HR Associate

SACRAMENTO HUMAN RESOURCE ASSN; Rocklin (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

SACRAMENTO HUMAN RESOURCE ASSN is seeking a detail-oriented HR professional to manage payroll processing, HRIS maintenance in Rippling, and benefits administration. The role supports onboarding, offboarding, and personnel-record audits while ensuring confidentiality and compliance across payroll and HR systems.

You will handle job documentation, HR projects, reporting, and routine HR communications, collaborating with managers and employees to ensure accurate records and timely processes.

Qualifications

• Two+ years HR administration, payroll, benefits, HRIS, or related operations.
• Working knowledge of California employment and wage-and-hour practices.
• Minimum of one year of experience processing California-compliant payroll.
• Experience with accounting principles, including reconciliations, journal entries, debits, and credits, a plus.

Responsibilities

• Process and audit payroll, employee changes, timekeeping corrections, deductions, and garnishments.
• Prepare payroll reports, journal entries, and cash reconciliations.
• Research discrepancies, document corrections, and elevate compliance or financial concerns.
• Maintain payroll records and support internal and external audits.
• Maintain accurate employee information in Rippling and related HR systems.
• Maintain confidential personnel, payroll, benefits, leave, recruiting, and separation records.
• Conduct personnel-file audits and coordinate follow-up on missing or inconsistent documentation.
• Maintain HR reports, spreadsheets, calendars, and trackers.
• Coordinate job postings, applicant tracking, interviews, and candidate communication.
• Support pre-employment activities, new-hire documentation, system setup, and benefit enrollment.
• Track onboarding milestones and required 30-, 60-, and 90-day activities.
• Coordinate administrative offboarding, property return, system changes, and records retention.
• Draft and maintain job descriptions, SOPs, checklists, templates, and process documentation.
• Support HR calendars, manager resources, leave tools, audit systems, and documentation platforms.
• Assist with HR projects, reporting, research, technology improvements, and workflow automation.
• Provide additional departmental support during periods of increased workload.
• Provide responsive and professional support to employees and managers.
• Prepare routine HR communications, confirmations, reports, and documentation.
• Maintain HR deadlines for reviews, notices, audits, and recurring activities.
• Participate in HR, payroll, benefits, technology, and certification-related development.

Skills

Attention to detail

Written and verbal communication

Problem-solving

Time management

Team collaboration

Customer service

Adaptability

Education

Associate degree or higher in HR/Business/Accounting

Tools

Rippling

HRIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Payroll, Accounting, and Compliance

Process and audit payroll, employee changes, timekeeping corrections, deductions, and garnishments.

Prepare payroll reports, journal entries, and cash reconciliations.

Research discrepancies, document corrections, and elevate compliance or financial concerns.

Maintain payroll records and support internal and external audits.

HRIS and Employee Records

Maintain accurate employee information in Rippling and related HR systems.

Maintain confidential personnel, payroll, benefits, leave, recruiting, and separation records.

Conduct personnel-file audits and coordinate follow-up on missing or inconsistent documentation.

Maintain HR reports, spreadsheets, calendars, and trackers.

Benefits and Retirement Plans

Support benefits administration, enrollment changes, employee questions, and Open Enrollment.

Process and reconcile benefit invoices while protecting confidential information.

Assist with 401(k) administration, the annual census, notices, and data requests.

Support benefits and workers’ compensation audits.

Recruiting, Onboarding, and Offboarding

Coordinate job postings, applicant tracking, interviews, and candidate communication.

Support pre-employment activities, new-hire documentation, system setup, and benefit enrollment.

Track onboarding milestones and required 30-, 60-, and 90-day activities.

Coordinate administrative offboarding, property return, system changes, and records retention.

Job Documentation and HR Projects

Draft and maintain job descriptions, SOPs, checklists, templates, and process documentation.

Support HR calendars, manager resources, leave tools, audit systems, and documentation platforms.

Assist with HR projects, reporting, research, technology improvements, and workflow automation.

Provide additional departmental support during periods of increased workload.

Employee and Department Support

Provide responsive and professional support to employees and managers.

Prepare routine HR communications, confirmations, reports, and documentation.

Maintain HR deadlines for reviews, notices, audits, and recurring activities.

Participate in HR, payroll, benefits, technology, and certification-related development.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None.

Integrity and professionalism

Attention to detail and accuracy

Critical thinking and problem-solving

Written and verbal communication

Confidentiality and sound judgment

Customer service and collaboration

Organization and time management

Initiative and accountability

Adaptability and continuous learning

Leadership potential

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics required for successful job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Education and Experience:

Associate degree or higher in Human Resources, Business, Accounting, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

Two or more years of experience in HR administration, payroll, benefits, HRIS, or related operations.

Working knowledge of California employment and wage-and-hour practices.

Minimum of one year of experience processing California-compliant payroll.

Experience with accounting principles, including reconciliations, journal entries, debits, and credits, a plus.

Language Skills:

Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing. Ability to read, interpret, and prepare business correspondence, reports, policies, and other work-related documents. Ability to effectively present information and respond professionally to questions from coworkers, clients, vendors, and others.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to apply mathematical concepts, including basic arithmetic, percentages, and other calculations necessary to accurately perform payroll, accounting, reconciliations, and other job-related responsibilities.

Reasoning and Problem-Solving Skills:

Ability to analyze information, exercise sound judgment, solve practical problems, and make decisions based on available information. Ability to interpret written, oral, and electronic instructions and apply them effectively in a variety of work situations. Ability to adapt to changing priorities, business needs, technology, and work processes.

Computer Skills:

Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other applicable programs), proprietary software, and other technology required to perform the essential functions of the position. Ability to effectively learn, adapt to, and utilize new software, artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and emerging technologies as business needs evolve.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

PHR, PHRca, SHRM-CP, or other recognized HR certification preferred. Employee must successfully obtain an approved HR certification within two years of hire as a condition of continued professional development.