Sr Payroll Accountant

Title:

Sr Payroll Accountant

Lake Forest, San Leandro and Houston, TX (Hybrid)

$94,000.00 - $ (may vary based on experience, skills, and location)

We are seeking a highly organized and detail‑oriented Payroll and Financial Analyst to join our finance team. This role plays a critical part in managing comprehensive payroll operations, preparing and recording journal entries, and overseeing payroll‑related accruals to ensure accurate financial reporting. The successful candidate will also be responsible for maintaining compliance with company policies, internal financial controls, and regulatory requirements, while providing analytical support to payroll accounting related tasks.

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In this role, you will collaborate with internal stakeholders and external payroll and benefit vendors to ensure timely and precise payroll execution, troubleshoot discrepancies, and implement best practices. You will also play a key role in month‑end and year‑end close processes, contribute to audit readiness, and participate in continuous improvement initiatives across payroll and accounting functions. ​
The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of payroll processes, a solid foundation in accounting principles, and a proactive approach to solving problems. Excellent analytical skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to communicate clearly across teams are essential.

• Payroll Operations (40%)
  • Review, analyze, and validate bi‑weekly/monthly payroll reports to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance.
  • Collaborate closely with HR, Finance, and external payroll service providers to investigate and resolve discrepancies related to earnings, deductions, taxes, and benefit contributions.
  • Process complex payroll transactions including off‑cycle adjustments, garnishments, and final settlements.
  • Perform monthly reconciliations of payroll‑related GL accounts, identifying and resolving variances in a timely manner.
  • Maintain accurate payroll data and update employee information, job changes, compensation changes, and tax data within payroll systems.
  • Prepare and provide payroll documentation for internal and external audits as needed.
• Journal Entries & Accruals (40%)
  • Prepare and record timely and accurate payroll‑related journal entries, including vacation accruals, health benefits, 401(k) contributions, bonuses, commissions, and sales incentives.
  • Ensure payroll expenses are properly coded and allocated to appropriate cost centers, departments, and business units.
  • Maintain and update payroll‑related accrual schedules, ensuring employee payroll, PTO, and bonuses are captured in line with policy.
  • Collaborate with accounting teams to accurately reflect payroll and personnel costs in monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
  • Support month‑end and year‑end financial close processes, including variance analysis, reconciliations, and reporting.
  • Work with ERP/payroll systems to ensure accurate data flow and functioning journal interfaces.
• Compliance and Controls (10%)
  • Ensure payroll processes adhere to internal financial controls, company policies, SOX requirements (if applicable), and local labor and tax laws.
  • Maintain up‑to‑date process documentation, control checklists, and audit trails for payroll transactions, journal entries, and accruals.
  • Assist in planning and executing internal and external payroll audits, addressing inquiries and implementing corrective actions.
  • Identify risks within payroll operations and accounting, proposing enhancements to strengthen controls and reduce exposure.
• Other Duties (10%)
  • Generate and analyze payroll‑related reports and dashboards for Finance, HR, and senior leadership.
  • Identify opportunities to streamline payroll, reconciliation, and reporting processes.
  • Support payroll system upgrades, testing, and implementations with IT, Finance, and HR teams.
  • Provide analytical support and complete special projects related to payroll, compensation, or employee benefits as required by leadership.

• Education &
  
  Certifications:
  
  
  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
  • Experience in payroll systems…