Job Title: Compliance Analyst
Department: HR & Payroll
Reporting: Sr. Director, Human Resources & Payroll Complaince
Location: Salinas, CA
Compensation: $25+ DOE
SUMMARY
The Compliance Analyst is responsible for analyzing, auditing, and processing payroll across multiple operating entities to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timeliness across all pay cycles. This role combines hands-on payroll processing with in-depth data analysis, timekeeping system administration, benefits invoice auditing, and ownership of payroll-related process improvements and system rollouts. The Compliance Analyst partners with Human Resources, Finance, and Operations leadership to deliver actionable insights on labor costs, hours, and workforce trends, and builds effective internal and external client relationships across the organization.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Supports and oversees payroll processing for multiple operating entities, ensuring data accuracy, proper validation of inputs, and timely resolution of exceptions across all pay cycles, including ag-specific pay structures such as piece-rate earnings.
- Analyzes payroll data and generates standard and ad-hoc reports on labor costs, overtime, headcount, and hours by crew, department, and ranch to support operations and finance decision-making.
- Protects payroll operations and employee data by maintaining strict confidentiality and adhering to internal controls and data security standards.
- Applies thorough knowledge of federal, state (particularly California), and local wage and hour laws, including ag-specific overtime, meal/rest period, sick leave, and piece-rate compensation rules, to ensure ongoing compliance.
- Audits and validates employee payroll records for exemptions, insurance, deductions, paid time off, status, and pay changes; analyzes accrual balances and resolves discrepancies.
- Identifies trends, inefficiencies, and root causes in payroll processes; recommends and implements system enhancements, automation opportunities, and process improvements to increase accuracy and productivity.
- Prepares weekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end payroll reports; performs variance analysis against budgets and prior periods; investigates discrepancies and implements corrective actions.
- Reviews and validates payroll runs prior to release, including time records, earnings calculations, deductions, and net pay, ensuring accuracy and integrity before disbursement.
- Reconciles payroll accounts to the general ledger; audits payroll registers, tax filings, and benefit deductions; identifies, researches, and resolves discrepancies.
- Determines and analyzes payroll liabilities including federal and state income tax, social security, 401(k) contributions, direct deposits, wage assignments, and garnishments; ensures accurate and timely remittance.
- Oversees wage garnishment administration, ensuring required documentation, withholdings, and reporting are completed accurately and on time, and coordinating with collection agencies and internal stakeholders as needed.
- Supports internal and external audits, year-end W-2 processing, and regulatory filings by compiling, analyzing, and validating payroll data and documentation.
- Leads payroll system implementations, conversions, and rollouts, including importing employees, building profiles, configuring system setup, testing, and validating data integrity for new and existing operating entities.
- Administers timekeeping systems and time clocks, including device setup, employee assignments, troubleshooting, and ensuring accurate flow of time data into payroll.
- Audits and reconciles benefits invoices across multiple carriers (e.g., medical, dental, vision, ancillary, and union trusts), validating enrollment, deductions, and billed amounts, and resolving discrepancies with carriers and brokers.
- Develops, documents, and owns standardized payroll and benefits-audit processes and frameworks; serves as a subject matter expert and cross-trains team members to ensure coverage and continuity.
- Proactively communicates project status, risks, delays, and operational impacts to leadership and stakeholders; escalates roadblocks early through appropriate channels to ensure timely alignment and decision-making.
- Takes ownership of assigned projects and responsibilities from initiation through completion; maintains momentum and follow-through when challenges arise and works through roadblocks to keep deliverables on track.
- Conduct and maintain system verification audits within the HRIS, ensuring records are complete, accurate
- Perform scheduled and ad hoc compliance audits of payroll and HR data, identifying errors or discrepancies, documenting findings, and recommending corrective action.
- Compile, verify, and reconcile data in support of internal reviews, external audits, and regulatory and annual reporting requirements.
- Performs other duties as assigned
REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field required
- Minimum of two (2) years of payroll experience within the agriculture industry required
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel required (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, complex formulas, data analysis)
- Valid California Driver License
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present payroll data and findings to non-payroll stakeholders
- Excellent time management, customer service and interpersonal skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret large data sets, identify patterns, and draw actionable conclusions
- Aptitude for learning and supporting payroll, timekeeping, and HRIS systems, including involvement in implementations, testing, and ongoing administration; prior experience with ADP and UKG preferred
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and operating entities simultaneously and remain effective during periods of increased workload or limited team coverage
- Demonstrated proactive communication and escalation skills, including the ability to surface risks, delays, and operational impacts early and keep leadership informed of status, blockers, and decisions
- Strong reliability, dependability, and follow-through, with the discipline to sustain momentum on long-running projects, work through challenges, and consistently deliver on commitments
- High attention to detail with the ability to work under deadlines, manage multiple pay cycles, and produce thorough, accurate work
Church Brothers Farms is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
Pay: From $25.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
