Accountant, Financial Reporting, Accounting Manager

Senior Accountant – Payroll Focus

Location:

Los Angeles, CA Work Setting:
On-Site

Employment Type:

Contract Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant with a strong focus on Payroll Accounting to support their Payroll and Accounting operations. This role is primarily responsible for full-cycle payroll accounting, reconciliations, reporting, and general ledger integration, while also supporting additional accounting functions such as General Ledger, Financial Reporting, Fixed Assets, AP, AR, and Grants/Project Accounting as needed. The ideal professional is detail-oriented, deadline-driven, and comfortable working in a compliance-focused environment.

Key Responsibilities (Primary Payroll Focus) Manage full-cycle payroll accounting, including GL interfaces and reconciliations
• Reconcile payroll liability, benefit, and tax accounts, resolving variances as needed
• Ensure accurate posting of wages, deductions, employer taxes, and benefit allocations
• Support payroll reporting, audits, and compliance filings
• Prepare payroll-related journal entries, accruals, adjustments, and worksheets
• Reconcile and analyze general ledger and bank activity
• Support month-end and year-end close processes
• Assist with project/grant and financial reporting as needed
• Support internal and external payroll and financial audits
• Utilize Excel and financial systems to prepare reporting and analysis

Minimum Qualifications (Non-Negotiable Requirements) Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field
• Minimum 3+ years of hands-on Payroll Accounting experience (beyond payroll processing)
• Demonstrated experience reconciling payroll GL and liability accounts
• Strong understanding of GAAP and internal controls
• Experience preparing journal entries and performing financial reconciliations
• Proficiency with advanced Excel (pivot tables, lookups, formulas)
• Ability to work on-site daily in Los Angeles

Preferred Qualifications CPA or CMA preferred, not required
• Experience with Oracle-based financial systems (e.g., People Soft or Oracle FIS)
• Experience with in public-sector, grant-funded, or higher-education environments
• Familiarity with GASB or public-sector financial reporting
• Experience supporting payroll and financial audits Ideal Professional Profile Payroll-focused accounting background
• High attention to accuracy and detail
• Comfortable balancing recurring payroll cycles with close deadlines
• Strong communication and collaboration skills