Payroll Manager - Hybrid at LA TERRA FINA USA, LLC – Union City, California

We are seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Payroll Manager to join our finance team. This pivotal role ensures the accurate, timely, and compliant processing of all company payrolls, supporting our commitment to employee satisfaction and regulatory adherence. The ideal candidate will operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and serve as a subject-matter expert on payroll regulations and best practices.

Payroll Processing:

• Process biweekly and off-cycle payrolls accurately and on schedule
• Analyze and summarize payroll to payroll dollar variance drivers
• Ensure 401k contributions and loan activity are reconciled and transmitted timely to our 401k provider
• Partners with HR as required to review and audit internal paperwork that drives pay and other changes on employee records
• Partners with HR to resolve payroll issues that are driven by system errors or EDI feed disruptions
• Processes all garnishments and maintains appropriate records
• Reports qualifying earnings to our Workers Compensation insurance provider, ensuring that funds are withdrawn from our bank account on a timely basis.
• Maintains detailed records including payroll registries, payroll review checklist and other documents for audit and legal compliance
• Answers all business partner and employee inquiries timely and resolves any and all discrepancies related to Payroll and 401(k) contributions
• Support employee expense reimbursements through Paylocity expense module
• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal and state wage and laws

Payroll Tax & Compliance

• Ensure timely and accurate federal, state, and local payroll tax filings
• Coordinate and oversee payroll tax payments, filings, and reconciliations
• Manage year-end payroll activities, including W-2 preparation and distribution
• Maintain compliance with all applicable payroll laws and regulations
• Serve as primary point of contact for payroll tax agencies and vendors

Audits & Regulatory Reporting

• Prepare and support payroll-related audits, including workers’ compensation, payroll tax, and other regulatory audits
• Respond to audit requests and ensure documentation is complete and accurate
• Proactively identify and address compliance risks

Payroll Accounting ·

• Performs payroll-related journal entries, including biweekly payrolls, payroll accrual, vacation accrual and other-related entries
• Performs payroll-related account reconciliations, including payroll, benefits, vacation and other liability accounts ·
• Responsible for accounting related to our temp workforce, including reconciling temp hours to Paylocity, approving temp invoices and performing temp-related expense accruals
• Researches and explains variances in monthly payroll actuals vs. budget
• Reviews payroll accounting processes and recommends and implements process improvements that result in increased accuracy and timeliness of payroll-related accounting results
• Maintains Paylocity payroll to general ledger mapping, resulting in streamlined payroll accounting

Background Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree is required. A minimum of 4 + years’ experience in a payroll function is required, including California payroll processing, researching California related payroll regulations (and other states as needed for remote workers).
• Accounting experience in posting journal entries, account reconciliations and supporting audits (including annual financial, workers compensation, 401k and other audits) is required.
• Must be completely familiar with CA Labor laws that govern time/attendance and payroll processing and have Certified Payroll Professional (“CPP”) designation
• Analytical skills and ability to perform payroll-related research is required
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills are required, with the ability to run v-lookups and pivot tables
• Must have excellent communication skills with ability to communicate payroll-related rules to non payroll professionals and internal customers
• Must have keen attention to detail and the ability to check and verify work