Benefits & Payroll Administrator (EAP)

Description

PAYROLL & BENEFITS ADMINISTRATOR

Department: Corporate
Division: Human Resources
Location: Corporate Office - Cerritos, CA
Classification: Full-Time, Nonexempt, Onsite
Schedule: Monday to Friday - 0800-1700
Pay Range: $26.00 - $34.00 / hour

Reports To

Human Resources Business Partner

Position Summary

Ecology Auto Parts, Inc. is seeking an experienced Payroll & Benefits Administrator to manage the accurate, timely, and compliant execution of payroll and employee benefits programs across the company's affiliated entities. This position combines hands-on payroll processing through Paylocity with coordination and administrative oversight of payroll and benefits support activities, including work performed by assigned personnel. Responsibilities include payroll reconciliation, benefits administration, HRIS data integrity, regulatory compliance, internal controls, process improvements, and resolution of complex payroll and benefits matters.

The ideal candidate must possess extensive payroll and benefits experience, advanced Paylocity proficiency, strong analytical and organizational skills, and the ability to exercise independent judgment while managing confidential information and critical operational deadlines across a multi-site, multi-entity workforce.

Responsibilities

Payroll Administration & Oversight

• Prepare, process, validate, and reconcile recurring payroll through Paylocity for employees across multiple affiliated business entities, departments, locations, and employee classifications.
• Coordinate and oversee payroll activities performed by assigned support personnel, ensuring accuracy, accountability, and timely completion.
• Administer payroll transactions involving new hires, terminations, transfers, compensation adjustments, bonuses, commissions, garnishments, deductions, taxes, and direct deposits.
• Review timekeeping records, overtime calculations, meal and rest period premiums, required approvals, and applicable wage-and-hour requirements.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, employee inquiries, payment corrections, and system-related issues.
• Prepare and analyze payroll reconciliations, exception reports, audit documentation, and general-ledger information in coordination with Finance.
• Coordinate payroll funding, processing deadlines, and required submissions while maintaining established financial authorization controls.
• Support prevailing-wage and certified-payroll reporting, payroll tax administration, year-end processing, W-2 reconciliation, and record retention.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, calendars, internal controls, and continuity processes to improve accuracy and operational efficiency.

Employee Benefits Administration

• Administer employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401(k) retirement benefits.
• Coordinate new-hire enrollment, open enrollment, qualifying life events, eligibility changes, and employee terminations.
• Maintain accurate benefits records within Paylocity and applicable carrier or vendor systems.
• Reconcile benefits deductions, carrier invoices, enrollment records, and payroll deductions; investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Serve as a primary administrative contact for employee benefits inquiries, enrollment assistance, and coverage-related matters.
• Coordinate with insurance brokers, benefits carriers, retirement-plan administrators, and third-party vendors.
• Support benefits renewals, employee communications, ACA reporting, COBRA administration, and other applicable benefits compliance requirements.
• Evaluate benefits administration practices and recommend improvements to accuracy, efficiency, vendor coordination, and employee service.

Payroll & Benefits Governance / Compliance

• Evaluate payroll and benefits administration practices across affiliated entities and recommend improvements to internal controls, procedures, and compliance processes.
• Exercise independent judgment in assessing complex payroll and benefits discrepancies, operational risks, and corrective-action alternatives within delegated authority.
• Develop, implement, and maintain standardized administrative procedures, audit protocols, and operational controls in coordination with Human Resources and Finance.
• Analyze payroll and benefits trends, recurring discrepancies, compliance exposure, and operational inefficiencies; communicate findings and recommendations to leadership.
• Coordinate payroll and benefits audits, agency inquiries, documentation requests, and authorized corrective actions.
• Apply relevant California and federal wage-and-hour requirements, including overtime, meal and rest period premiums, paid sick leave, final pay, and recordkeeping.
• Coordinate with HR leadership regarding leave-related payroll adjustments, benefits continuation, and applicable deductions.
• Identify significant compliance concerns and escalate matters requiring executive, legal, or financial authorization.
• Evaluate payroll and benefits systems, vendor services, and administrative workflows to recommend appropriate improvements.

HRIS & Employee Records

• Maintain accurate employee information, payroll records, and benefits data within Paylocity.
• Process authorized personnel changes, employee status updates, compensation adjustments, and benefits elections.
• Review HRIS records for accuracy, investigate discrepancies, and coordinate corrective actions.
• Generate and analyze payroll, benefits, workforce, and compliance reports for Human Resources, Finance, and operational leadership.
• Support HRIS enhancements, workflow standardization, and periodic data-integrity audits.
• Maintain confidential employee records in accordance with applicable privacy and retention requirements.

Operational Coordination

• Collaborate with Human Resources, Finance, operational management, and employees to maintain efficient payroll and benefits administration.
• Coordinate assigned payroll and benefits support activities, establish processing priorities, and monitor work quality and deadlines.
• Independently manage competing responsibilities and respond to time-sensitive operational requirements.
• Recommend and implement authorized administrative improvements that strengthen accuracy, compliance, accountability, and employee service.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the position's payroll, benefits, and administrative responsibilities.

