New

Payroll Administrator

Vaco
$50.00 - $65.00 / hr
401(k), retirement plan
United States, California, Irvine
Mar 07, 2026
Payroll Administrator (Government) Job Type: Contract (1 year) Location: 100% Onsite - Irvine, CA Compensation: $50-$65/hr. Overview A public sector organization in Irvine is seeking a Payroll Administrator to support in-house payroll processing for approximately 400 employees. The role supports a government payroll environment and requires prior municipal or government payroll experience. Key Responsibilities Process accurate and timely bi-weekly payroll in compliance with federal, state, and agency policies Perform complex payroll calculations including taxes, retro payments, leaves of absence, terminations, voluntary deductions, and adjustments Prepare, maintain, analyze, and reconcile payroll reports and records each pay period Research and assist with implementation of changes required to maintain compliance with state and federal laws and governmental payroll practices Participate in testing and validation for payroll system updates and automation initiatives Respond to and research payroll inquiries from employees, departments, and external agencies Prepare and present payroll reports to internal and external customers Interpret and explain payroll rules, regulations, and policies to ensure compliance Support payroll-related audits by preparing documentation and backup materials Reconcile retirement reporting and payroll general ledger accounts Assign coding for special forms of compensation and deductions Implement wage orders following established procedures and notify affected employees Ensure payroll processing aligns with MOUs, personnel policies, and salary resolutions Prepare and submit payroll-related state and federal filings Provide training and support to payroll team members Perform other related duties as assigned Required Qualifications Government or municipal payroll experience is required Three or more years of in-house payroll processing experience Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, compliance, retirement plan administration, audits, and payroll tax rules Ability to interpret payroll registers and generate reports Advanced reconciliation, recordkeeping, and analytical skills Strong attention to detail with high accuracy in calculations Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and work independently Clear communication skills and a high level of customer service Proficiency with payroll systems and ERP platforms Preferred Qualifications Experience with ERP payroll systems Oracle payroll experience Exposure to Workday or involvement in Oracle-to-Workday conversions College-level coursework in bookkeeping or accounting; associate degree preferred Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products. Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. EEO Notice Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law. Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com . Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal. By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal. Privacy Notice Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies. California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here. Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here. Residents of all other states may access our policies here. Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here. Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here. Pay Transparency Notice Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to: the individual's skill sets, experience and training; licensure and certification requirements; office location and other geographic considerations; other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.