Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Job Summary

We are seeking a Payroll and Benefits Specialist for a temp-to-hire opportunity in Pasadena, CA. This role is ideal for an experienced payroll professional who is confident processing full-cycle, multi-state payroll and supporting benefits administration in a professional HR environment.

The Payroll and Benefits Specialist will provide hands-on day-to-day support to the HR department, with a strong focus on ADP Workforce Now, payroll accuracy, employee data maintenance, benefits support, compliance, audits, and employee inquiries. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys detail-driven work, values accuracy, and wants to contribute to a supportive, team-oriented HR function with strong leadership and long-term growth potential.

Key Responsibilities

- Process bi-weekly and off-cycle multi-state payroll accurately and on time using ADP Workforce Now.
- Maintain accurate employee data in ADP Workforce Now and support employment changes, updates, and payroll-related records.
- Research, analyze, and resolve discrepancies related to time records, payroll data, carrier systems, and HR systems.
- Assist with benefits administration for health and welfare plans, retirement plans, invoice reconciliation, and employee support.
- Respond to employee payroll and benefits inquiries while educating employees on related policies and procedures.
- Support compliance requirements, including non-discrimination testing, EEO-1 reporting, Form 5500 filing, audits, and required submissions.

Compensation and Benefits

- Salary range: $58,000 to $70,000 per year.
- Job type: Temp-to-hire.
- Location: Pasadena, CA.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans

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For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AppleOne is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.

AppleOne participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Additional Skills

Required Qualifications and Skills

- Process full-cycle payroll, including California and multi-state payroll.
- Maintain employee payroll and HR data in ADP Workforce Now.
- Support employee benefits administration, retirement plan processes, and invoice reconciliation.
- Assist with payroll audits, discrepancy resolution, compliance reporting, and employee inquiries.

- High school diploma or GED required.
- 3 years of experience processing California payroll.
- 3 years of experience processing payroll in ADP Workforce Now or ADP WFN.
- 1 year of experience processing multi-state payroll.
- 1 year of experience assisting with benefits administration.
- 3 years of experience using Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.
- Strong Excel skills, including experience with advanced formulas such as VLOOKUP.
- 3 years of experience working with employee 401(k) retirement plans.
- 1 year of experience as an ADP Workforce Now Super User with full access to system functionality.
- 1 year of experience with non-discrimination testing and Form 5500 filing.
- Strong attention to detail, confidentiality, problem-solving skills, and ability to meet payroll deadlines.
- Professional communication skills with the ability to support employees and explain payroll and benefits policies clearly.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience supporting payroll and benefits in banking, consumer lending, financial services, or another regulated industry.
- Experience conducting periodic payroll, benefits, timekeeping, and carrier system audits.
- Strong customer service mindset with the ability to work collaboratively with HR, finance, employees, vendors, and benefit carriers.