Senior Payroll and Benefits Specialist

The Task At Hand:

Precision is your superpower - and at JunesShine Brands, it’s the foundation every great employee experience is built on. 

This role owns the day to day execution and accuracy of payroll and benefits administration across the company. Reporting to the Controller, with a dotted line to the VP of People, this role ensures payroll is processed accurately, compliance requirements are met, and benefits programs run smoothly.

This person will play a key role in maintaining operational excellence while identifying opportunities to improve processes as the company continues to scale. While the primary focus is payroll and benefits, this role also supports compliance and employee-facing processes that contribute to a strong employee experience.

If you’re someone who takes quiet pride in the work that keeps everything running, you’ll find a home here.

You take pride in getting things right - accuracy, timeliness, and reliability aren't just habits, they're non-negotiables for you

You spot issues before they become problems and know how to work through them without waiting to be told

You handle sensitive information with discretion, juggle competing priorities without dropping the ball, and can always be counted on to follow through

You communicate clearly and work well across teams -  especially with Finance -  and take a thoughtful, high-touch approach to supporting the people around you

You're collaborative, low ego, and energized by change - comfortable figuring things out in an environment that's still evolving

Payroll Administration:

Own end to end payroll processing, ensuring accuracy across timesheets, tips, deductions, benefits, and all pay related details

Review and validate payroll inputs, proactively identifying and resolving discrepancies

Manage off-cycle payroll, including bonus calculations, final checks, and payments for contractors, in partnership with the VP of People

Maintain and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, including overtime, meal penalties, and employee classifications

Review and validate payroll calculations, including overtime, paid time off, prorations, and other earnings, to ensure accuracy and compliance

Manage garnishments, tax updates, and related agency communications, ensuring all requirements are met

Prepare and review year-end payroll filings, including W-2s and 1099s

Serve as a key point of contact for payroll, tax, and timekeeping questions, providing guidance and escalating issues as needed

Register and maintain all state and local municipality withholding rates 

Partner with the VP of People teams to ensure payroll changes, reporting, and communications are accurate and timely

Maintain accurate payroll records and handle all information with a high level of confidentiality and discretion

Financial Reporting: 

Prepare and analyze comprehensive payroll reviews for submission to senior management by compiling summary reports for earnings, taxes, deductions, leave, etc.

Generate and distribute detailed hourly wage reports for departmental managers to facilitate informed decision-making

Break down payroll expenses by department, category, and class to record journal entries in QuickBooks for every pay run

Calculate and prepare month-end accruals for payroll, bonuses, tips, 401(k) contributions, and other earnings categories as required, reconciling all information for financial integrity

Assist in quarter-end and year-end financial reconciliations and reporting

Leave and Benefits Administration:

Administer and maintain benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, 401 (k), and disability, ensuring accurate enrollment and payroll deductions

Serve as a key point of contact for employee benefits questions, providing clear guidance and support

Manage leave of absence processes, including parental leave and disability, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and company policies, in partnership with the VP of People

Review and approve leave requests in accordance with legal requirements and internal guidelines

Partner with vendors and brokers to support benefits administration and resolve issues as they arise

Support open enrollment execution, including system setup, employee communication, and enrollment accuracy

Audit and reconcile benefits, billing, and payroll deductions on a regular basis, ensuring accuracy across 401k, medical, dental, vision, and other benefit programs

Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local benefits regulations

Payroll, Benefits, and People Compliance: 

Maintain accurate employee data within HRIS, ensuring alignment across payroll, benefits, and compliance records

Conduct regular audits of benefits eligibility, payroll data, and employee classifications to ensure accuracy and compliance

Own recurring compliance processes and reporting, including ACA, EEO-1, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and California Pay Data reporting

Track and manage all compliance deadlines using the company compliance tracker, ensuring all required filings, audits, and updates are completed on time

Administer workers’ compensation and workplace safety processes, including claim tracking, OSHA 300A recordkeeping and reporting, and coordination with internal stakeholders and insurance carriers to ensure compliance.

Support and track required employee compliance trainings, including anti-harassment, workplace violence prevention, and other state or role-based certifications

Audit training completion and follow up as needed to ensure ongoing compliance across the organization

Partner with People and Finance teams to support audits such as workers’ compensation and 401k, ensuring data accuracy and timely completion

Research and stay current on payroll, benefits, and compliance requirements, escalating risks or changes as needed

Maintain accurate records and handle all information with a high level of confidentiality and discretion

Minimum of 5+ years of in-house payroll and benefits experience

Experience managing multi-state payroll, including hourly employees, tips, and variable compensation

Strong understanding of California wage and hour laws

End-to-end payroll processing, including off-cycle runs and adjustments

Experience administering benefits programs and supporting open enrollment

Solid understanding of payroll and benefits related laws - wages and hour, leave of absence, and ACA 

Experience working in a fast-paced or high-growth environment, with the ability to adapt as processes and priorities evolve

Strong attention to detail and accuracy in handling sensitive and time-sensitive data

Strong communication skills with a proactive, high-touch approach to supporting employees

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent 

Experience working closely with Finance or supporting payroll-related reporting and reconciliations

Experience with HRIS and payroll systems (Paylocity or similar)

Experience supporting benefits audits, billing reconciliation, or vendor coordination

Familiarity with workers’ compensation processes and OSHA recordkeeping

Experience tracking and managing compliance deadlines or working from a compliance calendar

Proven ability to operate independently with a high degree of ownership and accountability

Demonstrated ability to identify issues, problem solve, and move work forward without waiting for direction

$90,000–$100,000 per year

The final offer will be based on several factors, including experience, skills, and overall expertise

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Healthcare coverage: up to 90% company contribution for employees and 25% for dependents

Voluntary vision, dental, and accidental plans

401(k) with up to 4% company match

12 weeks of paid Equal Parental Leave, $500 Baby Bonding Bucks, and a sustainable baby gift

Booch, spirit, and soft good perks

And more!

Our Purpose: To make quality, purpose-driven beverages 

Our Business: Our vision is to create the next-generation beverage platform, comprising distinct brands, each with its own ethos and purpose. Despite being a multi-billion dollar industry, it lacks options that cater to the next generation of drinkers who will demand more from their alcohol than a mere buzz. Disrupting this industry is a worthy, and massive opportunity. 

Our Culture: Our core values are Quality, Transparency, and Team-First. We derive much of our management policy from a book we give you upon hiring, ‘Let My People Go Surfing', by Yvon Chouinard (founder, owner, Patagonia). Our policy is to allow workers flexible hours, provided the work gets done with no negative impact on others. Our ‘let my people go surfing’ policy demands that we hire very unique individuals; those with a combination of self-motivation, self-discipline, and energy. 

You must reside in the United States to be considered for this position.

This role supports multiple beverage brands within the JuneShine Brands portfolio, including alcohol and hemp-derived THC beverages.

All Juneshine Brands products are intended for adults 21+.