Payroll Specialist

Title: Payroll Specialist

Employment Type: 4.5 month Contract (possibility of permanent employment after contract)

Compensation Range: $26.00–$30.00 per hour

Location: Santa Monica, California

Work Schedule: Full-Time (40 hours/week), Onsite

Industry: Consumer Products

Company Overview

A global consumer products organization is seeking a Payroll Specialist to support its U.S. Payroll team. This position plays an important role in ensuring timely, accurate payroll processing while maintaining compliance with federal and state payroll regulations and supporting payroll-related initiatives across Finance and Human Resources.

Position Summary

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for processing hourly and salaried payroll, maintaining payroll records, auditing payroll data, administering garnishments, supporting HRIS interfaces, and partnering with Finance and Human Resources to ensure payroll accuracy and compliance. This role requires strong analytical skills, exceptional attention to detail, and excellent customer service.

Key Responsibilities

• Process accurate and timely payroll for hourly and salaried employees.
• Enter and maintain payroll-related employee transactions including new hires, terminations, transfers, and position changes.
• Review payroll reports, identify discrepancies, and complete necessary corrections and journal entries.
• Research and resolve employee payroll inquiries and external agency requests.
• Serve as the primary contact for wage garnishments and ensure compliance with applicable state regulations.
• Process and audit SAP and Dayforce payroll interface transactions.
• Prepare standard and ad hoc payroll reports.
• Perform audits to ensure payroll and HRIS data integrity.
• Maintain payroll documentation and employee records.
• Recommend payroll process improvements and operational efficiencies.
• Support Finance with payroll accounting activities.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives and special projects.
• Deliver responsive customer service to employees regarding payroll questions.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of multi-state payroll processing experience.
• Current knowledge of California payroll laws and regulations.
• Experience with payroll systems; Ceridian Dayforce preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, and formulas.
• Strong attention to detail with demonstrated payroll accuracy.
• Ability to manage confidential information appropriately.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Strong organizational, project management, and time management abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SAP payroll integrations.
• Experience supporting high-volume payroll operations.
• Background partnering with Finance and Human Resources.
• Continuous improvement mindset with process optimization experience.