The Payroll Administrator will partner with the Payroll Manager in all aspects of the Company's payroll administration and management, and ensure accurate entry/recording, processing, and ongoing auditing of its payroll and employee records databases. This includes being the primary point of contact for processing timekeeping. The Payroll Administrator serves a critical role by ensuring that employees are paid correctly, on time, and in compliance with state and federal regulations. The individual in this role should have a strong foundational understanding of general ledger accounting, as the position is a key liaison between the Payroll and Corporate Accounting Departments, and will be responsible for researching any payroll discrepancies. This position provides high-level customer support company-wide and builds positive relationships with employees and senior Company management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Using online payroll and time reporting systems, processes time records and prepares payroll adjustments, including but not limited to overpayment recovery, special requests, and payroll expenditure adjustments, processes non-scheduled items, fringe benefits, and bonus payments.
• On a weekly basis, collects and audits time & attendance data, ensuring that employees have certified the accuracy of their timesheets.
• Responds to requests for information/reports from tax agencies, management, department heads and/or business units.
• Maintains and documents payroll processes and examines work for exactness, neatness, and conformance to policies and procedures.
• Maintains payroll records in accordance with Payroll Record Retention Policy.
• Monitors time & attendance system to ensure supervisors approve timesheets in a timely manner.
• Ensures all payroll transactions have appropriate approval per the Level of Authority Policy.
• Processes employee deductions, including garnishments and 401 (k).
• Maintains up-to-date paid time off accruals.
• Assist the Accounting department with payroll journal entries and discrepancies.
• Processes and reviews new hire setup in multiple systems.
• Responsible for all federal, state, and local payroll registrations, maintenance, and correspondence.
• Manages and maintains integrity with multiple systems, as well as studies and standardizes procedures to improve process efficiency.
• Interacts with all levels of management throughout the company

• Serve as liaison to ADP to address all payroll processing issues, special payroll processing requirements, and/or pursue process improvements.
• Adheres to all state and federal regulations for payroll processing
• Responds to inquiries from employees about salaries and wages and resolves any discrepancies surrounding payroll issues
• Prepares bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end payroll reports
• Maintains employee confidence and protects payroll operations by keeping information confidential
• Prepares ad-hoc reports as requested by Corporate Controller, Payroll Manager, and/or other department heads
• Supervisor may assign additional duties and responsibilities as business needs dictate.

• Conducts payroll section virtual new hire orientation training on a biweekly basis.
• Operates every day with safety as the top priority for self and other employees, takes proactive measures to ensure a safe work environment. May be involved in addressing safety issues, initiatives, and training for business units and worksites as needed in collaboration with the Environmental Health and Safety Department.
• All Willdan employees are expected to follow company policies and procedures, whether those policies and procedures are established in writing or in practice. All Willdan employees must adhere to the highest of ethical standards, respect and cooperation in the workplace, and focus on delivering a world-class experience to internal customers and all Willdan clients and business partners.

Job Requirements

• Associate's Degree in Accounting preferred
• 5 years of payroll experience required
• 2 - 3 years of experience with ADP WorkforceNow preferred
• Familiarity with prevailing wage and certified payroll reports is a plus
• Deltek (Costpoint) experience preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft applications, including Outlook
• Strong Excel knowledge (pivot table, VLOOKUP, exporting/importing files, etc.)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as basic public speaking skills, are required to conduct payroll training.
• Basic public speaking skills to conduct training and address diverse groups of employees
• Demonstrated knowledge of payroll function and payroll laws.
• Familiarity with applicable federal, state and local payroll regulations, including all related withholding tax requirements

• Ability to process multi-state payroll
• Ability to transfer employees between multiple FEIN numbers.
• Ability to maintain confidential information and meet strict deadlines.
• On an occasional basis, must have the ability to work overtime, after hours, weekends with supervisor's permission as business needs dictate.
• Broad knowledge of multi-state employment laws and regulations.
• Payroll and/or Human Resources certification (CCP, SHRM-CP, PHR) preferred.
• Based in Anaheim, CA in the Willdan Group, Inc. company headquarters office. Remote work arrangements will not be considered.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance. For unincorporated Los Angeles county, to the extent our customers require a background check for certain positions, the Company faces a significant risk to its business operations and business reputation unless a review of criminal history is conducted for those specific job positions.