the plan provider. Manage time and attendance data, review timecards for compliance issues, and resolve discrepancies in coordination with department managers. Calculate and process adjustments including retroactive pay, shift differentials, and overtime. Ensure correct application of garnishments, child support orders, tax levies, and voluntary deductions. Process off-cycle payrolls, termination pay, and manual checks as needed (employee separations may require the need to work additional onsite hours, which can be unpredictable at times). Ensure appropriate documentation such as meal waivers are on file. Compliance & Reporting Ensure payroll practices comply with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, including FLSA regulations. Support internal and external audits by providing payroll data, reports, and documentation. Stay current on changes to payroll tax laws, labor regulations, and compliance requirements. Process end of year Affordable Care Act (ACA) and W-2 tasks. HR & Systems Administration Maintain and administer employee payroll records in UKG Ready, ensuring data integrity across new hires, terminations, compensation changes, and status updates. Partner with the team on benefit deduction changes, employee promotions, COLA, leave of absence pay impacts (including FMLA and state leaves), employee billing, and onboarding/offboarding. Support

HRIS, HRIS

modules, and EDI carrier feed implementations. Generate ad hoc payroll reports for HR and leadership as needed. Identify and recommend process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy. Employee Support Serve as a primary point of contact for employee payroll questions, resolving issues with professionalism and confidentiality through verbal & email communication including payroll tickets. Educate employees on pay stubs, deductions, and direct deposit setup. Escalate complex pay disputes or legal matters to the HR Senior Manager promptly. Conduct and support training activities related to UKG timecard submission and approval for all levels of the organization, including new hires. HR & Accounting Cross-Functional Support On non-payroll processing days, actively support HR and Accounting departmental functions, special projects, and initiatives as directed by the HR Senior Manager and Accounting Manager. Assist HR with employee file maintenance, I-9 compliance, onboarding documentation, benefits administration support, census reports, and HRIS data audits in UKG Ready. Support Accounting with tasks, expense reporting, invoice processing, or other financial administrative duties as needed. Participate in HR and company-wide projects including policy updates, open enrollment preparation, compliance audits, culture, New Hire Orientation presentation back-up and process improvement initiatives. Serve as a flexible resource across HR and Accounting, demonstrating a collaborative and service-oriented approach to all assigned tasks. Additional duties/tasks assigned by management.

Competencies:

Accuracy & Attention to Detail

• Consistently produces error-free work under time pressure. Integrity & Confidentiality
• Handles sensitive compensation and personal data with the highest level of discretion. Collaboration
• Builds effective working relationships across HR, Finance, and Operations. Adaptability
• Thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment with shifting priorities. Communication
• Communicates clearly and professionally with employees at all levels. Process Improvement
• Proactively identifies inefficiencies and proposes solutions.

Requirements:

3+ years of end-to-end payroll processing experience, preferably in a high-volume or distribution/warehouse environment. Strong working knowledge of federal and state payroll tax laws, wage and hour compliance, and garnishment administration. Proficiency with UKG Ready (or similar); experience with additional HRIS or payroll platforms a plus. Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data validation). Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and sound judgment. High attention to detail and accuracy with the ability to meet non-negotiable deadlines. FPC (Fundamental Payroll Certification) by the APA required. Why Entertainment Earth? We believe in connecting fans to the characters, stories, and brands they love. Every product, experience, and interaction is created to celebrate what fans love most by inspiring joy, sparking nostalgia, and building lasting connections to their fandoms. Benefits of Joining the Team! Discounts on your favorite collectibles! Free snacks! Bring your dog to the office! Get off early on Fridays! Medical/Dental/Vision Plans/Optional Plans Paid Time Off/Holidays 401(k) matching plan, educational reimbursement, and much more!