Payroll Accountant

Argen Corporation•San Diego, CA

5h•$75,000 - $95,000•Onsite

About The Position

Argen is looking for our next Payroll Accountant. This position prepares and distributes payroll, prepares any necessary tax documents, and ensures all hours, benefits, and deductions are logged appropriately and that all payroll accounts remain balanced. Additionally, this role supports payroll-related accounting entries, budget-to-actual analytics, and ongoing efforts to automate and improve payroll processes.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or related field required.
2–4 years of payroll experience, including at least 2 years preparing and posting journal entries and accruals in a general ledger.
Demonstrated understanding of accrual-basis accounting and the debit/credit impact of payroll transactions on the P&L and balance sheet.
Experience with month-end close, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
Hands-on ERP/general ledger experience (e.g., NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Dynamics) in addition to a payroll platform such as ADP or Paylocity.
Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
Understanding of payroll tax concepts, including federal and California wage-and-hour requirements such as regular rate of pay.
Demonstrates strong organizational skills and excellent attention to detail.
Communicates information clearly and effectively.
Comfortable using technology and AI tools, with a willingness to support process automation and continuous improvement.
Able to multitask and manage competing priorities efficiently.
Works well in a team environment to support audits and tax preparation.

Responsibilities

Independently researches, analyzes, and resolves complex payroll discrepancies, including determining appropriate corrective action in accordance with applicable wage-and-hour requirements and company policies.
Evaluates payroll practices and identifies potential compliance risks, escalating significant matters and recommending corrective actions to management.
Exercises independent judgment in interpreting and applying payroll regulations, company policies, compensation programs, and established accounting principles to non-routine payroll matters.
Analyzes payroll data and trends and provides management with substantive explanations, conclusions, and recommendations regarding payroll expenses, variances, and potential risks.
Identifies opportunities for payroll process improvements and independently develops recommendations for automation, controls, workflow improvements, and increased accuracy.
Serves as a payroll subject-matter resource to management and provides guidance regarding payroll practices, wage-and-hour requirements, commissions, bonuses, deductions, and other payroll-related matters.
Reviews timecards for hourly employees to confirm there are no outstanding issues and that any errors have been resolved.
Ensures all manual changes to timecards are supported by the appropriate signed timekeeping form.
Ensures all meal penalty waivers are completed appropriately and on file.
Ensures all benefits and insurance premiums are correctly deducted from paychecks.
Prepares and submits all payroll documents.
Processes commissions for the sales team, along with bonuses and spot bonuses.
Prepares and distributes paper checks when necessary.
Resolves any discrepancies surrounding payroll issues.
Adheres to all state and federal regulations for payroll processing.
Calculates and applies the regular rate of pay for overtime purposes.
Processes W-4s and maintains accurate tax withholding records.
Prepares year-end payroll reports.
Stays current on changes in company tax status and payroll-related regulations.
Keeps detailed, organized, and audit-ready payroll records.
Assists the finance department in preparing for audits.
Ensures all payroll accounts are balanced and reconciled.
Prepares and posts month-end payroll entries including wages and payroll taxes for pay periods spanning period-end, PTO/Vacation liability, bonus accrual, and commission accrual with supporting schedule and roll forwards. Reverses entries in the subsequent period and reconciles the accounts.
Prepares and posts journal entries for workers' compensation accruals, IBNR and health insurance entries, and PEO service fee allocations.
Updates and maintains analytical reviews as they relate to payroll, providing substantive explanations for actual-versus-budget variances in payroll expense — both overall and by cost center — including the drivers behind favorable or unfavorable variances.
Actively supports the department's efforts to automate and streamline payroll processes.
Is comfortable using AI tools and open to leveraging AI to improve efficiency and accuracy in payroll and related accounting tasks.
Reports to the Senior Accounting Manager with updates, issues, and recommendations.
Performs other duties as assigned.