Senior Benefits and Payroll Specialist

JuneShine Brands • San Diego, CA

2d • $90,000 - $100,000

About The Position

The Task At Hand: Precision is your superpower - and at JunesShine Brands, it’s the foundation every great employee experience is built on. This role owns the day to day execution and accuracy of payroll and benefits administration across the company. Reporting to the Controller, with a dotted line to the VP of People, this role ensures payroll is processed accurately, compliance requirements are met, and benefits programs run smoothly. This person will play a key role in maintaining operational excellence while identifying opportunities to improve processes as the company continues to scale. While the primary focus is payroll and benefits, this role also supports compliance and employee-facing processes that contribute to a strong employee experience. If you’re someone who takes quiet pride in the work that keeps everything running, you’ll find a home here. Who You Are: You take pride in getting things right - accuracy, timeliness, and reliability aren't just habits, they're non-negotiables for you You spot issues before they become problems and know how to work through them without waiting to be told You handle sensitive information with discretion, juggle competing priorities without dropping the ball, and can always be counted on to follow through You communicate clearly and work well across teams - especially with Finance - and take a thoughtful, high-touch approach to supporting the people around you You're collaborative, low ego, and energized by change - comfortable figuring things out in an environment that's still evolving

Requirements

• Minimum of 5+ years of in-house payroll and benefits experience
• Experience managing multi-state payroll, including hourly employees, tips, and variable compensation
• Strong understanding of California wage and hour laws
• End-to-end payroll processing, including off-cycle runs and adjustments
• Experience administering benefits programs and supporting open enrollment
• Solid understanding of payroll and benefits related laws - wages and hour, leave of absence, and ACA
• Experience working in a fast-paced or high-growth environment, with the ability to adapt as processes and priorities evolve
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in handling sensitive and time-sensitive data
• Strong communication skills with a proactive, high-touch approach to supporting employees

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent
• Experience working closely with Finance or supporting payroll-related reporting and reconciliations
• Experience with HRIS and payroll systems (Paylocity or similar)
• Experience supporting benefits audits, billing reconciliation, or vendor coordination
• Familiarity with workers’ compensation processes and OSHA recordkeeping
• Experience tracking and managing compliance deadlines or working from a compliance calendar
• Proven ability to operate independently with a high degree of ownership and accountability
• Demonstrated ability to identify issues, problem solve, and move work forward without waiting for direction

Responsibilities

• Own end to end payroll processing, ensuring accuracy across timesheets, tips, deductions, benefits, and all pay related details
• Review and validate payroll inputs, proactively identifying and resolving discrepancies
• Manage off-cycle payroll, including bonus calculations, final checks, and payments for contractors, in partnership with the VP of People
• Maintain and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, including overtime, meal penalties, and employee classifications
• Review and validate payroll calculations, including overtime, paid time off, prorations, and other earnings, to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Manage garnishments, tax updates, and related agency communications, ensuring all requirements are met
• Prepare and review year-end payroll filings, including W-2s and 1099s
• Serve as a key point of contact for payroll, tax, and timekeeping questions, providing guidance and escalating issues as needed
• Register and maintain all state and local municipality withholding rates
• Partner with the VP of People teams to ensure payroll changes, reporting, and communications are accurate and timely
• Maintain accurate payroll records and handle all information with a high level of confidentiality and discretion
• Prepare and analyze comprehensive payroll reviews for submission to senior management by compiling summary reports for earnings, taxes, deductions, leave, etc.
• Generate and distribute detailed hourly wage reports for departmental managers to facilitate informed decision-making
• Break down payroll expenses by department, category, and class to record journal entries in QuickBooks for every pay run
• Calculate and prepare month-end accruals for payroll, bonuses, tips, 401(k) contributions, and other earnings categories as required, reconciling all information for financial integrity
• Assist in quarter-end and year-end financial reconciliations and reporting
• Administer and maintain benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, 401 (k), and disability, ensuring accurate enrollment and payroll deductions
• Serve as a key point of contact for employee benefits questions, providing clear guidance and support
• Manage leave of absence processes, including parental leave and disability, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and company policies, in partnership with the VP of People
• Review and approve leave requests in accordance with legal requirements and internal guidelines
• Partner with vendors and brokers to support benefits administration and resolve issues as they arise
• Support open enrollment execution, including system setup, employee communication, and enrollment accuracy
• Audit and reconcile benefits, billing, and payroll deductions on a regular basis, ensuring accuracy across 401k, medical, dental, vision, and other benefit programs
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local benefits regulations
• Maintain accurate employee data within HRIS, ensuring alignment across payroll, benefits, and compliance records
• Conduct regular audits of benefits eligibility, payroll data, and employee classifications to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Own recurring compliance processes and reporting, including ACA, EEO-1, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and California Pay Data reporting
• Track and manage all compliance deadlines using the company compliance tracker, ensuring all required filings, audits, and updates are completed on time
• Administer workers’ compensation and workplace safety processes, including claim tracking, OSHA 300A recordkeeping and reporting, and coordination with internal stakeholders and insurance carriers to ensure compliance.
• Support and track required employee compliance trainings, including anti-harassment, workplace violence prevention, and other state or role-based certifications
• Audit training completion and follow up as needed to ensure ongoing compliance across the organization
• Partner with People and Finance teams to support audits such as workers’ compensation and 401k, ensuring data accuracy and timely completion
• Research and stay current on payroll, benefits, and compliance requirements, escalating risks or changes as needed
• Maintain accurate records and handle all information with a high level of confidentiality and discretion

Benefits

• Unlimited Paid Time Off
• Healthcare coverage: up to 90% company contribution for employees and 25% for dependents
• Voluntary vision, dental, and accidental plans
• 401(k) with up to 4% company match
• 12 weeks of paid Equal Parental Leave, $500 Baby Bonding Bucks, and a sustainable baby gift
• Booch, spirit, and soft good perks
• And more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees