New

Sr Payroll Specialist

Vaco
$85,000.00 - $100,000.00 / yr
401(k), retirement plan
United States, California, Huntington Beach
Jun 16, 2026
Senior Payroll Specialist - On-site Position Overview The Senior Payroll Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for a workforce of approximately 1,800 employees across multiple states. This role supports the Senior Payroll Manager and serves as a key point of contact for site managers and employees, requiring strong customer service skills, advanced technical expertise, and the ability to manage complex payroll operations in a fast?paced environment. Key Responsibilities Process end?to?end payroll for multi?state employee populations across weekly, bi?monthly, and monthly pay cycles. Support the Senior Payroll Manager with day?to?day operations, audits, reporting, and special projects. Maintain and process payroll using ADP (Workforce Now, Enterprise, or equivalent), ensuring accuracy and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Utilize advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data analysis tools to reconcile payroll data, validate reports, and troubleshoot discrepancies. Serve as a primary payroll contact for site managers, HR partners, and employees, delivering high?quality customer service and timely issue resolution. Review and validate timekeeping data, ensuring compliance with company policies and wage?and?hour laws. Prepare and audit payroll reports, including earnings, deductions, taxes, and adjustments. Assist with year?end activities such as W?2 processing, tax reconciliations, and audits. Maintain confidentiality and ensure data integrity across all payroll systems and processes. Identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve payroll accuracy and efficiency. Qualifications 5+ years of payroll experience, with at least 2 years in a senior or lead payroll role. Strong experience with ADP payroll systems. Advanced Excel proficiency, including pivot tables and complex formulas. Demonstrated experience processing payroll for large employee populations (1,000+ preferred). Multi?state payroll experience required; knowledge of CA payroll laws strongly preferred. Exceptional customer service and communication skills; ability to partner effectively with site managers and cross?functional teams. Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail and accuracy. Ability to manage multiple deadlines across various pay frequencies. CPP certification a plus but not required. Key Competencies Payroll accuracy and compliance Analytical thinking and problem?solving Customer service orientation Confidentiality and integrity Time management and prioritization Collaboration and communication Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products. Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. EEO Notice Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law. Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com . Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal. By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal. Privacy Notice Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies. California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here. Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here. Residents of all other states may access our policies here. Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here. Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here. Pay Transparency Notice Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to: the individual's skill sets, experience and training; licensure and certification requirements; office location and other geographic considerations; other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.