Payroll/HR Administrator & Accounting Assistant

SteelWave LLC; San Mateo (CA); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

SteelWave is seeking a detail-oriented Payroll/HR Administrator to own multi-state payroll for 75–100 employees, support core Payroll/HR operations, and assist the accounting team.

The role emphasizes accuracy, confidentiality, and follow-through, with responsibilities spanning payroll processing, HRIS reporting, recruiting onboarding, and coordination with the TriNet PEO. Office-based role in a growing real estate team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 2–5 years of payroll processing and time reporting.
• Knowledge of federal and state wage and hour laws; multi-state payroll preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and math aptitude for payroll calculations.

Responsibilities

• Process multi-state payroll and time reporting for exempt and non-exempt employees.
• Process payroll and personnel transactions including hires, terminations, pay changes, bonuses, garnishments, and benefit adjustments.
• Serve as liaison with TriNet (PEO) and maintain system setup; resolve discrepancies and build reports.
• Prepare HRIS reports for internal and government reporting; support 401(k) reconciliations and audits.
• Coordinate recruiting, onboarding/offboarding, ATS, I-9s and background checks.
• Support performance reviews, benefits analysis, HR training, and other HR projects.

Skills

Payroll processing

HR coordination

Time reporting

Excel

Multistate payroll

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

TriNet (PEO)

HRIS

Job description

Payroll/HR Administrator & Accounting Assistant

About SteelWave

SteelWave is a vertically integrated real estate investment manager, owner, and operator with a commercial portfolio across the western U.S., including Northern and Southern California, Denver, Seattle, and Austin. Since 1973, we have acquired and developed more than $11 billion in real estate.

The Role

We are seeking a detail-oriented Payroll/HR Administrator to own multi-state payroll for 75–100 employees, support core Payroll/HR operations, and assist the accounting team. This is a hands-on role for someone who values accuracy, confidentiality, and follow-through.

What You'll Do

Payroll & HR (~60%)

• Process multi-state payroll and time reporting for exempt and non-exempt employees, ensuring compliance with company policy and wage and hour laws.
• Process payroll and personnel transactions, including hires, terminations, pay changes, bonuses, garnishments, and benefit adjustments.
• Serve as primary liaison with TriNet (PEO): maintain system setup, resolve discrepancies, and build custom reports.
• Prepare HRIS reports for internal and government reporting; support 401(k) reconciliations and annual audits.
• Coordinate recruiting and onboarding/offboarding, including the applicant tracking system, I-9s, and background checks.
• Support performance reviews, benefits analysis, HR training, and other HR projects; provide backup to administrative staff.

Accounting (~40%)

• Support accounts payable, including employee expense reports and weekly check/ACH payment runs.
• Prepare wire requests and assist with processing wires.
• Assist with corporate accounting, including cost allocations.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 2–5 years of payroll processing and time reporting experience; HR or recruiting coordination experience a plus.
• Working knowledge of federal and state wage and hour laws; multi-state payroll experience preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and math aptitude for payroll calculations and reconciliations.
• Excellent organization; able to manage competing deadlines and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Clear written and verbal communication and a service-oriented approach with employees at all levels.
• High degree of discretion with confidential information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel; comfortable learning new systems.

Office-based role; primarily seated computer work with occasional lifting up to 10 lbs. Extended hours may be required during peak periods. This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

SteelWave is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations are available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.