Payroll Manager

Job Description: Payroll Manager

The anticipated salary range for this position is $85,000-$100,000 annually. Final compensation will be based on experience, qualifications, internal equity, and market considerations.

Embarc seeks an experienced, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused Payroll Manager to lead payroll operations across our growing, multi-location California organization. Embarc is an emerging cannabis retailer passionate about our community, customers, and people. If you are excited about building accurate, compliant, and scalable payroll practices in a fast-paced environment, we invite you to apply.

What is the Job?

The Payroll Manager is responsible for managing payroll operations from end to end for Embarc's hourly, salaried, tipped, commissioned, and union employees. This highly visible, hands-on role serves as the company's internal payroll subject matter expert and partners closely w ith Human Resources, Finance, Legal, and Operations to ensure payroll is accurate, timely, compliant, and positioned to support continued growth.

This role does not currently have direct reports, but the scope may expand to include team oversight as the payroll function grows.

Core Responsibilities - Payroll Operations

• Own and execute biweekly payroll across multiple California locations.
• Review and ensure the accuracy of timecards, new hires, terminations, promotions, transfers, leaves, and compensation changes.
• Manage complex payroll scenarios, including retroactive pay, bonuses, commissions, differentials, shift premiums, tips, and payroll corrections.
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately, on time, and in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain complete and accurate payroll records while protecting confidential employee information.
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies, employee questions, and system issues promptly and professionally.

Leadership and Business Partnership

• Serve as Embarc's internal payroll subject matter expert and trusted advisor.
• Partner closely with Human Resources, Finance, Legal, and Operations to ensure payroll practices support business needs and compliance requirements.
• Provide guidance to managers regarding payroll policies, wage and hour requirements, and complex employee pay situations.
• Build scalable payroll processes that support new locations, organizational growth, and evolving workforce needs.
• Document payroll procedures and establish consistent payroll practices across the organization.
• Support the continued development and future growth of the payroll function.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Interpret and apply California wage and hour laws, including overtime, meal and rest periods, paid sick leave, final pay, and recordkeeping requirements.
• Ensure payroll practices comply with collective bargaining agreements and union payroll requirements.
• Monitor payroll-related legislative and regulatory changes and recommend necessary policy, process, or system updates.
• Partner with Human Resources and Legal to evaluate and resolve complex payroll compliance matters.
• Identify payroll risks and implement appropriate controls and corrective actions.

Payroll Tax and Reporting

• Oversee payroll tax calculations, filings, remittances, and agency reporting.
• Manage benefits deductions, garnishments, union dues, levies, and other required withholdings.
• Own year-end payroll processes, including W-2 preparation, validation, distribution, and compliance reporting.
• Prepare payroll reports, reconciliations, and analytics for Finance and company leadership.
• Support payroll budgeting, forecasting, and labor-cost analysis.

Controls, Systems, and Process Improvement

• Establish and maintain effective payroll controls, approval processes, and audit readiness.
• Support internal, external, regulatory, and union audits.
• Maintain payroll system integrity, employee data accuracy, and appropriate access controls.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and the employee experience.
• Partner with internal stakeholders and external vendors on payroll system enhancements, integrations, and optimization.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, payroll calendars, checklists, and scalable process documentation.

What Skills We're Looking For

• Strong knowledge of California wage and hour laws and payroll compliance requirements.
• Expertise in payroll taxes, deductions, garnishments, union dues, and regulatory reporting.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Strong analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to research and resolve complex payroll issues accurately and efficiently.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with employees, managers, and cross-functional partners.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with sound judgment and discretion.
• Experience managing payroll systems and identifying opportunities for process improvement.
• Advanced Excel skills are preferred.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Seven or more years of progressive payroll experience in a multi-location, high-volume organization.
• Demonstrated experience managing payroll operations from end to end.
• Experience supporting a unionized workforce and interpreting collective bargaining agreements.
• Experience supporting multi-location retail operations is strongly preferred.
• Experience within cannabis or another highly regulated industry is strongly preferred.
• Certified Payroll Professional certification is a plus.

Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time, exempt hybrid role based in Sacramento, California. Regular on-site presence will be required based on business needs. Additional hours may occasionally be necessary during payroll processing, year-end activities, audits, system implementations, or other critical business periods.

Equal Opportunity

Embarc is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, or current employment status.