Senior Payroll & Accounting Specialist

Making Waves Academy

$87K — $95K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3+ years of payroll processing experience for organizations with 160+ employees.
  • In-depth knowledge of California labor and payroll laws.
  • 1-2 years of General Ledger & AP experience, including posting journal entries.
  • Advanced Excel skills (e.g., VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables).
  • High School Diploma or GED.

Responsibilities

  • Execute bi-weekly payroll for faculty and staff using modern payroll systems.
  • Enforce California wage and hour compliance, including managing complex payroll adjustments.
  • Handle monthly CalSTRS retirement reporting and collaborate with HR on timesheets.
  • Manage daily Accounts Payable, vendor invoices, and employee reimbursements.
  • Perform month-end close tasks and reconcile payroll-related accounts.
  • Learn California public school finance operations for future growth opportunities.

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation package.
  • Comprehensive healthcare options.
  • Retirement plans.
  • Paid time off.
Full Job Description
Compensation $87,875 - $95,000 (based on experience)
Status: Full-time, Non-exempt, Year-round


Location: Richmond, CA

Job Function: Finance & Business Operations
Compensation & Benefits: We offer a competitive compensation package, comprehensive healthcare options, retirement plans, and paid time off.

We are seeking a Payroll & Accounting Coordinator who takes pride in absolute precision. In this role, your top priority is simple: deliver flawless, on-time, zero-defect bi-weekly payroll for 160+ team members. When you aren't running payroll, you'll apply your passion for numbers to core general accounting operations like Accounts Payable (AP) and journal entries. This is an ideal role for an experienced California payroll professional who wants a hands-on, high-impact position with room to grow into senior finance compliance.
What you'll be doing:
You will own the day-to-day execution of our full-cycle payroll operations while supporting broader business office financial health.

  • Executing End-to-End Payroll: Independently process bi-weekly payroll for faculty and staff using modern payroll systems (UKG experience preferred).
  • Ensuring California Compliance: Strictly enforce CA wage and hour rules (overtime, meal/rest break rules, final paychecks) and manage complex adjustments including teacher summer hold-backs, stipends, and garnishments.
  • Managing Retirement & HR Workflows: Handle monthly CalSTRS retirement reporting and reconciliations. Partner closely with HR to verify timesheets and track leave balances.
  • Supporting Core Accounting: Handle daily Accounts Payable (AP), process vendor invoices, manage employee reimbursements, and post payroll journal entries to Sage Intacct.
  • Reconciling Accounts: Perform month-end close tasks, process routine accruals, and clear payroll-related balance sheet accounts.
  • Growing Your Career: Learn specialized California public school finance operations, including Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) coding and state/federal grant compliance.
What we're looking for:
You love working with numbers, operate with extreme attention to detail, and take personal ownership of meeting deadlines with zero errors. You are a clear communicator who can explain complex payroll details to staff with patience and clarity.


You'll need to have:
  • 3+ years of direct, hands-on experience processing full-cycle payroll for organizations with 160+ employees.
  • Deep knowledge of California labor and payroll laws (overtime, meal breaks, final pay regulations).
  • 1-2 years of General Ledger & AP experience, including posting journal entries and balancing accounts.
  • Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables) and strong comfort with numerical data.
  • High School Diploma or GED.

Even better if you have:
  • Experience with UKG payroll software and Sage Intacct accounting software.
  • Prior experience with California public school finance, CalSTRS reporting, or SACS account coding.
  • An analytical "systems-thinker" mindset with a desire to build efficient internal workflows and grow into a senior finance role.

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