Senior Payroll Specialist

Description:

Stillwater Sciences is looking for an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist to join our Financial Accounting team. In this role, you’ll lead accurate, timely, and compliant multi-state payroll processing for approximately 150 employees across seven states while supporting payroll taxes, reconciliations, reporting, and internal controls. If you bring deep payroll expertise, strong attention to detail, and a commitment to operational excellence, please apply! This is a full-time, exempt, 40 hours/week position based out of our Berkeley or Sacramento office, with a preference for Berkeley.

What You’ll Do

• Own full-cycle, multi-state payroll processing for exempt and non-exempt employees.
• Ensure payroll accuracy, compliance, and timely tax filings across jurisdictions.
• Reconcile payroll-related accounts, deductions, and benefits information.
• Support audits, reporting, and month-end and year-end payroll activities.
• Help strengthen payroll systems, documentation, and internal processes.

What You’ll Bring

• 10+ years of payroll experience, including at least 5 years with California payroll requirements.
• Strong knowledge of multi-state payroll, payroll taxes, wage and hour laws, and reconciliations.
• High attention to detail, sound judgment, and discretion with confidential information.
• Experience with payroll systems and reporting tools; ADP and Deltek Vantagepoint experience is a plus.
• Experience with project/job costing and prevailing wage is a plus.
• CPP certification and experience in consulting or professional services are preferred.

Location and work schedule:

• This role is based out of Berkeley or Sacramento (preference for regular work out of our Berkeley office) and requires 5 days per week office-based work.
• This role is eligible for a hybrid schedule after 6 months.