Payroll Specialist

Company Introduction

At Service Squared, we’re not your average back-office team. We partner with hundreds of restaurants, retailers, franchise groups, and service-based businesses across the U.S. to provide accounting, payroll, compliance, and financial services that help our clients operate and grow.

With offices in Cupertino, Orange County, and Nashville, our team combines deep industry expertise, technology, and hands-on problem solving to manage the financial and administrative complexities our clients rely on us to handle.

Role Overview

We’re looking for an experienced Payroll Accountant to join our Orange County team. This is a senior individual-contributor role for a seasoned payroll professional who can independently manage an assigned portfolio of clients and take ownership of complex payroll, accounting, compliance, and client issues.

This is not a data-entry payroll position. We’re looking for someone who understands the why behind payroll, can identify when something doesn’t look right, evaluate the issue, determine the appropriate course of action, and see it through to resolution.

Job Details

Job Type: Full-time, salaried exempt

Location: In-office, Fountain Valley, CA

Salary: $72,500–$75,000 annually, depending on experience

Schedule: Monday–Friday, with flexibility as needed to meet client and payroll responsibilities

What You’ll Own

As a Payroll Accountant, you will independently manage an assigned portfolio of Service Squared clients and serve as a primary payroll resource for those businesses.

• Independently manage end-to-end payroll responsibilities for an assigned portfolio of clients across multiple entities, states, pay frequencies, and employee populations
• Review and approve payrolls for accuracy and reasonableness, identifying unusual results, discrepancies, compliance concerns, or potential errors before payroll is finalized
• Analyze complex payroll issues and independently determine appropriate solutions within established company policies, client requirements, and applicable payroll regulations
• Serve as a knowledgeable payroll advisor to assigned clients, helping managers understand payroll requirements, resolve issues, and make informed decisions
• Evaluate payroll and timekeeping data from multiple sources and determine how exceptions, discrepancies, or unusual transactions should be handled
• Analyze wage calculations involving overtime, bonuses, commissions, retroactive compensation, PTO, deductions, final pay, garnishments, and other complex compensation matters
• Apply knowledge of California and multi-state payroll requirements to client situations and escalate matters requiring legal or senior management review when appropriate
• Perform complex payroll reconciliations and analyze differences between payroll registers, cash funding, payroll liabilities, taxes, deductions, and general ledger accounts
• Prepare, review, and analyze payroll journal entries and payroll-related general ledger activity
• Research and resolve payroll tax, wage, deduction, employee, and accounting discrepancies
• Analyze off-cycle payrolls, corrections, reversals, adjustments, and prior-period issues and determine the appropriate corrective action
• Review quarter-end and year-end payroll information, identify discrepancies, and resolve issues before tax filings and W-2 processing
• Evaluate client payroll processes and identify opportunities to improve accuracy, controls, efficiency, and scalability
• Develop and maintain client-specific payroll procedures, controls, and processing requirements
• Participate in new client implementations, payroll conversions, system configurations, and process design
• Work directly with the Director of Payroll Services on complex client matters, escalations, and special projects
• Serve as a resource to Payroll Administrators and other team members on complex payroll questions and issues
• Exercise independent judgment in prioritizing client needs, resolving payroll issues, and determining when matters require escalation

What We’re Looking For

• 5 years of progressive payroll experience, with demonstrated responsibility for independently managing complex payrolls
• Strong California payroll knowledge and experience
• Multi-state payroll experience
• Demonstrated ability to independently analyze and resolve complex payroll issues
• Working knowledge of payroll accounting, general ledger entries, payroll liabilities, and reconciliations
• Experience managing multiple payrolls, clients, entities, or business units simultaneously
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll requirements
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel
• Ability to evaluate information, identify potential problems, consider alternative solutions, and make sound decisions
• Strong organizational skills and ability to independently prioritize competing client requirements and deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• High level of judgment and discretion when handling confidential employee, client, and financial information

We’d Especially Like to Meet You If You Have

• Experience in a multi-client payroll, accounting, PEO, or outsourced services environment
• Restaurant, retail, franchise, hospitality, or other high-volume hourly payroll experience
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now and ADP RUN
• Experience with Paychex, Paycor, Paycom, Paylocity, or similar payroll platforms
• Experience with POS and timekeeping system integrations
• Experience managing payroll across multiple FEINs and organizational structures
• Experience with payroll implementations or conversions
• Accounting degree, accounting coursework, CPP certification, or equivalent professional experience

What Makes This Role Different

Service Squared is not an internal payroll department processing the same company's payroll every two weeks.

Our Payroll Accountants manage relationships with multiple businesses, each with different employee populations, systems, pay practices, jurisdictions, and operational challenges. That requires more than knowing how to operate payroll software.

Successful Payroll Accountants at S2 are expected to understand the issue, analyze the available information, exercise judgment, determine the appropriate solution, and take ownership through resolution.

You'll have the support of our Director of Payroll Services and the broader S2 team, but you'll be trusted to independently manage your assigned clients and make decisions within your area of expertise.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) company match
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Flexible schedule with manager approval
• Referral program
• Collaborative, experienced team environment
• Opportunity for professional growth

Work Location

Service Squared
18396 Brookhurst Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708

In-office position

Service Squared is an equal opportunity employer.

Pay: $72,000.00 - $74,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $72,000 - $74,000