Senior Payroll & Accounting Specialist
About The Position
Making Waves Academy (MWA) is seeking a Payroll & Accounting Coordinator to join their Business Office team. This role is responsible for the precise and timely execution of bi-weekly payroll for over 160 employees, ensuring compliance with California wage and hour laws. In addition to payroll, the position will handle core general accounting operations such as Accounts Payable (AP) and journal entries. This is a full-time, non-exempt, year-round position located in Richmond, CA. The role offers an opportunity for growth into senior finance compliance, with exposure to specialized California public school finance operations.
Requirements
- 3+ years of direct, hands-on experience processing full-cycle payroll for organizations with 160+ employees.
- Deep knowledge of California labor and payroll laws (overtime, meal breaks, final pay regulations).
- 1–2 years of General Ledger & AP experience, including posting journal entries and balancing accounts.
- Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables) and strong comfort with numerical data.
- High School Diploma or GED.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with UKG payroll software.
- Experience with Sage Intacct accounting software.
- Prior experience with California public school finance.
- Experience with CalSTRS reporting.
- Experience with SACS account coding.
- An analytical "systems-thinker" mindset with a desire to build efficient internal workflows and grow into a senior finance role.
Responsibilities
- Execute end-to-end payroll operations for faculty and staff using payroll systems.
- Ensure compliance with California wage and hour laws, including overtime, meal/rest break rules, and final paychecks.
- Manage complex payroll adjustments such as teacher summer hold-backs, stipends, and garnishments.
- Handle monthly CalSTRS retirement reporting and reconciliations.
- Partner with HR to verify timesheets and track leave balances.
- Manage daily Accounts Payable (AP), process vendor invoices, and handle employee reimbursements.
- Post payroll journal entries to accounting software.
- Perform month-end close tasks, process routine accruals, and clear payroll-related balance sheet accounts.
- Learn specialized California public school finance operations, including SACS coding and state/federal grant compliance.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation package
- Comprehensive healthcare options
- Retirement plans
- Paid time off
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
High school or GED
