Senior Payroll Specialist

stillwatersci; Berkeley (CA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Employee Stock Ownership Program

Job summary

stillwatersci is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist in Berkeley, responsible for leading payroll processing for approximately 150 employees across seven states. The ideal candidate will have deep payroll expertise, attention to detail, and a commitment to operational excellence. This full-time position allows for a hybrid schedule after 6 months.

The compensation includes an annual base pay range of $85,000–$105,000 and a comprehensive benefits package covering medical, dental, life insurance, and more.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of payroll experience, including at least 5 years with California payroll requirements.
• Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll, payroll taxes, wage and hour laws, and reconciliations.
• High attention to detail, sound judgment, and discretion with confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Own full-cycle, multi-state payroll processing for exempt and non-exempt employees.
• Ensure payroll accuracy, compliance, and timely tax filings across jurisdictions.
• Reconcile payroll-related accounts, deductions, and benefits information.

Skills

Multi-state payroll processing

Payroll taxes knowledge

Attention to detail

Confidential information management

Project/job costing

Education

CPP certification

Tools

ADP

Deltek Vantagepoint

Job description

Stillwater Sciences is looking for an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist to join our Financial Accounting team. In this role you’ll lead accurate, timely, and compliant multi‑state payroll processing for approximately 150 employees across seven states while supporting payroll taxes, reconciliations, reporting, and internal controls. If you bring deep payroll expertise, strong attention to detail, and a commitment to operational excellence, please apply! This is a full‑time, exempt, 40‑hour per week position based out of our Berkeley or Sacramento office, with a preference for Berkeley.

What You’ll Do

• Own full‑cycle, multi‑state payroll processing for exempt and non‑exempt employees.
• Ensure payroll accuracy, compliance, and timely tax filings across jurisdictions.
• Reconcile payroll‑related accounts, deductions, and benefits information.
• Support audits, reporting, and month‑end and year‑end payroll activities.
• Help strengthen payroll systems, documentation, and internal processes.

What You’ll Bring

• 10+ years of payroll experience, including at least 5 years with California payroll requirements.
• Strong knowledge of multi‑state payroll, payroll taxes, wage and hour laws, and reconciliations.
• High attention to detail, sound judgment, and discretion with confidential information.
• Experience with payroll systems and reporting tools; ADP and Deltek Vantagepoint experience is a plus.
• Experience with project/job costing and prevailing wage is a plus.
• CPP certification and experience in consulting or professional services are preferred.

Location and work schedule:
• Role is based out of Berkeley or Sacramento (preference for Berkeley) and requires 5 days per week office‑based work.
• Eligible for a hybrid schedule after 6 months.

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual base pay range $85,000‑$105,000 for a full‑time exempt Payroll Specialist position.
• Pay within this range is determined in good faith and based on relevant factors; typically near the midpoint.
• Comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off; health, dental, life, and disability insurance; paid family leave; paid professional development; 401(k) with employer match; and participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Program upon eligibility. Stillwater covers 100% of employee medical, dental, life, and disability insurance premiums and 40% of dependent premiums.

Stillwater Sciences is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to protected characteristics including race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status. Stillwater is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].