Payroll Specialist

Guitar Center; Westlake Village (CA); Hybrid; USD 63,039,000 - 75,823,000; Full time

Job summary

Guitar Center is seeking a Payroll Specialist to process payroll and assist employees with self-service and payroll questions. This role ensures accurate, timely pay and compliance across multiple locations.

The position is hybrid, with on-site work Tuesday–Thursday and remote work Monday and Friday, supporting seamless payroll operations and strong customer service within a large retail environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or 4 years of equivalent work experience.
• 2 years of relevant payroll experience (in addition to degree or years of previous experience).
• Novice proficiency with Microsoft Office products (especially Excel).
• Intermediate ability with Payroll system/tools such as ADP Enterprise
• High School Diploma or GED required.

Responsibilities

• Provide customer service to employees and/or their managers regarding employee self-service and payroll questions.
• Audit new hire and status changes.
• Enter or audit direct deposit and W-4s.
• Ensure state and local tax forms are received and entered where required.
• Calculate and enter any split pay rates or pay prorations.
• Assess what needs to be done in the system for employee transfers and store location changes and report changes to the supervisor.
• Calculate and prepare off-cycle payments, including relocation payments and missed pay in time clocks.
• Analyze pre-processing reports to ensure accurate pay and address issues.
• Coordinate with vendors related to Unemployment Service and Garnishment Services for payroll support.
• Prepare all documentation for electronic storage.
• Full responsibility for processing of a specific pay group including starting new cycle, batches, pre-processing reports, and final payroll submission.
• Loading post-processing reports for electronic storage and checking for cross-foot errors.
• Work with other departments to address issues and maintain efficient payroll processes.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

High School Diploma or GED

4 years of equivalent work experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ADP Enterprise

Job description

Position Summary: Payroll Specialist

The purpose of this job is to process payroll and provide customer service to employees regarding employee self-service and any other payroll questions or issues.

*This role is hybrid. On-site Tuesday-Thursday, with work from home Monday and Friday.

Responsibilities

• Provide customer service to employees and/or their managers regarding employee self-service and any other payroll questions or issues
• Audit new hire and status changes
• Enter or audit direct deposit and W-4s
• Ensure state and local tax forms are received and entered, where required
• Calculate and enter any split pay rates or pay prorations
• Assess what needs to be done in the system for employee transfers to and from that location and for store location changes and report the required changes to the supervisor
• Calculate and prepare off-cycle payments, including relocation payments, as well as any missed pay in the time clocks
• Analyze pre-processing reports to ensure appropriate pay (time clock programs, benefit payments, commissions, expense report reimbursements, etc.) and address issues
• Coordinate with vendors related to Unemployment Service and Garnishment Services for any items needing Payroll support
• Prepare all documentation for electronic storage
• Full responsibility for the processing of a specific pay group, including:
  • Starting the new cycle for the payroll
  • Sending the appropriate batches for that payroll
  • Generating and making available the pre-processing reports so that they can be reviewed and analyzed
  • Submitting a preview payroll to evaluate if there are exceptions to be corrected
  • Correcting errors and submitting a final payroll for vendor processing
  • Loading the post-processing reports from each payroll for electronic storage
  • Analyzing the post-processing reports for cross-foot or other errors
  • Working with other departments to address issues and maintain an efficient payroll process, including working with the retail field personnel and their HR representatives, HRIS, Benefits, Finance, A/P and Legal
• Additional duties as assigned.

To join our band, you'll need the following experience:

• Bachelor's Degree (or 4 years of equivalent work experience), preferably in Business
• 2 years of relevant payroll experience (in addition to degree or years of previous experience), preferably with a Fundamental Payroll Certification
• Novice proficiency with Microsoft Office products (especially Excel)
• Intermediate ability with Payroll system/tools such as ADP Enterprise
• High School Diploma or GED required

Pay Rate

$22.00- $26.50 / hourly annually depending on background and experience. The job posting is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on actual experience, education, and other factors. The pay range(s) listed are provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations

Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‑related requirements.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request reasonable accommodation by calling 1-818-735-8800 ext. 2862 or by sending an email to [e-mail].

About Guitar Center

The Guitar Center Company embodies the world of creativity and music by encouraging our teammates to find their own individual sound. Our mission is to develop and nurture lifelong musicians and make a difference in the world by enabling musicians and non‑musicians alike to experience the joy that comes from creating music. We believe in putting our customers first, engaging with respect and integrity and fulfilling our mission with passion.

The Guitar Center Company operates through several business divisions. Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards, recording, live sound, DJ, and lighting equipment, with more than 290 stores across the United States. 2014 marked the milestone 50th anniversary of the Guitar Center Company as the organization continues to help people make music from coast to coast.

E-Commerce brands Guitar Center, Musician's Friend and WWBW offer online sales of a broad selection of music products. The Music & Arts division operates more than 220 stores specializing in band & orchestral instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors, and students since 1952. AVDG and GCPro headline the enterprise audio‑visual integration business, delivering a best‑in‑class commercial and residential customer experience.

Why join us

With a career at Guitar Center, you become part of the world's largest multichannel musical instrument retailer. Whether at our Stores, Contact Centers, Distribution Centers, or Support Center, Guitar Center employees have a common goal: to help people find their sound and fill the world with more music.

Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‑related requirements.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request a reasonable accommodation by sending an email to [e-mail].