Payroll Specialist

Payroll Specialist

We are seeking a dedicated Payroll Specialist to join a food technology start-up on a temporary basis to cover maternity leave. This role involves managing payroll for 165 employees using Rippling HR software. The position requires an individual with a keen eye for detail and a strong understanding of payroll processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end payroll processing activities, including data entry, wage calculations, and payment processing to ensure completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of each cycle.
• Plan, prioritize, and execute tasks associated with managing regular payroll cycles for exempt and non-exempt employees on a semi-monthly and bi-weekly basis, respectively.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and tax regulations, including accurate withholding, periodic reporting, and remittance of payroll taxes.
• Calculate, prepare, present, and post all payroll and benefits-related journal entries and upload into ERP as payroll cycles are transacted.
• Reconcile all payroll and benefits balance sheet and operational accounts as part of the month-end close process.
• Provide payroll, headcount, and benefits reporting information to support financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and other ad hoc management requests.
• Collaborate with HR and benefits administration to ensure practices are aligned with policy and cross-processes.
• Assist in internal and external payroll audits by providing accurate payroll records, documentation, and explanations, ensuring compliance with audit requirements.
• Review timecards for non-exempt employees with strong attention to detail, focusing on timecard review and meal break penalty oversight (California focus).
• Ensure compliance with California meal and rest break laws.
• Review penalties for missed or late meal / rest breaks, ensuring accurate calculation and remittance of meal / rest break penalties.
• Audit and reconcile timecard data to ensure penalties and breaks are correctly reflected in wages.

Essential Skills

Work Environment

This position is 100% remote, allowing flexibility and the comfort of working from your chosen environment.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Berkeley, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $65.00 / hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following :

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Feb 6, 2026.