Requirements

Qualifications/Knowledge/Critical Skills

Required

• Minimum five years of progressively responsible payroll administration experience, including hands-on, end-to-end payroll processing for a complex, multi-site or multi-entity workforce.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience processing payroll through Paylocity.
• Direct experience administering employee benefits, including enrollments, eligibility, deductions, carrier coordination, and discrepancy resolution.
• Professional fluency in English and Spanish, including the ability to communicate complex and sensitive payroll, benefits, HR, and compliance information verbally and in writing in both languages.
• Working knowledge of California wage-and-hour requirements, payroll practices, overtime calculations, final-pay obligations, and recordkeeping.
• Proficiency with Paylocity, Microsoft Office Suite, payroll reconciliation, reporting, HRIS maintenance, and timekeeping systems.
• Experience evaluating payroll and benefits discrepancies, maintaining internal controls, and recommending operational or compliance improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, resolve complex administrative matters, and implement corrective actions within delegated authority.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail and confidentiality.
• Ability to independently manage competing priorities, meet critical deadlines, and coordinate payroll and benefits activities across multiple entities.
• Experience collaborating with Finance, insurance carriers, benefits brokers, and external service providers.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline; equivalent directly relevant experience will be considered.
• Prior experience supporting transportation, trucking, logistics, manufacturing, or another distributed operational workforce.
• Working knowledge of prevailing-wage and certified-payroll requirements.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).
• Experience with ACA reporting, COBRA administration, 401(k) deductions, and employee benefits reconciliation.

Physical Demands/Environmental Factors

• Regularly sits, uses a computer and standard office equipment, and communicates verbally and in writing.
• Occasionally stands, walks, bends, reaches, and lifts or moves items weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to review detailed electronic and printed information and perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Occasional local travel to company locations may be required.

Work Environment / Position Structure

• Full-time, nonexempt, onsite position based at the Corporate Office in Cerritos, California.
• Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 0800-1700, with attendance and availability during established payroll-processing hours required.
• The regular work schedule includes one unpaid, duty-free, 60-minute meal period, generally scheduled between 1200-1300, resulting in eight scheduled working hours per day and 40 hours per week. Meal and rest periods will be provided in accordance with applicable California wage-and-hour requirements.
• Scheduling flexibility is necessary to meet payroll deadlines and essential operational requirements. Additional hours, including overtime, may be required and will be compensated in accordance with applicable federal and California wage-and-hour laws.
• The position operates primarily in a professional corporate office environment.
• The Payroll & Benefits Administrator reports to the Human Resources Business Partner and maintains a collaborative functional relationship with Finance and executive leadership.
• The position combines direct payroll execution with oversight and coordination of assigned payroll and benefits support activities.
• The employee is responsible for accurately recording all hours worked and complying with applicable timekeeping, meal-period, rest-period, and overtime procedures.
• This position does not carry primary responsibility for employee-relations investigations, HR strategy, executive advising, or company-wide HR policy development.

Compensation

The anticipated compensation range for the Payroll & Benefits Administrator position is $26.00–$34.00 per hour, subject to final company approval. At a standard 40-hour workweek, this represents approximately $54,080–$70,720 annually, excluding overtime and other applicable compensation. Final compensation will be determined based on directly relevant experience, Paylocity proficiency, payroll complexity, benefits administration expertise, certifications, and other lawful job-related considerations. This position is classified as nonexempt and is eligible for overtime compensation in accordance with applicable federal and California wage-and-hour laws. Ecology Auto Parts, Inc. offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with employer matching, paid time off, and life insurance coverage, subject to applicable plan terms.

PLEASE NOTE: This job description is not exhaustive and is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.

Ecology Auto Parts Inc. is committed to providing a workplace and culture of respect, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. Should you have a disability or specific needs requiring accommodation, please inform us.

Thank you for your interest in opportunities with Ecology Auto Parts, Inc. We appreciate the enthusiasm and professionalism demonstrated by individuals seeking to join our team.

Please be advised that Ecology Auto Parts, Inc. does not engage with or entertain solicitations from third-party recruiting firms for our hiring needs. We have a dedicated internal recruitment team managing our talent acquisition process. We kindly request that third-party recruitment firms refrain from submitting candidates for our open positions. Ecology Auto Parts, Inc. will not consider or entertain candidates represented by headhunter agencies for our current requisitions. Our commitment to fair and equitable hiring practices includes working directly with candidates who apply through our official channels. We believe in fostering a transparent and direct relationship with potential team members.

We appreciate your understanding and compliance with this policy. If you are interested in joining Ecology Auto Parts, Inc., please visit our official careers page here: EAP, Inc. | Career Center for a list of our current job opportunities and application instructions.

Acknowledgement

Employee signature below constitutes employee's understanding of the requirements, essential functions and duties of the position.

Candidate/Employee Name (Print): ________________________________________________________

Candidate/Employee Signature: ___________________________________________________________