Payroll Specialist
Hybrid Remote • San Diego, CA
Description

Position posting date: 11/10/2026

Position start date: ASAP or until filled. 

Salary/Range: $28 - $30 per hour

Status: Part-Time (20 hours per week), Hybrid

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, variable hours between 7:00am to 4:00pm (determined by supervisor)

Service/Division: CORE Research Administration/Human Resources

Work Location: VMRF

Job Code: MS #1414


· Manages timekeeping. 

· Processes payroll on a bi-weekly basis

· Directing the computation and input of pay data according to federal, state, and company policy. 

· Computes and processes retroactive payments, incentive awards, termination checks, and vacation balance payouts. 

· Processes benefits enrollments, direct deposits, address changes, W-4 changes. 

· Verifies payroll status changes such as, but not limited to job reclassifications, wage adjustments, merit increases, and project fund changes. 

· Provides training and assistance to employees and supervisors regarding labor laws and company policies pertaining to payroll and time keeping. 

· Knowledge of multi-state payroll tax withholding, reporting, and compliance requirements

· Prepares employment tax returns and documents such as: Forms 1042, 1042-S, 941, DE-6, DE-7, and others as applicable. 

· Completes payroll and budget forecasts for the Contracts and Grants department, Principal Investigators, and fund managers. 

· Investigates and resolves outstanding payroll checks. 

· Processes garnishments: calculates deductions based on federal and/or state guidelines when mandated. 

· Processes cost transfers (journal entries). 

· Creates and maintains payroll procedures and reports using Excel, Financial Edge, and other software programs. 

· Performs periodic audits of payroll records. 

· Verifies attendance and leaves (vacation, sick, jury duty, medical, etc.). 

· Generates routine reports and designs special reports based on department and organizational needs. 

· Respond to EDD forms and Verifications of Employment.

· Creates and maintains complex reports for HR, including those used for the tracking and management of 403(b) plan eligibility, casual hours, vacation balances, project-specific compensation and allocations, ACA Reporting, and personnel requisitions, etc. 

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in related field and at least 3 years of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Paylocity payroll processing experience preferred.

California payroll experience preferred.