Payroll and Accounting Specialist

Making Waves Academy; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Job summary

Making Waves Academy (MWA) is seeking a meticulous Payroll & Accounting Specialist to manage end-to-end bi-weekly payroll for 160+ team members using UKG, ensuring timesheets, stipends and garnishments comply with CA wage and hour laws. You will handle CalSTRS retirement reporting, employee benefit enrollments, vendor payments, and payroll postings in Sage Intacct, while maintaining accurate data.

Collaborate with People Operations on reporting (leave balances, headcount) and assist month-end

Qualifications

• 3+ years of direct experience running full-cycle payroll for 150+ employees.
• Experience with General Ledger and Accounts Payable in a corporate/ nonprofit setting.
• Familiarity with California wage & hour laws and CalSTRS reporting.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Payroll Execution: Bi-weekly payroll for 160+ staff using UKG, verify timesheets, process stipends and garnishments in compliance with CA laws.
• Retirement & Benefits Administration: Manage CalSTRS reporting, enrollments, tracking and remittances.
• Accounts Payable & GL Support: Process vendor invoices, reimbursements, and post payroll entries in Sage Intacct.
• Account Reconciliations: Reconcile payroll-related balance sheets and assist month-end accruals.
• HR & Operations Collaboration: Partner with People Operations for accurate data and reporting.

Skills

Payroll processing

General Ledger

Accounts Payable

Excel

CA wage & hour laws

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate’s or Bachelor’s in Accounting/Business

Tools

UKG

Sage Intacct

Excel

Job description

Compensation: $87,875 - $95,000 / year (Based on Experience) + Full Benefits

Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Year-Round

Job Function: Finance & Business Operations

When you join Making Waves Academy (MWA), you're joining a team dedicated to moving the world forward.

Making Waves Academy (MWA) is seeking a meticulous Payroll & Accounting Specialist to manage our end-to-end bi-weekly payroll operations for 160+ team members while supporting core Accounts Payable and general ledger accounting. Reporting to the Business Office, this role is critical to maintaining payroll accuracy, employee satisfaction, and clean financial records.

What You'll Be Doing

• End-to-End Payroll Execution: Independently prepare and process bi-weekly payroll for 160+ faculty and staff using UKG. Verify timesheets, process stipends, garnishments, and teacher summer hold-backs in full compliance with CA wage and hour laws.
• Retirement & Benefits Administration: Manage monthly CalSTRS retirement reporting and reconciliations. Handle employee benefit plan enrollments, tracking, and contribution remittances.
• Accounts Payable & GL Support: Process vendor invoices, manage employee reimbursements, and post payroll journal entries to Sage Intacct.
• Account Reconciliations: Clear payroll-related balance sheet accounts (FSA, life insurance) and support routine month-end accruals.
• HR & Operations Collaboration: Partner closely with People Operations to maintain clean employee data and generate functional reporting (leave balances, overtime, headcount).

What We're Looking For

• Experience: 3+ years of direct experience running full-cycle California payroll for 150+ employees.
• Technical Skills: 1-2 years of hands-on General Ledger and AP experience (Sage Intacct and UKG experience strongly preferred). Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables).
• Compliance Knowledge: Deep understanding of CA labor laws (overtime, meal breaks, final pay timing) and familiarity with CalSTRS or public school retirement reporting.
• Education: High School Diploma or GED required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Business preferred.

Making Waves Academy is an equal opportunity employer. We afford equal advancement and employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, gender identity, gender expression, sex, religious creed, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

Making Waves Education Foundation is a Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to promoting educational equity through college and career support for underserved students and their families.

Education Administration Programs Health and Human Services Government Administration

Company size 51-200 employees

Company type Nonprofit Founded 1989

Total funding 0

Momentum

Team growth

Momentum

Team growth

44% in 12 mo

79 employees on LinkedIn

Sep 22 Feb 26

Capital

Funding history

Footprint

Where they work