Payroll Supervisor

San Ysidro Ranch; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, CA is seeking a Payroll Supervisor for a full-time, on-site role. You will oversee end-to-end payroll processing, verify timekeeping, and ensure accurate wage calculations and timely payroll submissions.

Partner with HR and Accounting on changes, manage deductions and taxes, support audits, and drive process improvements while maintaining confidentiality and high service standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• 2–5 years of payroll experience, preferably in a complex hospitality, hotel, or multi-department environment.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now strongly preferred.
• Luxury or full-service hotel experience preferred.
• CPP or FPC certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll processing and ensure timely payroll runs.
• Review timekeeping inputs, including hours, overtime, bonuses, and deductions.
• Ensure accurate pay rates, classifications, and payroll coding.
• Coordinate payroll changes and respond to employee inquiries.

Skills

ADP Workforce Now

Payroll processing

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance/HR/Business Administration

CPP or FPC certification

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Job description

Company Description

San Ysidro Ranch is a historic luxury hotel and resort nestled in the scenic foothills of Santa Barbara, California, welcoming guests since 1893. The property is known for its intimate atmosphere, personalized service, and beautifully landscaped grounds. Team members contribute to a high-end guest experience in a serene, professional setting. Working at San Ysidro Ranch offers the opportunity to be part of a dedicated hospitality team focused on quality, detail, and guest satisfaction.

Role Description

The Payroll Supervisor is a full-time, on-site role based at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, CA. This role oversees end-to-end payroll processing, including reviewing timekeeping records, ensuring accurate wage calculations, and submitting regular payroll runs in accordance with company policies and legal requirements. The Payroll Supervisor manages garnishments, payroll taxes, and employee benefits deductions, and maintains accurate payroll records and reports. Daily tasks include reconciling payroll accounts, responding to employee payroll inquiries, coordinating with HR and Accounting on compensation changes, and supporting audits and compliance reviews. This role also contributes to process improvements, maintains confidentiality of sensitive information, and ensures timely, accurate payments to all team members.

Payroll processing

• Own and manage the end-to-end payroll process, ensuring accurate and timely processing in accordance with established payroll calendars and deadlines.
• Review and validate payroll inputs, including regular and overtime hours, premium pay, PTO, sick time, holidays, bonuses, commissions, retroactive payments, severance, gratuities, service charges, and other earnings.
• Ensure accurate employee pay rates, classifications, pay groups, departments, and payroll coding.
• Process and review payroll-related employee lifecycle changes, including new hires, transfers, promotions, compensation changes, leaves of absence, and terminations.

Compliance & Reporting:

• Perform comprehensive pre-payroll and post-payroll audits to identify discrepancies, unusual payments, duplicate payments, missing time, incorrect rates, unauthorized adjustments, or other exceptions.
• Prepare payroll information, supporting documentation, and reports required for audits.
• Maintain appropriate payroll records and documentation in accordance with company policy, legal requirements, and record-retention standards.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of payroll legislation and hospitality wage rules.

Systems & Process Management:

• Ensure timecards are reviewed, approved, and finalized within established deadlines.
• Partner with department leaders to reinforce manager accountability for accurate scheduling, timekeeping, approvals, missed punches, and payroll submissions.
• Review timekeeping exceptions and identify patterns, recurring issues, or control weaknesses requiring corrective action.
• Partner with Human Resources and Accounting to ensure employee master data and payroll-related changes are accurately reflected across all systems.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve payroll procedures, checklists, calendars, and standard operating procedures.
• Support the month-end and year-end close process for payroll-related accounts.
• Prepare or support payroll accruals, including accrued wages, vacation, bonuses, incentives, payroll taxes, benefits, and other employee-related liabilities.
• Analyze payroll and labor cost trends and identify significant variances, unusual activity, or potential financial risks.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, labor cost analysis, and other financial planning activities as requested.
• Assist with annual payroll tax reporting, W-2 reconciliation, year-end processing, and other required payroll filings and reporting.

HR Support:

• Assist HR with onboarding new employees when needed.
• Support HR with benefits and employee benefit inquiries.
• Provide prompt and discreet support to employees regarding payroll inquiries.
• Uphold the hotel’s service standards in all internal communications.
• Coordinate with HR on employee lifecycle changes (onboarding, terminations, promotions).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• 2–5 years of payroll experience, preferably in a complex hospitality, hotel, or multi-department environment.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now strongly preferred.
• Luxury or full-service hotel experience preferred.
• Experience with high-volume, complex payroll involving multiple pay groups, departments, rates, earnings codes, and employee classifications preferred.
• Strong knowledge of payroll principles, wage and hour practices, payroll taxes, deductions, and compliance requirements.
• Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, confidentiality, and integrity.
• Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Certification such as CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or FPC.
• Demonstrated ownership and accountability for complex payroll operations.
• Ability to identify discrepancies, determine root causes, and implement effective solutions.
• Sound judgment when interpreting payroll, contractual, and compliance requirements.
• Ability to manage sensitive information, competing priorities, and recurring deadlines with professionalism and discretion.
• Commitment to the service excellence and attention to detail expected within a luxury hospitality environment.