Payroll Implementation Specialist

Employer's Guardian; Gold River (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Employee assistance program

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

Employer’s Guardian, based in Gold River, CA, seeks a Payroll Implementation Specialist to configure payroll and timekeeping systems, ensure regulatory compliance, and support clients through go-live and training.

You will lead discovery sessions, map data, and resolve issues with a client‑facing, solutions‑oriented approach while maintaining payroll accuracy and system integrity.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in payroll, payroll implementation, payroll operations, HRIS, or closely related field.
• Working knowledge of payroll calculations, timekeeping processes, pay codes, deductions, overtime, accruals, and wage statements.
• Experience configuring or implementing a payroll/timekeeping platform.
• Understanding of wage-and-hour concepts and compliance impacts.
• Strong Excel skills and ability to learn complex software platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead client discovery sessions to understand payroll, timekeeping, HR processes and scheduling.
• Configure payroll/timekeeping components including earnings, deductions, calendars, classifications, and rules.
• Map, import, validate, and reconcile data from legacy systems for go-live readiness.
• Train client administrators on system functionality and workflows.
• Investigate discrepancies, test configurations, and escalate as needed.

Skills

Payroll expertise

Timekeeping

Analytical problem solving

Client communication

Technical aptitude

Consulting judgment

Quality and ownership

Adaptability and learning

Microsoft Excel

Education

CPP / FPC / PHR / SPHR / SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP (preferred)

Tools

UKG

ADP

Workday

Dayforce

Paylocity

Paychex

Job description

The successful Payroll Implementation Specialist is a payroll professional who understands technology. This individual recognizes that payroll and timekeeping configuration is not merely a technical exercise; it directly affects employee pay, regulatory compliance, client risk, and financial outcomes. They are passionate about helping their clients get the most out of the systems they have helped to design.

The ideal candidate is confident, resourceful, and solutions-oriented. When the answer is not immediately clear, they investigate, test, consult the right resources, and return to the client with a well-supported recommendation.

This position is ultimately responsible for helping ensure the client’s payroll and timekeeping system is configured to produce accurate pay, reliable time records, defensible compliance, and a successful client experience.

Client Discovery, Requirements, and Solution Design

• Lead client discovery sessions to understand payroll, timekeeping, HR, scheduling, compensation, accrual, approval, and workforce-management processes.
• Evaluate current payroll and timekeeping practices, identify risks or inefficiencies, and recommend practical system solutions that support accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.

System Configuration and Compliance Support

• Configure payroll and timekeeping system components, including earnings, deductions, pay frequencies, payroll calendars, employee classifications, departments, locations, tax settings, schedules, work rules, approvals, pay codes, and time‑entry workflows.
• Configure wage-and-hour related rules, including overtime, meal and rest‑period functionality, rounding, premiums, accruals, and other pay practices.
• Support configuration of sick leave, vacation, PTO, and other accrual programs in accordance with client policies and applicable requirements.
• Understand how compensation components affect the regular rate of pay, overtime calculations, wage statements, and payroll accuracy.
• Configure or validate user roles, permissions, approval structures, and access controls.

Data Conversion, Testing, and Go-Live Readiness

• Map, import, validate, and reconcile employee, payroll, compensation, deduction, tax, timekeeping, accrual, and historical data from legacy systems.
• Identify and resolve data discrepancies, missing information, configuration exceptions, and other implementation issues before go‑live.
• Confirm go‑live readiness by validating configuration, data, testing results, client training, open issues, and transition requirements.

Client Training, Support, and Relationship Management

• Train client payroll, HR, management, and timekeeping administrators on system functionality, required processes, approval workflows, and implementation decisions.
• Provide hands‑on go‑live support during initial payroll processing and transition to production.
• Build credibility as a trusted advisor by balancing client business needs with system integrity, payroll accuracy, and compliance considerations.

Problem Solving, Escalation, and Documentation

• Investigate payroll and timekeeping discrepancies to determine whether the root cause is employee data, configuration, process, calculation logic, integration, or user behavior.
• Research system functionality, test potential solutions, and use internal resources when the correct configuration is not immediately apparent.

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in payroll, payroll implementation, payroll administration, payroll operations, HRIS, workforce management, timekeeping, or a closely related field.
• Working knowledge of payroll calculations, timekeeping processes, pay codes, deductions, overtime, accruals, employee classifications, and the relationship between time records and payroll results.
• Experience configuring, administering, supporting, or implementing a payroll, HRIS, workforce-management, or timekeeping platform.
• Understanding of wage-and-hour concepts, including overtime, meal and rest periods, rounding, regular rate of pay, deductions, premiums, timekeeping requirements, and wage statement impacts.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to review data, identify discrepancies, troubleshoot issues, determine root causes, and validate results.
• Ability to work directly with clients, lead requirements discussions, communicate technical concepts clearly, and manage expectations professionally.
• Exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and commitment to payroll accuracy and implementation quality.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and ability to learn complex software platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with UKG, ADP, Workday, Dayforce, Paylocity, Paychex, or similar payroll and timekeeping platforms.
• Experience participating in full‑cycle payroll, HRIS, workforce management, or timekeeping implementations.
• Knowledge of California wage‑and‑hour requirements and/or multi‑state payroll and timekeeping requirements.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP), Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC), PHR, SPHR, SHRM‑CP, SHRM‑SCP, or similar certification.
• Experience managing multiple client implementations, projects, or workstreams simultaneously.

Core Competencies

• Payroll and Timekeeping Expertise: Understands how system configuration affects pay calculations, time records, reporting, wage statements, and compliance outcomes.
• Technical Aptitude: Learns complex system functionality quickly and can translate requirements into practical configurations.
• Analytical Problem Solving: Investigates problems systematically, validates results, and follows issues through to resolution.
• Client Communication: Builds trust through preparation, clarity, professionalism, and the ability to explain complex issues in plain language.
• Consulting Judgment: Evaluates client requests, identifies risk, recommends better alternatives when appropriate, and knows when to elevate.
• Quality and Ownership: Takes responsibility for implementation accuracy, documentation, knowledge transfer, and a successful client experience.
• Adaptability and Continuous Learning: Manages changing priorities, multiple implementations, software updates, and evolving payroll or compliance requirements.

• Employer’s Guardian is an Equal Opportunity Employer and ensures its employment decisions comply with applicable federal or state regulations.

*This role is currently is not eligible for hybrid or remote work options and is in-office only in Gold River, CA.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

• 401(k)
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• How many years of work experience do you have with systems setup and implementations within HRIS and/or payroll platforms?

Experience:

• wage and hour compliance: 2 years (Preferred)
• Payroll & Timekeeping: 4 years (Required)
• Microsoft Office: 2 years (Required)
• configuring and implementing a payroll platform: 2 years (Preferred)
• HRIS: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Fundamentals of Payroll Certification (FPC) (Preferred)