Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Work World; Commerce (CA); Hybrid; USD 71,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Paid time off

401(k) plan

Employee discounts

Job summary

Work World is hiring a seasoned Payroll & Benefits Specialist to own end-to-end payroll for CA, WA, and NV and manage benefits across a multi-location retail workforce. The role emphasizes CA wage-hour compliance, ACA tracking for variable-hour staff, and accurate SPIF/incentive processing.

The position offers hybrid work in Commerce, CA, with in-office Tue–Thu and remote Mon/Fri, plus a competitive salary and annual bonus. Strong Excel skills and independent ownership are essential.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands-on experience owning full-cycle multi-state payroll (CA/WA).
• 3+ years of benefits administration, ACA tracking for variable-hour staff.
• Direct experience processing commissions, SPIFs, and incentive pay.
• In-depth knowledge of California wage-hour laws, final pay rules, garnishments, and pay data reporting.
• Advanced Excel skills (XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, pivots, complex formulas).
• High degree of autonomy—ownership of payroll accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle, multi-state payroll processing (CA, WA, NV) for hourly and salaried staff.
• Calculate and process retail commissions, store SPIFs, bonuses, pay adjustments, and off-cycle payments.
• Fully manage health, dental, vision, 401(k), and FSA administration; oversee ACA compliance and reporting for variable-hour employees.
• Ensure adherence to federal, state, and local wage/hour laws; oversee CA Pay Data Reporting and EEO-1 submissions.
• Maintain and improve SOPs, HRIS data integrity, and cross-department workflows with Finance and Operations.
• Serve as the primary HR resolution owner for payroll, benefits, and deductions inquiries via Zendesk.

Skills

Full-cycle payroll

Multi-state payroll

Benefits administration

CA wage-hour compliance

Advanced Excel

Autonomy

Tools

Zendesk

Job description

Position Overview

Now Hiring: Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Job Type: Full-time; Exempt

Location: Commerce, CA

Work Arrangement: Hybrid — in-office Tuesday through Thursday, remote Mondays and Fridays

Compensation: $71,000–$76,000 (DOE) + Annual Performance Bonus

About Work World

Work World is the largest specialty retailer of workwear and work boots in the Western U.S. From humble beginnings in 1990, we now operate 30+ stores across California, Nevada, and Washington under the Work World, Shoeteria, and Whistle Workwear brands. We are dedicated to putting our customers first, and we believe blue‑collar workers are the backbone of our communities. We operate on honesty, respect, and integrity, and we are looking for a key team member who shares those values.

About the Role

We are seeking a seasoned, hands‑on Payroll & Benefits Specialist to fully own and manage end‑to‑end multi‑state payroll processing and benefits administration for our retail workforce. This role requires a true process owner—someone who thrives in a fast‑paced retail environment, brings deep knowledge of California wage‑and‑hour compliance, understands variable‑hour ACA tracking, and can accurately manage store commission and SPIF structures.

What You’ll Do

• Payroll Ownership: Lead full-cycle, multi-state payroll processing (CA, WA, NV) for hourly and salaried retail staff.
• Incentive & Commission Processing: Calculate and process retail commissions, store SPIFs, bonuses, pay adjustments, and off-cycle payments accurately.
• Benefits & ACA Management: Fully manage health, dental, vision, 401(k), and FSA administration. Oversee ACA compliance, including ongoing eligibility tracking, measurement periods, and reporting for variable‑hour employees.
• Compliance & Reporting: Ensure strict adherence to federal, state, and local wage/hour laws (with heavy emphasis on CA and WA regulations). Oversee CA Pay Data Reporting and EEO-1 submissions.
• Process Improvement: Maintain and improve SOPs, HRIS data integrity, and cross‑department workflows with Finance and Operations.
• Employee Support: Serve as the primary HR resolution owner for complex payroll, benefits, and deduction inquiries (via Zendesk).

What You’ll Need (Qualifications)

Required Experience

• 4+ years of hands‑on experience owning full-cycle, multi‑state payroll (specifically California and Washington).
• 3+ years of benefits administration, including active management of ACA compliance and tracking for variable‑hour/hourly workforces.
• Direct experience processing commissions, retail SPIFs, and incentive pay structures.
• In‑depth working knowledge of California wage‑and‑hour laws, final pay rules, garnishments, and pay data reporting.
• Advanced Excel skills (XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, pivot tables, complex formulas for audit reconciliation).
• High degree of autonomy—ability to take full ownership of payroll accuracy without close supervision.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in retail, hospitality, or multi‑location industries.
• Experience with Nevada payroll regulations.
• Working knowledge of HR ticketer systems (e.g., Zendesk).

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation + annual performance bonus
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Employee merchandise discounts
• Career advancement opportunities in a thriving organization

Equal Opportunity Employer

Work World is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Pay Range

USD $71,000.00 - USD $76,000.00 /Yr.