Payroll Specialist

ALFRED•Los Angeles, CA

21d•$27 - $35

About The Position

The Payroll Specialist serves as a key partner across Alfred’s People, Operations, and Finance functions, owning the day-to-day administration and accuracy of payroll for employees across corporate and cafe locations. The role processes payroll, reviews timekeeping data, maintains accurate employee records, resolves payroll discrepancies, and supports compliance with applicable wage-and-hour requirements. It works closely with managers and employees to identify issues early and ensure payroll information is complete, accurate, and submitted on time. The position also supports payroll compliance and required reporting across federal, California, Wisconsin, and applicable local requirements. It manages payroll-related tax notices and inquiries, maintains payroll and employee information within HRIS, and identifies opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and manager training.

Requirements

2–4 years of payroll, accounting, HR operations, or related experience.
Hands-on experience processing payroll and reviewing timekeeping data.
Working knowledge of federal and California wage-and-hour requirements.
Strong numerical aptitude, attention to detail, and ability to identify and resolve payroll discrepancies.
Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage deadlines and explain payroll information clearly.
Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential information.
Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting a multi-location or high-volume hourly workforce is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end payroll processing cycle, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time.
Review payroll and timekeeping data, including hours, overtime, PTO, sick time, meal premiums, benefit deductions, reimbursements, and other earnings.
Maintain accurate payroll records and support new-hire setup, employee changes, offboarding, audits, and year-end activities.
Review payroll registers, identify discrepancies, and process adjustments, off-cycle payments, and final pay as needed.
Support payroll compliance and required reporting across federal, California, Wisconsin, and applicable local requirements, including EEO reporting, 401(k) reporting and filings, and employee loan administration and oversight.
Manage and resolve payroll-related tax notices and inquiries, including researching discrepancies, coordinating corrections, and ensuring agency notices are addressed and closed in a timely manner.
Serve as a primary point of contact for employee and manager payroll questions, resolving issues related to pay, timekeeping, deductions, direct deposit, taxes, and PTO.
Partner with cafe managers and department leaders to resolve payroll and timekeeping issues ahead of deadlines.
Communicate payroll procedures, deadlines, and expectations clearly and consistently.
Handle employee and compensation information with confidentiality and discretion.
Maintain and regularly audit payroll and employee information within HRIS.
Maintain payroll processes and procedures while identifying opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, and manager training.
Support payroll reporting, system updates, and troubleshooting in partnership with HR, Finance, Operations, and leadership.