Payroll Specialist

Location: Oakland,California,United States

PAYROLL SPECIALIST 
Full Time – In-Person | Oakland, CA 

Mission: 
Safe Passages disrupts the cycle of poverty by engaging youth and families to build and drive a continuum of services that supports student success and community development. 

Safe Passages is a non-profit organization committed to disrupting the cycle of poverty by supporting our local community. We serve over 5,000 children and families annually through strategies that span the life spectrum from birth through young adulthood, including Early Childhood, School Linked Services, Juvenile Justice, and Career Pathways. Safe Passages’ work is grounded in the belief that access to educational opportunity, health services, and family support should not be dictated by race or socio-economic status, and that healthy and supported youth are better prepared to learn and succeed. 

Position Summary: 

The Payroll Specialist plays an essential role within the Fiscal Team and is responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely processing of payroll in compliance with relevant laws and organizational policies. Under the supervision of the Controller, the Payroll Specialist will maintain payroll records, resolve payroll issues, assist with audits, and support HR and finance team coordination. 

Essential Functions: 

Duties may include, but are not limited to: 

• Process weekly, semi-monthly, and off-cycle payrolls for all Safe Passages employees with accuracy and timeliness. 

• Maintain payroll records and ensure all data is updated, complete, and properly coded for payroll processing. 

• Resolve payroll discrepancies and respond to payroll-related inquiries from employees and departments. 

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll, wage, and hourly laws and best practices. 

• Coordinate with HR to process employee status changes including new hires, terminations, promotions, and leaves of absence. 

• Input and verify timekeeping records; ensure accuracy of hours worked, paid time off, and holiday pay. 

• Calculate and process wage garnishments, benefits deductions, retirement contributions, and other statutory withholdings. 

• Assist with preparation and filing of payroll tax forms and reports; stay current on changes in tax regulations. 

• Support payroll-related audits and help maintain audit-ready documentation. 

• Review incoming payroll-related correspondence and assist with notice resolution in collaboration with the Fiscal Team. 

• Help implement payroll-related policies and procedures in coordination with the Controller and Finance Director. 

• Create and disseminate reports to identify discrepancies, correct errors, recoup over payments, and to maintain accurate financial records. 

• Communicate with employees, staff, and AmeriCorps members regarding time-sensitive payroll inquiries/issues. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience) in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field. 

• At least 5 years of experie