Payroll & HR Specialist

Fsacares; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 34,440 - 41,328; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid medical insurance

Calm meditation app subscription

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

Family Service Agency (FSA) in Santa Barbara, CA is seeking a Payroll & HR Specialist to support payroll processing, benefits administration, and compliance across county offices. You will work with the Senior HR Manager to ensure accurate payroll, open enrollment, and compliant offboarding, while safeguarding confidential information.

This full-time role emphasizes trauma-informed care, teamwork, and professional development.

Qualifications

• Must have working knowledge of trauma-informed care.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Human Resources, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years payroll experience, preferably in California; strong knowledge of CA labor laws and payroll regulations.
• 2+ years HR experience, including benefits, terminations, and compliance.
• Proficiency with Paylocity HRIS/Payroll system preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including editing and proofreading.
• CPP, FPC, or PHR desirable.
• Strong attention to detail and discretion with confidential information.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Spanish language skills are a plus.
• Valid California driver’s license, insurance, and travel capability for county-wide work.

Responsibilities

• Lead Payroll Processing across semi-monthly payroll cycles.
• Review timesheets, resolve discrepancies, coordinate with staff and supervisors.
• Maintain HRIS and timekeeping records and updates.
• Ensure compliant recordkeeping (I-9, orientation docs).
• Coordinate HR projects and audits (403(b), workers’ comp).
• Collaborate with finance and operations to support HR needs.
• Travel to county-wide offices as required.
• Promote employee engagement through CARES Committee involvement.
• Help organize internal trainings and workshops.
• Keep HR policies and manuals updated and compliant.
• Support payroll law knowledge and agency procedures.
• Pursue professional development in payroll practices.

Skills

Payroll processing

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, HR, or related field

Tools

Paylocity HRIS/Payroll

Job description

Because each day we are making a difference in our community, and because we have a positive, employee- and client-centered work culture.

We pay competitive rates and offer a strong benefits package that includes generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay, employer-paid medical insurance, a free subscription to the meditation/sleep app Calm, and much more!

We offer continuous employee education and development and paid clinical supervision.

We work with our staff to offer flexibility whenever possible.

The Position:

The Payroll & HR Specialist supports the Human Resources Operations team in delivering seamless and efficient HR services across payroll, benefits, terminations, compliance, and employee relations. In partnership with the Senior HR Manager, this role ensures accurate payroll processing, benefits administration—including open enrollment—and compliant offboarding procedures.

This position serves as a key resource for interpreting HR policies, enhancing operational effectiveness, and fostering a positive employee experience. With both strategic and administrative responsibilities, the Payroll & HR Specialist manages sensitive personnel matters and contributes to initiatives in onboarding, retention, training, workers’ compensation, and leave management. Reporting to the Senior HR Manager, this role is essential in maintaining compliance, driving process improvements, and supporting a culture of transparency and engagement. This position is offered to work in any one of our countywide offices.

FSA strives to be a trauma-informed and resilience-oriented organization. Because working with those impacted by trauma can affect staff in various ways, FSA actively identifies and employs methods to support staff to embody a healthy and sustainable balance of care for both them and others.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead Payroll Processing
• Manage semi-monthly payroll, including timesheet review, discrepancy resolution, and coordination with staff and supervisors. Ensure compliance with IRS, ACA, and state regulations.
• Maintain HRIS and Personnel Records
• Update HRIS and timekeeping systems with employee changes.
• Ensure accurate and compliant recordkeeping, including Form I-9 and orientation documents.
• Coordinate HR Projects and Audits
• Assist with annual audits (403(b), workers’ comp), handbook updates, and agency-wide pay adjustments.
• Work with finance and operations teams to support HR-related operational needs.
• Travel to county-wide office locations as required.
• Promote Employee Engagement
• Participate in morale-building initiatives through the CARES Committee.
• Help with organizinginternal trainings and workshops.
• Ensure Policy Compliance
• Assist with maintaining updated HR policies and manuals.
• Support staff understanding of payroll laws and agency procedures.
• Professional Development
• Stay current with payroll best practices by attending relevant trainings and workshops.
• Other Duties as Assigned
• Provide additional HR support as needed to meet departmental and agency goals.

Position Requirements

Employment Qualifications and Standards:

• Must have working knowledge of trauma-informed care.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Human Resources, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ of payroll experience, preferably within a California-based organization; Excellent working knowledge of California labor laws and payroll regulations required.
• 2+ years of direct HR experience, including exposure to benefits, terminations, and compliance.
• Preferred proficiency in Paylocity HRIS/Payroll system.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including editing and proofreading.
• Professional certifications such as CPP, FPC, or PHR are desirable.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage confidential information with discretion.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment with professionalism and sound judgment.
• Experience working with quantitative data is preferred.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish highly desirable.
• Requires valid California driver’s license, insurance, and reliable transportation for occasional county-wide travel.

Classification, Hours and Pay Rate:

This position is full-time, non-exempt and offers a comprehensive benefits package, including 90-100% employer-paid medical (HMO/PPO), HSA, dental, vision, FSA, and generous PTO/vacation. Additionally, you'll receive generous holiday pay and a 403(b) retirement plan.

The hourly compensation for this position ranges from $25-$30 / hour dependent on education and experience. This position may be eligible for $1 pay differential in accordance with bilingual competency.

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Shift Days

Position HR and Payroll Specialist

Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt

Req Number HUM-26-00003

Location Santa Barbara County

About the Organization Family Service Agency (FSA) has long been regarded as one of Santa Barbara County's most reliable and effective nonprofit human service organizations. Our mission is to strengthen and advocate for families and individuals of all ages and diversities, helping to create and preserve a healthy community. We are committed to providing services where they are needed most: in the community. Eighty percent of our services are delivered on school campuses, at community centers and in clients' homes. Our programs, which serve more than 25,000 people annually, combine clinical expertise, bilingual and bicultural staff, and close collaboration with other agencies. At FSA, all services are provided free or on a sliding fee/donation scale and no one is denied assistance because of an inability to pay.

EOE Statement We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Human Resources Associate in Santa Barbara, CA

Posted on: 6/17/2026