Payroll Specialist

We are proud to serve as a trusted resource for our community, providing high-quality mental health care with compassion and integrity. Our Long Beach facility currently operates as a 79-bed adult voluntary acute inpatient program, offering private rooms and individualized treatment delivered by a multidisciplinary team. We are dedicated to best practices and person-centered care, supporting each patient's journey toward stability and recovery.

To promote continuity of care beyond inpatient treatment, we also offer Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs tailored to meet each individual's clinical needs. We are also actively expanding our services across Southern California, with our new San Bernardino campus expected to open in early 2026.

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of biweekly payroll for approximately 225 employees across multiple departments, with the workforce expected to continue growing as the organization expands. This position manages the full payroll cycle, including timecard review, payroll audits, wage calculations, differentials, overtime, double time, meal premiums, retroactive payments, deductions, and payroll corrections. Incumbent serves as the primary point of contact for payroll-related matters and must be able to effectively manage increasing payroll volume and complexity while maintaining a high level of accuracy, organization, and compliance.

The Payroll Specialist works closely with Human Resources department, Scheduling department, department managers, and employees to identify and resolve payroll discrepancies before payroll is finalized. This position requires strong attention to detail, accountability, follow-through, and the ability to independently identify issues that may affect employee pay.

In addition to payroll administration, the Payroll Specialist provides support with benefits administration and other HR functions that directly intersect with payroll.

• Manage and process biweekly payroll accurately and within established payroll deadlines.
• Review employee timecards for completeness, accuracy, and appropriate manager approval prior to payroll processing.
• Proactively identify missing punches, unapproved timecards, incomplete hours, and other discrepancies and follow up with managers before payroll is finalized.
• Perform pre-payroll audits to identify potential errors or omissions before payroll submission.
• Verify regular hours, overtime, double time, shift differentials, incentive pay, meal premiums, holiday pay, and other applicable earnings.
• Review payroll calculations for employees working alternative schedules, including 12-hour shifts and overnight shifts.
• Process retroactive pay, payroll adjustments, corrections, and off-cycle payments when necessary.
• Review new hires, terminations, compensation changes, status changes, and other employee transactions to ensure they are accurately reflected in payroll.
• Coordinate final wage calculations and timely final pay for separating employees in accordance with California requirements.
• Review payroll deductions, benefit deductions, garnishments, and other authorized deductions for accuracy.
• Reconcile payroll prior to submission and conduct a post-payroll review to confirm employees were paid accurately.
• Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with company record-retention requirements.
• Respond to employee payroll questions and research discrepancies promptly and professionally.
• Escalate significant payroll discrepancies, system issues, or compliance concerns to the Director of Human Resources.
• Monitor timekeeping records throughout the pay period rather than waiting until payroll processing begins.
• Partner with managers to ensure timecards are reviewed, corrected, and approved by established deadlines.
• Identify recurring timekeeping issues and communicate trends to Human Resources and management.
• Assist managers and employees with timekeeping questions, missed punches, meal-period records, and other payroll-related system issues.
• Review timekeeping configuration and pay rules for accuracy when employees transfer departments, change schedules, or receive new pay codes or differentials.
• Support audits related to meal periods, overtime, double time, shift differentials, and other wage-and-hour requirements.

• Serve as the primary HR contact for payroll and timekeeping functions…