Payroll, Benefits - HR Operations Specialist

HR Operations & Payroll/Benefits Specialist (Contract)

Location: Irvine, CA (Hybrid)

Schedule: Onsite Monday through Thursday

Duration: 2-3 Month Contract (Potential Extension)

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced HR Operations & Payroll Specialist to provide hands-on support across payroll, benefits administration, HR operations, compliance, and HRIS reporting. This individual will play a key role in ensuring payroll accuracy, maintaining employee data integrity, supporting benefits administration, and delivering critical reporting and analytics in a fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate is highly analytical, detail-oriented, and comfortable working with large volumes of employee data while supporting payroll and HR operations functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Support full-cycle payroll processing and payroll administration activities
• Assist with payroll audits, reconciliations, and compliance-related reporting
• Maintain employee records and perform mass employee data updates within HRIS platforms
• Administer and support employee benefits programs, including benefits changes and reconciliations
• Support 401(k) administration and related reporting
• Manage employee lifecycle transactions, including hires, transfers, status changes, and terminations
• Generate and analyze HR and payroll reports to support business needs
• Ensure data accuracy across HRIS and payroll systems
• Partner with HR, Payroll, Benefits, and Finance teams to resolve employee and system-related issues
• Assist with compliance initiatives, audits, and documentation requirements
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and increased operational efficiency

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in HR Operations, Payroll, Benefits Administration, or HRIS support
• Experience supporting full-cycle payroll processing
• Strong understanding of payroll compliance and employee records management
• HRIS experience required; Oracle HCM and/or ADP experience strongly preferred
• Experience performing data audits, reconciliations, and reporting
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-volume environment
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills

Technical Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including:
• Pivot Tables
• VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP
• Data validation and reconciliation
• Reporting and analytics
• HRIS reporting and data management experience
• Experience supporting mass employee data updates and HR system maintenance

Preferred Qualifications

• Oracle HCM experience
• ADP Workforce Now or similar payroll platform experience
• Benefits administration experience
• 401(k) administration experience
• Experience supporting commission, incentive, or sales compensation programs
• Experience with HRIS system integrations and reporting
• Prior experience in a consultant or contract-based HR/Payroll support role

Ideal Candidate

This role is ideal for a hands-on HR Operations professional who enjoys working at the intersection of payroll, benefits, HR systems, reporting, and compliance. The successful candidate will be analytical, resourceful, and able to quickly contribute in a dynamic environment while supporting critical HR and payroll functions.

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.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals 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 applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact HR@vaco.com .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

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. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you 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.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

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 and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, 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. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

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; and

· 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 and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).