Payroll Specialist

Hilmar; Hilmar (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

Hilmar Cheese Company is seeking a Payroll Specialist to accurately process bi-weekly payroll, off-cycle checks, and audit reports while ensuring regulatory compliance. You’ll partner with the Payroll Manager, HR, and affected stakeholders to evaluate system needs, reporting methods, and department efficiencies.

The role requires strong Excel and HRMS/payroll system experience, data integrity, and the ability to handle confidential information in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or higher with 4+ years related experience (or 2+ years with an Associate’s, or 1 year with a Bachelor’s).
• Knowledge of federal, state, local wage and hour and payroll tax laws.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel and MS Office Suite.
• Reporting and data analysis for ad-hoc requests.
• Experience with HRMS and payroll/timekeeping systems.
• Ability to handle confidential information and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Audit and reconcile earnings and deductions for bi-weekly, quarterly and year-end reporting.
• Enforce compliance with wage and hour laws and payroll tax rules.
• Define system requirements and setup payroll data.
• Prepare off-cycle checks in compliance with state law.
• Research and resolve payroll-related questions for employees.
• Improve operations, reduce turnaround time, and streamline processes.
• Collaborate with HR to ensure data integrity and efficiency.
• Assist in payroll system evaluations, testing and upgrades.

Skills

MS Excel

Data analysis

Time management

Discretion

Independent work

Education

High School Diploma

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree

Tools

HRMS systems

Timekeeping systems

ADP payroll

Workforce Time and Attendance

Job description

At Hilmar Cheese Company we improve lives around the world through wholesome dairy products. Since our founding in 1984, Hilmar Cheese Company has been committed to innovation and sustainability. Our state-of-the art production facilities convert an abundance of locally sourced high-quality milk into a variety of nutritious cheeses, whey protein and lactose. The Cheese and Ingredients that we produce create a wide variety of retail and food service products from sliced and shredded cheeses, to protein supplements and infant formula. We are a trusted partner to premier food and beverage brands in more than fifty countries helping bring their vision into reality.

Throughout our decades of success and growth we have remained committed to our mission and values and these principles unite our people and guide all that we do.

A Typical Day

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for understanding and applying pay rules, policies and procedures to accurately and timely process bi-weekly payroll, off-cycle checks and audit reports while ensuring regulatory compliance. The Payroll Specialist will partner with the Payroll Manager, Payroll team and other key stakeholders to evaluate system needs, reporting methodologies and department efficiencies to meet the needs of our employees and the business while ensuring compliance with Federal, State and Local law.

Job Responsibilities

• Audit and reconcile all earnings and deductions to ensure timely and accurate bi-weekly, quarterly and year-end reporting requirements utilizing ADP payroll, Workforce Time and Attendance or other related payroll systems.


• Use knowledge of Federal, state, local wage and hour, payroll tax laws and other regulatory requirements to enforce adherence related to pay rules and taxable relationships.


• Manage and maintain payroll information by defining business requirements and the associated system set-up, changes and updates to calculate payroll data.


• Prepare off-cycle checks as compliant with state law.


• Research and resolve payroll related questions to support the needs of our employees.


• Continuously make efforts to improve operations, decrease turnaround time, streamline work processes and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality outputs.


• Partner with HR and other key stakeholders to ensure data integrity and operational efficiencies.


• Assist in assessment of payroll system evaluations, testing and upgrades as needed.

What You Will Need

• High School Diploma plus 4 years’ related experience OR Associate's degree plus 2 years’ related experience OR Bachelor's degree plus 1 year related experience.


• Knowledge of government regulations and compliance standards affecting payroll.


• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel, with strong working knowledge of other MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Access)


• Reporting skills to produce information in an efficient manner and support ad-hoc data request.


• Data analysis skills that include data collating, inspection and benchmarking.


• Strong proficiency of HRMS systems to include tables set-up and report writing; knowledge of other related systems (timekeeping and payroll).


• Ability to work independently and handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.


• Ability to plan, manage, and execute on multiple tasks with tight deadlines.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Bachelor's degree plus 2 years’ related experience.


• 3 or more years of effective leadership skills with proven ability to lead change in order to better the company.


• 3 or more years of experience in Human Resources, Employee Benefits, Accounting or other related field.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The work is primarily performed in an office environment and the physical demands are characteristic of a mostly sedentary role. Specific details of the essential functions of the position is available in the Job Safety Analysis, made available on request.

Food safety is a companywide responsibility and each employee must know their role in the manufacture and distribution of safe, wholesome, and high quality products.

This description is a general statement and does not include other duties as assigned

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/EEO. We participate in E-Verify.

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Salary Range: USD ($65,494.00 - $98,241.00) ANN

The final compensation offered within this range will depend on factors including the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.