HR & Payroll Specialist

The Hawaii Group; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5-year Sabbatical (5 weeks paid)

401(k) matching

Bonus based on performance

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Daily employer provided lunch

Gym/fitness reimbursements

13 paid holidays

Paid time off for volunteering

Employee snacks and drinks

Job summary

The Hawaii Group seeks an experienced HR & Payroll Specialist to manage payroll for clients and support the HR team in Honolulu, Hawaii. Responsibilities include processing payroll, maintaining records, and ensuring compliance with payroll laws. The ideal candidate will have 3-5 years experience in payroll processing, strong communication skills, and familiarity with HR functions. The role values confidentiality and team collaboration. The company is known for its family-oriented culture and offers numerous employee benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3-5 years experience in payroll processing and administration.
• Knowledge of Payroll tax laws and general HR is preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Process weekly, bi-weekly and semi-monthly payrolls for clients.
• Responsible for timely and accurate payroll transactions.
• Reconcile employee payroll records and deductions.

Skills

Payroll processing

HR administration

Client service orientation

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration or Human Resources

Tools

HR and payroll software (e.g., ADP, Paychex)

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Benefits

• 5-year Sabbatical (5 weeks paid)
• 401(k) matching
• Bonus based on performance
• Competitive salary
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Tuition assistance
• 401(k)

Benefits of Working for HiGroup

• Encouraging an active, Hawaii lifestyle by supporting our employees’ interests, efforts, community service and activities, The Hawaii Group ("HiGroup") is proud to be recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Hawaii for fourteen (14) years in a row! HiGroup prides itself on putting FAMILY first in every aspect of our company. Its company culture is second to none.
• We encourage career development by mentoring and promoting from within, regular performance evaluations and reimbursements for continuing education or other professional certifications. In addition, full time employees also receive the following:
• Daily employer provided lunch under the HiGroup Daily Grinds Program.
• Gym/fitness reimbursements.
• Parking or buss pass subsidy.
• Regular in-office massage therapy.
• Support of continuing education.
• 13 paid holidays (includes your birthday off).
• Paid time off for volunteering.
• Employee snacks and drinks.
• Career advancement.
• 401K, 4% matching and profit sharing (after eligibility requirements are met).
• Health benefits (after eligibility requirements are met).
• Life Insurance.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced HR & Payroll Specialist to process payroll for our accounting and HR clients and to provide administrative support to our HR team. This position will initially report to the Director of HR. Additionally, this role will assist with administrative HR projects and assignments for clients and internal companies. The HR & Payroll Specialist will be privy to confidential company information which shall require the ability to be discrete and keep all company information confidential. The ideal candidate understands the importance of communication, teamwork, adding value to the company culture, client perception and hospitality and is self‑driven, passionate and client service focused.

Essential Functions

Processing of weekly, bi‑weekly and semi‑monthly payrolls for various clients.

Responsible for timely and accurate processing of all payroll related transactions.

Recording hours, processing time records, compiling payroll reports, maintaining employee payroll records, deductions, calculate overtime pay, bonuses, commissions, adjustments, etc.

Processing physical checks, direct deposits and termination checks for mailing or delivery.

Reconcile all health, supplemental benefits, 401(k) contributions and any garnishment deductions.

Ability to calculate manual payroll checks and projections on pay.

Assists clients and client employees on payroll issues and acts as a point of contact for client needs.

Ability to understand and interpret state and federal payroll laws and effectively communicate them to clients, client employees and internal staff.

Regular payroll trainings throughout the year.

Assist Director of HR, Controller, & CEO with administrative requests and reports for payroll & HR purposes.

Support management by collaborating on projects/assignments as directed.

Ability to organize and prioritize work and frequently communicates status as needed.

Self‑driven and takes initiative, operating under minimal supervision.

Protects organization’s values by keeping client and staff information confidential.

Actively contributes to the overall positive culture of the company through a positive and willing attitude.

Ensures work is performed in compliance with the company’s established policies and procedures.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, candidate should demonstrate the following competencies:

Analytical: Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs work flows and procedures.

Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Technical Skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.

Interpersonal Skills: Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things.

Oral Communication: Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Participates in meetings.

Written Communication: Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.

Change Management: Communicates changes effectively.

Business Acumen: Understands business implications of decisions; Displays orientation to profitability; Aligns work with strategic goals.

Cost Consciousness: Conserves organizational resources.

Diversity: Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Promotes a harassment‑free environment.

Ethics: Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.

Organizational Support: Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Respects diversity.

Judgment: Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision‑making process; Makes timely decisions.

Motivation: Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

Planning/Organizing: Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks.

Professionalism: Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

Quality: Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality.

Adaptability: Adapts to changes, deals with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Attendance/Punctuality: Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Dependability: Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals.

Initiative: Takes independent actions and calculated risks.

Professional Requirements

The ideal HR & Payroll Specialist candidate will have a strong working knowledge of HR and Payroll functions. The candidate shall be familiar with accounting and financial operations in a fast‑paced, for‑profit environment.

This person will meet most or all of the following requirements:

Experience: A minimum of 3 to 5 years experience in payroll processing and administration. Previous experience in HR is a plus. Knowledge of Payroll, Payroll tax laws, general HR and general accounting, or any combination of education and experience which would provide the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to meet the minimum qualifications to perform the essential functions of this position.

Education: Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in accounting, business administration or Human Resources (preferred, but not required).

Certifications: Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Society of Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM‑CP) preferred.

HR & Payroll Knowledge: Proven payroll experience is a must. Other bookkeeping and/or accounting experience is preferred.

Accounting Software: Proficient with HR and payroll software. Prior knowledge of Darwin, Sage Intacct, QBO, Bill.com, Expensify, APS, ADP, Ceridian, Paychex, and other payroll software is preferred.

Computer Skills: Proficient knowledge of Adobe Acrobat and MS Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

Other Requirements: Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, self‑motivated, has ability to multitask and prioritize. Efficient communication skills both verbal and written. Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with staff, clients and vendors. Perform other duties as required.

Personal Requirements

Outstanding communication skills.

Positive, self‑starter attitude and desire to exceed expectations at every opportunity.

Demonstrated ability to complete assigned tasks.

Advanced Excel, Word, Outlook and Microsoft Office skills required.

Strong attention to details, high organized, motivated, and focused on work quality.

Company Description

The Hawaii Group is the parent company of various service businesses based in Hawaii, which consist of: HiAccounting is a locally staffed outsourced accounting and tax firm serving small to medium sized businesses. Our team of accounting and tax professionals work together on multiple clients in various industries. DemandHR is a professional human resource organization that operates under the PEO and ASO models. HiHealthCare provides nursing staff of all levels to homes and facilities statewide. HiHomeCare, HiNursing and Cradles N’ Crayons are all subsidiaries of HiHealthCare. HiAccounting, DemandHR and HiHealthCare are divisions of The Hawaii Group, Hawaii’s leading business process outsourcing firm. We strongly believe in working personally and directly with our clients, connecting through HiGroup’s core principles of family, integrity, transparency, and dedicated client service.