Payroll & HR Specialist Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County - 5.0 Santa Barbara, CA Job Details Full-time 11 hours ago Benefits Paid holidays Health insurance Flexible spending account Qualifications Optimizing workflow processes Affordable Care Act (ACA) HR policy development Employee onboarding Committee work Process audits HR communication Educational events Operations coordination HR legal compliance Employee retention Mid-level Workers' compensation insurance knowledge Employee data management Policy & process development Continuous improvement Staff training Employee relations management Compliance documentation 403(b) retirement plans Employee engagement Cross-functional collaboration Time & attendance systems Policy Development Employee record maintenance Payroll record maintenance Audit support Full Job Description Why join our countywide agency? Because each day we are making a difference in our community, and because we have a positive, employee- and client-centered work culture. We pay competitive rates and offer a strong benefits package that includes generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay, employer-paid medical insurance, a free subscription to the meditation/sleep app Calm, and much more! We offer continuous employee education and development and paid clinical supervision. We work with our staff to offer flexibility whenever possible.

The Position:

The Payroll & HR Specialist supports the Human Resources Operations team in delivering seamless and efficient HR services across payroll, benefits, terminations, compliance, and employee relations. In partnership with the Senior HR Manager, this role ensures accurate payroll processing, benefits administration—including open enrollment—and compliant offboarding procedures. This position serves as a key resource for interpreting HR policies, enhancing operational effectiveness, and fostering a positive employee experience. With both strategic and administrative responsibilities, the Payroll & HR Specialistt manages sensitive personnel matters and contributes to initiatives in onboarding, retention, training, workers' compensation, and leave management. Reporting to the Senior HR Manager, this role is essential in maintaining compliance, driving process improvements, and supporting a culture of transparency and engagement. This position is offered to work in any one of our countywide offices. FSA strives to be a trauma-informed and resilience-oriented organization. Because working with those impacted by trauma can affect staff in various ways, FSA actively identifies and employs methods to support staff to embody a healthy and sustainable balance of care for both them and others.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Lead Payroll Processing Manage semi-monthly payroll, including timesheet review, discrepancy resolution, and coordination with staff and supervisors. Ensure compliance with IRS, ACA, and state regulations. Maintain HRIS and Personnel Records Update HRIS and timekeeping systems with employee changes. Ensure accurate and compliant recordkeeping, including Form I-9 and orientation documents. Coordinate HR Projects and Audits Assist with annual audits (403(b), workers' comp), handbook updates, and agency-wide pay adjustments. Collaborate Across Departments Work with finance and operations teams to support HR-related operational needs. Travel to county-wide office locations as required. Promote Employee Engagement Participate in morale-building initiatives through the CARES Committee. Help with organizing internal trainings and workshops. Ensure Policy Compliance Assist with maintaining updated HR policies and manuals. Support staff understanding of payroll laws and agency procedures. Professional Development Stay current with payroll best practices by attending relevant trainings and workshops. Other Duties as Assigned Provide additional HR support as needed to meet departmental and agency goals.