Senior Payroll & Accounting Specialist in Richmond, California at Making Waves Academy

Location: Richmond, CA

Job Function: Finance & Business Operations

We are seeking a Payroll & Accounting Coordinator who takes pride in absolute precision. In this role, your top priority is simple: deliver flawless, on-time, zero-defect bi-weekly payroll for 160+ team members. When you aren't running payroll, you'll apply your passion for numbers to core general accounting operations like Accounts Payable (AP) and journal entries. This is an ideal role for an experienced California payroll professional who wants a hands-on, high-impact position with room to grow into senior finance compliance.

• Executing End-to-End Payroll: Independently process bi-weekly payroll for faculty and staff using modern payroll systems (UKG experience preferred).
• Ensuring California Compliance: Strictly enforce CA wage and hour rules (overtime, meal/rest break rules, final paychecks) and manage complex adjustments including teacher summer hold-backs, stipends, and garnishments.
• Managing Retirement & HR Workflows: Handle monthly CalSTRS retirement reporting and reconciliations. Partner closely with HR to verify timesheets and track leave balances.
• Supporting Core Accounting: Handle daily Accounts Payable (AP), process vendor invoices, manage employee reimbursements, and post payroll journal entries to Sage Intacct.
• Reconciling Accounts: Perform month-end close tasks, process routine accruals, and clear payroll-related balance sheet accounts.
• Growing Your Career: Learn specialized California public school finance operations, including Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) coding and state/federal grant compliance.

You’ll need to have:

• 3+ years of direct, hands-on experience processing full-cycle payroll for organizations with 160+ employees.
• Deep knowledge of California labor and payroll laws (overtime, meal breaks, final pay regulations).
• 1–2 years of General Ledger & AP experience, including posting journal entries and balancing accounts.
• Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables) and strong comfort with numerical data.
• High School Diploma or GED.

Even better if you have:

• Experience with UKG payroll software and Sage Intacct accounting software.
• Prior experience with California public school finance, CalSTRS reporting, or SACS account coding.
• An analytical "systems-thinker" mindset with a desire to build efficient internal workflows and grow into a senior finance role.