Senior Payroll Specialist

Lifeline Education Charter School; Compton (CA); On-site; USD 73,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

Lifeline Education Charter School is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to oversee advanced payroll duties, ensure accurate processing, and maintain compliant records for staff and administrators.

Under the direction of the Chief Business Officer, you will audit time and attendance, manage deductions and retirement reporting, and resolve complex payroll issues while upholding strict confidentiality and data integrity.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of payroll principles, audits, taxation, and retirement reporting.
• Familiar with federal and California payroll laws and Education Code provisions.
• Experience with HRIS/timekeeping and confidential data handling.

Responsibilities

• Process and audit payroll transactions accurately and timely.
• Audit payroll data including earnings, deductions, tax withholdings, and benefits.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and resolve discrepancies.
• Provide payroll guidance to staff and collaborate with HR/Finance.

Skills

Payroll processing

Auditing

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Associate degree in Accounting/related field

3+ years payroll processing experience

Tools

HRIS/ERP systems

Advanced Excel

Timekeeping systems

Job description

Under the general direction of the Chief Business Officer (CBO), the Senior Payroll Specialist performs advanced technical payroll duties to ensure the accurate, timely, and compliant processing of payroll for Lifeline Education Charter School. This position is responsible for reviewing, auditing, and processing payroll transactions; maintaining payroll records; researching and resolving complex payroll issues; interpreting applicable laws, regulations, policies, and collective bargaining agreements; and providing exceptional customer service to employees, administrators, and School personnel.

The Senior Payroll Specialist exercises independent judgment in analyzing payroll data, resolving discrepancies, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, and supporting continuous process improvement initiatives. The position serves as a technical resource on payroll procedures, time reporting, taxation, retirement reporting, wage garnishments, leaves, and employee compensation matters.

Work hours are 7:30am – 4:00pm, Monday-Friday (although these hours may vary and may require occasional evening and weekend work based on organizational needs). Possession of a valid California Driver’s License is preferred as employees may be occasionally asked to travel to school site or other offices.

Compensation: $73,000.00 - $79,017.55. Note: New hires begin on step 1 of the salary schedule.

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Payroll Processing and Administration

• Process and review payroll transactions accurately and timely in accordance with established payroll schedules and deadlines.
• Audit payroll data including employee earnings, deductions, tax withholdings, retirement contributions, leave balances, and benefit deductions.
• Review employee time and attendance records for accuracy and compliance with policies, labor agreements, and applicable regulations.
• Process personnel and pay-related transactions including new hires, transfers, promotions, salary adjustments, stipends, overtime, extra-duty pay, terminations, and leave adjustments.
• Calculate and process special payments including retroactive pay, bonuses, settlements, severance payments, final, and manual checks as needed.
• Reconcile payroll records and identify, investigate, and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with established retention requirements.
• Collaborate with Human Resources, Fiscal Services, Benefits, Retirement, and district personnel to ensure accurate payroll processing.
• Support and share knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned with team members.
• Utilize payroll, HRIS, ERP, timekeeping, and workforce management systems to process and maintain payroll data.
• Support payroll system implementations, upgrades, testing, and process enhancement initiatives.
• Assist in documenting payroll procedures and developing training materials.
• Research and resolve complex payroll issues, discrepancies, and employee concerns.
• Interpret payroll policies, procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable Education Code provisions.
• Analyze payroll data and identify trends, errors, or process improvement opportunities.
• Respond to inquiries from employees, administrators, district personnel, retirement systems, tax agencies, and other external organizations.
• Serve as a payroll subject matter expert and provide technical guidance regarding payroll procedures and requirements.
• Communicate complex payroll information clearly and professionally in both written and verbal formats.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of employee, payroll, and personnel information.
• Provide training and support to timekeepers, managers, School staff, and other stakeholders as needed.

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws and regulations, including FLSA, payroll tax requirements, retirement reporting, wage garnishments, and employment-related regulations.
• Prepare, analyze, reconcile, and distribute payroll reports, earnings statements, deduction reports, tax reports, retirement reports, and other required documentation.
• Assist with audits conducted by internal departments, school districts, retirement systems, and regulatory agencies.
• Prepare and submit required payroll reports and filings to external agencies and stakeholders.
• Monitor changes in payroll laws, regulations, and reporting requirements and assist in implementing necessary procedural updates.
• Participate in special projects and perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

1. Education/Certification

• Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position, including:
• Associate degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Human Resources, Public Administration, or a related field and three (3) years of progressively responsible payroll processing experience; Or
• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible payroll experience performing payroll processing, auditing, reconciliation, and compliance functions.

2. Knowledge of:

Knowledge of payroll principles, practices, and procedures, including payroll auditing, reconciliation, taxation, wage and hour requirements, employee benefits deductions, garnishments, and retirement reporting. Knowledge of applicable federal and California payroll laws, regulations, Education Code provisions, and compliance requirements affecting public sector and educational agencies. Knowledge of collective bargaining agreements and their application to employee compensation and payroll administration. Knowledge of California Public Education Payroll Practices, retirement systems, and reporting requirements. Knowledge of payroll, HRIS, timekeeping, and workforce management systems, as well as modern office software applications, including advanced Microsoft Excel and reporting tools. Knowledge of recordkeeping, data management, internal controls, and confidentiality standards necessary to maintain accurate payroll records and sensitive employee information.

3. Physical Requirements

The physical demands described herein are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods while performing administrative and office-related duties. The position requires frequent use of a computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other standard office equipment. The employee must possess the ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic communication methods. Duties may require sufficient visual acuity to read, analyze, and prepare reports, records, and other documents. Occasional bending, stooping, reaching, twisting, and lifting or carrying office supplies, files, and other work-related materials weighing up to twenty (20) pounds may be required. The position may also require occasional travel between school sites, meetings, training locations, or administrative offices as needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.