Payroll Specialist

Description We are looking for a Payroll Specialist to support accurate and timely payroll operations for a large, multi-state workforce in San Luis Obispo, California. This Long-term Contract position is ideal for someone who brings strong end-to-end payroll knowledge, attention to detail, and confidence working across high-volume payroll environments. The person in this role will help ensure employees are paid correctly, payroll records remain compliant, and tax-related processes are handled with precision.

Responsibilities:

- Process full-cycle payroll for a high-volume employee population, ensuring each payroll run is completed accurately and on schedule.

- Administer payroll activities across multiple states while applying applicable wage, tax, and compliance requirements.

- Use payroll platforms such as ADP Workforce Now and Dayforce to maintain employee records, validate payroll data, and resolve processing issues.

- Review earnings, deductions, garnishments, and benefit changes to confirm all payroll inputs are correctly reflected.

- Reconcile payroll totals and investigate discrepancies before final submission to reduce errors and rework.

- Support payroll tax activities, including reviewing with holdings, assisting with filings, and helping address tax-related questions or exceptions.

- Coordinate payroll processing for large employee groups of more than 500 workers while maintaining consistency and confidentiality.

- Assist with international payroll-related tasks as needed, helping align data and timelines across payroll cycles. Requirements - Demonstrated experience managing full-cycle payroll from data review through final payroll completion.

- Strong background processing multi-state payroll with a solid understanding of payroll compliance requirements.

- Hands-on experience with ADP Workforce Now and familiarity with Dayforce in a payroll environment.

- Proven ability to support payroll for employee populations exceeding 500 individuals.

- Working knowledge of payroll taxes, deductions, and related reconciliation activities.

- Experience handling sensitive payroll information with a high degree of accuracy and discretion.

- Exposure to international payroll processes is preferred.

- Strong organizational skills and the ability to meet recurring deadlines in a fast-paced setting.

Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.

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All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit  for more information.

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