HR, Payroll & Benefits Generalist

West Coast Community Bank•Salinas, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The HR, Payroll & Benefits Generalist supports a 200+ employee, multi-branch community bank by independently managing payroll, benefits administration, leave of absence programs, regulatory reporting, and benefits-related invoice reconciliation. This role serves as a primary HR contact for employee questions related to pay, benefits, policies, and general HR inquiries while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficient HR operations.

Requirements

5+ years of HR experience with strong hands-on payroll and benefits administration.
Paylocity experience preferred; experience with other HRIS/payroll systems acceptable.
Strong invoice reconciliation, analytical, and data accuracy skills.
Thorough understanding of employment laws, wage & hour rules, and LOA compliance.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, Copilot).
Excellent communication skills and ability to maintain confidentiality.
High attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through.

Responsibilities

Process semimonthly payroll accurately and on time for all employees.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws.
Maintain accurate payroll data and support Finance with payroll reporting, audits, and GL reconciliation.
Maintain data integrity in Paylocity or comparable HRIS/payroll systems.
Administer health, welfare, and retirement benefits, including new hire enrollments, life events, open enrollment, and terminations.
Provide timely support for employee questions on medical, dental, vision, life/disability, and 401(k) plans.
Ensure compliance with COBRA, ACA, Section 125, and other regulatory requirements.
Fully manage all employee leaves including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, ADA/FEHA accommodations, disability claims, and workers’ comp coordination.
Track eligibility, documentation, timelines, and communication to maintain regulatory compliance.
Reconcile monthly benefit invoices and resolve discrepancies quickly.
Maintain organized documentation for Finance, audits, and compliance reporting.
Prepare and submit all required HR regulatory filings, including EEO-1, ACA, OSHA logs, state pay transparency reports, and other mandated submissions.
Complete salary surveys and benchmarking reports for industry, compliance, and annual compensation planning.
Act as a first point of contact for employee questions related to pay, benefits, timekeeping, and HR policies.
Maintain accurate HRIS data and personnel files.
Support onboarding and offboarding processes.
Assist with employee relations documentation and policy interpretation.
Identify opportunities to streamline HR workflows using digital tools, automation, and AI-enhanced processes.
Improve accuracy and efficiency in payroll, benefits, LOA tracking, reporting, and employee communications by leveraging:
AI-assisted document creation and policy updates
Automated data validation and error detection in payroll/benefits files
AI-powered analytics for compliance reporting and HR metrics
Enhanced employee self-service tools and guided support
Recommend, pilot, and implement process improvements that reduce manual work and increase HR service quality.