Jr. Payroll Specialist
Vista, CA • Full Time
Posted on Fri, Jun 19, 2026
Job Title: Jr. Payroll Specialist
Department: Payroll
Reports to: Director of Payroll
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Work Hours: Full-Time, potentially longer working hours during Spring Season.
Summary: Under the direct supervision of the Director of Payroll, perform entry-level payroll tasks with a focus on technical functionalities and administrative responsibilities. Efficiently assist the Payroll Department to help ensure all the Payroll Data and employee inquiries are processed accurately, and in a timely manner. This position will also handle high volume multi-state payroll processing for multiple facilities. To be considered for this position, you must possess exceptional communication skills, strong organizational abilities, and the capability to manage a high-volume workload effectively. Demonstrated experience thriving in a fast-paced environment, maintaining composure under pressure, and meeting deadlines with a positive attitude is essential.
Overall Responsibilities:
- Tracking the processing of all court ordered wage garnishments submitted to ADP.
- Review wage garnishment refunds and effectively relay the information to the payroll team.
- Reconcile all the garnishments processed on a bi-weekly basis.
- Coordinate with the in-house Notary Public to facilitate the notarization of garnishments, as needed.
- Review and distribute the mail for the payroll inbox.
- Maintain employee data in payroll system (ADP) and File Hold (Scanning Software.)
- Assist with new employees onboarding, separations, W-4 and State withholding changes.
- Accurately processing of Manual checks during off cycle payroll.
- Set up Direct Deposits, carefully following the Direct Deposit verification procedure.
- Input Personnel Action forms for address changes, department changes, compensation and promotion changes.
- Final Checks processing in accordance with state laws.
- Accurately process all employment verification requests in a timely manner.
- Payroll Customer Service - Provide payroll customer service by effectively communicating with managers and employees through virtual and in-person interactions.
- Address basic employee inquiries regarding direct deposit setup, tax-related matters, and other paycheck deductions.
- Engage in cross training with the payroll team.
- Maintains processes, and reconciles a wide variety of payroll documents and materials in compliance with established policies and regulatory guidelines (e.g. timesheets, PA’s direct deposits, etc.)
- Assists Director of Payroll and payroll team with projects as needed.
- Other Duties as Assigned.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function as described above.
The qualifications listed below are representative of the skills, and/or ability required for this position.
- Exceptional organizational skills
- Effectively communicate with Managers/Supervisors and Peers.
- Computer literate: Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, Microsoft Outlook.
- Mathematical skills and 10 Key Proficient
- Willing to learn new tasks as assigned. Definitely need a “Can do Attitude”
- Cooperative, enthusiastic, positive attitude, and productive in a work team environment
- Reliable, responsible, and dependable.
- Strong work ethic and team player.
- Ability to work in an office located in a nursery.
- Good planning and organizational skills to balance and prioritize work.
Education and/or Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred – Ideally in Accounting, Business, Finance, or a related field (not required).
- 1–2 years of payroll experience – Entry‑level role with increasing responsibility in payroll functions.
- ADP Workforce Now – Experience is helpful but not required.
- Intermediate Excel – Required
- Bilingual English/Spanish – Preferred
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the
duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or
feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to
stand; walk; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must
occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.