Payroll and Accounting Specialist

Making Waves Academy•Richmond, CA

10d•$87,875 - $95,000•Onsite

About The Position

Making Waves Academy (MWA) is seeking a meticulous Payroll & Accounting Specialist to manage our end-to-end bi-weekly payroll operations for 160+ team members while supporting core Accounts Payable and general ledger accounting. Reporting to the Business Office, this role is critical to maintaining payroll accuracy, employee satisfaction, and clean financial records.

Requirements

3+ years of direct experience running full-cycle California payroll for 150+ employees.
1–2 years of hands-on General Ledger and AP experience.
Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables).
Deep understanding of CA labor laws (overtime, meal breaks, final pay timing).
Familiarity with CalSTRS or public school retirement reporting.
High School Diploma or GED required.

Nice To Haves

Sage Intacct and UKG experience strongly preferred.
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Business preferred.

Responsibilities

Independently prepare and process bi-weekly payroll for 160+ faculty and staff using UKG.
Verify timesheets, process stipends, garnishments, and teacher summer hold-backs in full compliance with CA wage and hour laws.
Manage monthly CalSTRS retirement reporting and reconciliations.
Handle employee benefit plan enrollments, tracking, and contribution remittances.
Process vendor invoices, manage employee reimbursements, and post payroll journal entries to Sage Intacct.
Clear payroll-related balance sheet accounts (FSA, life insurance) and support routine month-end accruals.
Partner closely with People Operations to maintain clean employee data and generate functional reporting (leave balances, overtime, headcount).