AVP, Assistant Payroll Manager

Cathay Bank in; El Monte (CA); On-site; USD 87,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k)

HSA with company contributions

Job summary

Cathay Bank in El Monte, CA is seeking an AVP, Assistant Payroll Manager to lead payroll operations, data integrity, and compliance across nine states. You will act as a SME for Payroll and Leaves of Absence, maintain UKG Pro HRIS, and partner with internal teams and external vendors.

The role requires deep payroll knowledge, multi-state tax experience, and the ability to mentor teammates while performing tasks with minimal supervision. A strong focus on accuracy and confidentiality is essential.

Qualifications

• College degree in Accounting or HR preferred.
• Minimum 5 years' payroll/benefits admin experience; 1–2 years supervisory preferred.
• Detailed experience with UKG Pro; familiarity with benefit carrier systems.
• Strong MS Excel, data analysis, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Administer bi-weekly multi-state payrolls and tax filings.
• Prepare and distribute payroll data; audit and reconcile records.
• Maintain UKG Pro HRIS data; implement changes and reports.
• Support Leave of Absence and compliance reporting for multiple states.
• Respond to payroll inquiries and provide accurate information.

Skills

UKG Pro

MS Excel

Bilingual Chinese

Analytical skills

Time management

Education

College degree in Accounting or HR

Tools

UKG Pro HRIS

Database tools

Job description

AVP, Assistant Payroll Manager (Administrative)

People Drive Our Success

Are you enthusiastic, highly motivated, and have a strong work ethic? If yes, come join our team! At Cathay Bank – we strive to provide a caring culture that supports your aspirations and success. We believe people are our most valuable asset and we proudly foster growth and development empowering you to achieve your professional goals. We have thrived for 60 years and persevered through many economic cycles due to our team members' drive and optimism. Together we can make a difference in the financial future of our communities.

AVP, Assistant Payroll Manager is responsible for administering all aspects of the payroll process for team members; the technical and analytical functions of the Payroll Department, inclusive, but not limited to, proficiency with UKG Pro system, monthly/periodic reporting of data to internal groups and external vendors, ad hoc report generation, auditing, data integration and implementation, Subject Matter Expert for Payroll and Leaves of Absence. support all locations in 9 states. Stay current on tax and pay policies for multiple states.

Provides back-up and support to VP, Payroll and Leave of Absence Manager. Performs responsibilities with minimal supervision while following established policies and procedures. Seeks guidance on new complex issues when appropriate.

DIRECT REPORTS

The incumbent has no direct reports but has some oversight and acts as a mentor and coach to the other payroll team members and is back up in the absence of the VP, Payroll and Leave of Absence Manager.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Payroll Process

• Assist VP, Payroll and Leave of Absence Manager with payroll activities (bi-weekly, multi-state payrolls; payroll tax filings; W2 reconciling and processing, payroll garnishments)
• Responsible for the accurate preparation, documentation, and distribution of payroll via the payroll system.
• Update payroll records by entering changes in exemptions, insurance coverage, savings deductions, and job title and department/division transfers.
• Calculate retroactive pay, and assist with input of all salary changes, deductions, etc.
• Determine payroll liabilities by calculating federal and state income and social security taxes and employer's social security, unemployment, and workers compensation payments.
• Ensure the processing of new hires, temporary workers, transfers, promotions, and terminations is accurate and timely.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies by collecting and analyzing information.
• Provide payroll information by answering questions and requests.

Payroll system maintenance and administration

• Responsible for the accurate preparation, documentation, and distribution of payroll via the UKG Pro HRIS system.
• Maintain payroll operations by following policies and procedures; reporting needed changes.
• Maintain payroll information by collecting, calculating, and entering data.

Unemployment or Disability

• Assist with the administration of the bank's Leave of Absence program including sending designation letters and notifying employees of the related laws, company policies and procedures.
• Reply to state disability and unemployment claim notifications and answers all government questionnaires.

Compliance

• Maintain employee confidence and protect payroll operations by keeping information strictly confidential.

Reporting: Tax and wages for all states & agencies, like EEO, Vet – 4212, departmental requests

• Prepare and submit government required reports, such as Labor Statistics, Multiple worksites, EEO1, VETS-4212, Form 5500 for all benefit plans, etc.
• Prepare reports by compiling summaries of earnings, taxes, deductions, leave, disability, and nontaxable wages.
• Assist in processing periodic payroll taxes after each payroll based on state/federal guidelines using UKG Pro.
• Review quarterly tax deposit reports prepared by payroll service for federal, state, and local tax agencies.
• Reconcile and certify bank control accounts, general ledger expense accounts and general ledger suspense accounts used by HR department monthly.
• Create ad hoc reports for management and auditors
• Act as tax liaison for all states.
• Assist with gathering documents and screen shots for audit requests.
• Responsible for working with outside vendors, Internal and outside auditors to audit, process and reconcile payroll.

Other

• Meet tight deadlines and prioritize competing workloads.
• Assist team members with individual questions about their deductions, with-holdings, 401k contributions or any changes.
• Complete surveys such as salary surveys, occupational employment surveys, compensation data by EEO1 category and location, health insurance cost studies etc.
• Provide training to team members on new functionalities in UKG Pro.
• Prepare communications, documentation, and forms, such as updating Payroll guidelines.
• Performs special projects and other assignments when required (i.e. annual merit and bonus allocation, regulatory reporting).
• Serve as back-up to Payroll and Benefits Officer.
• Assist in creating or updating desktop procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: College degree in Accounting or Human Resources preferred but not mandatory.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years' experience in a payroll and benefits administrative environment. 1-2 years of supervisory experience preferred. Ideal candidate will have detailed level experience with payroll systems such as UKG Pro and benefit carrier systems. Also experienced with databases and database management tools.
• Required Skills/Abilities: Proficiency with MS Excel Skills (filter, pivot tables, Vlookups and macros), and Database Skills. Time management and ability to prioritize. Highly organized and detail oriented. Ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced environment. Strong problem resolution skills. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Bilingual Chinese is a plus but not required.

OTHER DETAILS

$87K – $102K / year

Pay determined based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and location.

This position may be eligible for a discretionary bonus.

Cathay Bank offers its full-time employees a competitive benefits package which is a significant part of their total compensation. It is our goal to provide employees with a comprehensive benefits package to fit their needs which includes, coverage for medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health saving account (HSA) with company contributions, voluntary coverages, and 401(k).

• coverage for medical insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• life insurance
• long-term disability insurance
• flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• health saving account (HSA) with company contributions
• voluntary coverages
• 401(k)

Cathay Bank may collect personal information from potential job candidates and applicants. For more information on how we handle personal information and your applicable rights, please review our California Job Applicant Privacy Policy .

Cathay Bank is an Equal Opportunity and Affimative Action Employer. We welcome applications for employment from all qualified candidates, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship, gender, national origin, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions, childbirth and breastfeeding), reproductive health decision-making, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information or characteristics, disability or medical condition, military status or status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law.