Payroll Accountant

Tammy Power, Recruiting Manager with Robert Half is looking for a Payroll Accountant to join a mission-focused organization in Kern County where accuracy, compliance, and financial stewardship are essential to supporting a broad community impact. This position plays a key role in managing payroll accounting activities across multiple entities, ensuring employees are paid correctly while payroll-related records remain balanced and audit-ready. The ideal candidate brings strong accounting knowledge, experience with multi-state payroll, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams in a deadline-driven environment.

For immediate consideration, contact Tammy Power via LinkedIn

Responsibilities:

• Oversee payroll processing activities to help ensure employees are compensated accurately, on schedule, and in accordance with applicable regulations and organizational standards.

• Monitor updates to federal, state, and local payroll rules and apply changes as needed to maintain ongoing compliance across payroll operations.

• Complete monthly reviews of payroll-related transactions, including compensation, taxes, benefits, and other associated accounts, to confirm accuracy and resolve inconsistencies.

• Maintain and reconcile payroll balance sheet accounts, investigating discrepancies and implementing timely corrections when needed.

• Prepare payroll journal entries, accruals, and other accounting adjustments to support accurate financial reporting.

• Allocate payroll expenses across properties, programs, and entities so labor costs are assigned correctly to the appropriate funding sources.

• Work closely with human resources, property teams, and program staff to verify employee data, job classifications, and cost distributions.

• Analyze fluctuations in payroll results and present clear explanations to leadership and finance stakeholders.

• Assist with month-end and year-end close activities, payroll tax reporting, audit support, and annual workers compensation audit preparation.

• Recommend and support improvements to payroll procedures and internal controls to strengthen efficiency and compliance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience in payroll accounting, general ledger accounting, or in-house payroll administration.
• Demonstrated knowledge of payroll reconciliations, accruals, journal entries, and month-end close processes.
• Experience reconciling balance sheet accounts and managing payroll allocations in a multi-entity environment.
• Familiarity with multi-state payroll practices and applicable tax and regulatory requirements.
• Strong Excel skills and hands-on experience with payroll and accounting platforms, such as Acumatica or similar systems.
• Proven ability to organize competing priorities, investigate issues thoroughly, and meet deadlines with a high level of accuracy.
• Background in nonprofit, affordable housing, or other mission-driven organizations is preferred.

Compensation

$70,000.00-$80,000.00 Yearly

About Us

Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.

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All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit roberthalf.gobenefits.net for more information.

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