Payroll Analyst

About Pacific Specialty Insurance Company (PSIC) 

At Pacific Specialty Insurance Company (PSIC), we approach things a bit differently and have for over 27 years. We warmly welcome each new employee to our organization by emphasizing a culture of appreciation and respect, while providing the much-needed flexibility in their day. We understand this is paramount in today’s workforce.  Our Core values of Family, Home, Trust and Profitability are what drives our daily decisions. We strive to foster a culture where all employees feel a sense of belonging and are encouraged to come up with ideas to help us improve as an organization. We provide the tools to help you succeed. Pacific Specialty Insurance Company is a large regional carrier in California, but consistently writes business in 4 other states as well.  

 
Job Summary: 

The Payroll Analyst is responsible for supporting and processing payroll operations while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This position analyzes payroll data, audits payroll transactions, resolves payroll discrepancies, and partners with Human Resources, Finance, and management to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing. The Payroll Analyst serves as a key resource for payroll reporting, system maintenance, compliance requirements, and employee payroll inquiries. 

Candidates must be able to work Pacific or Mountain Time business hours.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly and off-cycle payrolls, final paychecks, retroactive adjustments, and special payments as needed.
• Process and audit payroll transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance with company policies and applicable laws.
• Review employee timekeeping, earnings, deductions, taxes, and benefit deductions for accuracy.
• Analyze payroll data and identify discrepancies, trends, and process improvement opportunities.
• Prepare and reconcile payroll reports, general ledger entries, and payroll-related account reconciliations.
• Research and resolve payroll issues, including tax withholdings, garnishments, benefit deductions, and wage calculations.
• Maintain payroll records and ensure compliance with record retention requirements.
• Support payroll audits, including internal, external, and regulatory audits.
• Manage payroll tax reporting and assist with year-end processing activities, including W-2 preparation and reconciliation.
• Respond to unemployment claims, employment verification requests, and payroll inquiries.
• Assist with leave administration impacts on payroll, including workers’ compensation, disability, and leave of absence payments.
• Support payroll system testing, upgrades, implementations, and process improvements.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, documentation, and internal controls.
• Generate and distribute payroll reports for management and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, payroll tax regulations, and company policies.

 The Ideal Candidate will have the following:  

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of payroll processing and payroll analysis experience.
• Experience with CA payroll processing is a must
• Experience with multi-state payroll processing preferred.
• Experience with payroll systems such as ADP, UKG, Workday, Ceridian Dayforce, or similar platforms.
• Strong understanding of payroll laws, wage and hour regulations, and payroll tax requirements.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict payroll deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
• Experience with payroll system implementations or upgrades.
• Experience with payroll reporting.

Our Benefits - Protection is the name of the game in the insurance industry, and we believe in benefit plans that offer protection to our employees for medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement plans. Our 401k plan and company match are second to none. The company will make a matching contribution equal to 60% of your qualified salary deferral contribution! 

Competitive Compensation – Salaries will be established commensurate with experience. This is a non-exempt hourly position.

All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local laws.  Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Qualified applicants 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. 

Pacific Specialty Insurance Company is a member of the McGraw Group of Affiliated Companies Pacific Specialty Insurance Company is an equal opportunity employer.