Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Riser Fitness, LLC • Costa Mesa, CA

19d • $75,000 - $80,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Riser Fitness is seeking an experienced Payroll & Benefits Specialist for an on-site, full-time, Monday through Friday role in its rapidly growing, multi-state organization. Reporting to the Payroll & Benefits Manager, the position focuses primarily on processing payroll across multiple states, with particular attention to state-specific wage-and-hour and tax requirements. Benefits responsibilities will initially be limited to backup support, but the specialist must understand how benefit and retirement plan deductions interact with payroll.

The role calls for a self-starter who understands payroll mechanics and can handle complex pay calculations, regular rate of pay, state-specific final pay rules, multi-state payroll taxes, and differing jurisdictional requirements. The specialist will research discrepancies, resolve issues independently when appropriate, escalate complex matters or compliance concerns, collaborate with the team, and adapt as processes, systems, and priorities evolve.

The specialist will also provide routine backup support for benefits administration, work with Human Resources on payroll-impacting employee changes, and recognize when leaves, status changes, or terminations require payroll review. The role supports accurate payroll records, audits, and data validation while maintaining the confidentiality of employee, payroll, compensation, and benefits information.

Requirements

• At least 4 years of progressive, hands-on payroll experience in a multi-state environment, including at least 2 years of direct California payroll processing.
• Strong working knowledge of state wage-and-hour requirements, with demonstrated experience calculating regular rate of pay and processing final checks across multiple states.
• Experience working with overtime, double time, premium pay, additional earnings, deductions, and payroll corrections.
• Working knowledge of pre-tax and post-tax deductions, basic retirement plan deductions and contributions, payroll taxation, and how leave types affect payroll.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, lookups, filtering, sorting, and working with payroll datasets.
• Experience working within an HRIS and/or payroll platform.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and exceptional attention to detail, including the ability to research discrepancies and identify unusual results.
• Ability to manage firm payroll deadlines and competing priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality with employee, payroll, compensation, and benefits information.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Rippling Payroll and/or Rippling HRIS (highly preferred).
• Experience in a rapidly growing, multi-location organization.
• Experience supporting payroll audits and reconciliations.
• Experience with hourly populations and multiple compensation structures.

Responsibilities

• Support end-to-end payroll processing for employees across multiple states.
• Review payroll data—including hours, overtime, double time, bonuses, commissions, premiums, shift- or class-based compensation, deductions, reimbursements, and other earnings—for accuracy and potential errors or compliance concerns.
• Calculate regular rate of pay and apply it to overtime and other premium pay calculations.
• Review timekeeping records and work with managers to resolve missing punches, discrepancies, and payroll exceptions.
• Process payroll-related employee changes provided by Human Resources, including compensation changes, transfers, job changes, tax elections, and direct deposit updates.
• Set up and maintain state tax withholding for new hires, relocations, and employees working across state lines.
• Process final checks according to state timing requirements, as well as off-cycle payrolls, manual checks, corrections, retroactive adjustments, and other special transactions.
• Research payroll discrepancies and employee concerns through resolution; escalate complex matters or compliance concerns to the Payroll & Benefits Manager when appropriate.
• Respond to employee and manager payroll questions in a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and supporting documentation, and assist with routine payroll audits and data validation.
• Apply working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax concepts and jurisdiction-specific wage-and-hour requirements, including overtime, double time, regular rate of pay, meal and rest period premiums, final pay, paid sick leave, vacation/PTO treatment, wage statements, and payroll deductions.
• Apply established company policies and compliance guidance accurately during payroll processing.
• Understand how benefit elections affect payroll, including pre-tax and post-tax deductions and taxable wages.
• Understand basic retirement plan payroll deductions, including employee deferrals and employer contributions.
• Provide backup support for routine benefits administration and benefits-related payroll questions under the direction of the Payroll & Benefits Manager, including during high-volume periods such as open enrollment.
• Access benefit carrier systems to review coverage or enrollment information and escalate discrepancies to the Payroll & Benefits Manager.
• Recognize when employee leave types, status changes, or terminations have payroll implications or require additional review or escalation.
• Work collaboratively with Human Resources to ensure payroll-impacting employee changes are reflected accurately and on time.
• Maintain confidentiality of employee, payroll, compensation, and benefits information.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage beginning the first of the month after hire, including plan options with $0 deductibles and Anthem and Kaiser options.
• Employer-paid life, AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Paid time off, including vacation and sick time.
• Monthly communication allowance.
• Free, confidential counseling and wellness resources for the employee and household through the Employee Assistance Program.
• Nava Benefits App with plan information and access to live advocates 24/7.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed