Payroll Supervisor/Manager

We are looking for an experienced Payroll Supervisor/Manager to join a hospitality organization in La Jolla, California in a contract-to-permanent capacity. This position oversees payroll operations from end to end, ensuring employees are paid accurately, on time, and in compliance with applicable regulations. The role also partners closely with Human Resources and finance leadership to maintain reliable payroll records, support reporting needs, and strengthen payroll controls across the organization.

Responsibilities:

• Direct the complete payroll process for a large employee population, ensuring each payroll cycle is processed accurately and delivered within established timelines.
• Guide and support the Payroll Specialist through coaching, task oversight, and review of day-to-day payroll activities to maintain high quality standards.
• Partner with Human Resources and operational leaders to keep employee pay data current, accurate, and properly documented in payroll systems.
• Review and process special payroll items such as off-cycle payments, bonuses, expense reimbursements, deductions, and wage garnishments.
• Validate service charges, tips, and gratuity-related payments to ensure proper calculation and distribution.
• Monitor adherence to payroll tax rules, wage and hour requirements, and internal control standards while protecting sensitive employee information.
• Prepare payroll reconciliations, earnings and deduction analysis, and recurring reports for the Director of Finance to support decision-making.
• Contribute to labor planning activities by assisting with payroll-related budgeting and forecasting needs.
• Use Workday to maintain employee records, perform audits, generate reports, support terminations, and help manage payroll-related system processes and integrations.
• At least 3 years of payroll experience, including responsibility for full-cycle payroll processing in a fast-paced environment.
• Prior leadership experience with direct oversight of staff and accountability for team performance.
• Hands-on experience with Workday, including employee updates, auditing, reporting, and payroll support functions; familiarity with Workday Payroll is required.
• Background handling multi-state payroll and bi-monthly payroll cycles for a workforce of 500 or more employees.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant payroll experience.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll and employment regulations, along with strong Excel, Word, and reporting skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication abilities, with the discretion to manage confidential information appropriately.
• Experience in hospitality environments and familiarity with systems such as ADP Workforce Now are highly valued; Spanish language skills are a plus.