HR, Payroll & Benefits Generalist

This position is on-site and can be based in any of the following locations: Santa Cruz (Headquarters), Watsonville, Monterey or Salinas. 

If you’re looking for an exciting career opportunity, you’re in the right place.

West Coast Community Bank is a top-rated community bank with a focus on serving the banking needs of businesses and individuals along the Central Coast, in Silicon Valley and throughout the Bay Area. We operate full-service branches in Aptos, Capitola, Cupertino, King City, Monterey, Salinas, San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville.

Delivery of relationship-based service with a solutions-driven focus sets us apart from the competition. We offer direct access to decision-makers combined with modern banking technologies and digital tools. The Bank is a leading SBA lender in Santa Cruz County and Silicon Valley and a top USDA lender in the state of California.

Since opening in 2004, we have proudly upheld our commitment to support regional well-being by actively participating in and donating to local nonprofit organizations. We engage in impactful volunteerism and support the greater economic vitality within our four-county reach, contributing more than 2,000 hours of volunteering annually.

Our success is driven by our exceptional team — experienced, knowledgeable and focused on delivering results!

National, regional and local honors we’ve received include:

• Newsweek – America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2025
• American Banker Magazine – Top 100 Best Performing Community Banks in the U.S., 10 years
• Good Times – Readers’ Poll, Best Bank in Santa Cruz County, 13 years
• Santa Cruz Sentinel – Readers’ Choice, Best Bank in Santa Cruz County, 10 years
• Farm Bureau of Santa Cruz County and Agri-Culture – Al Smith Friend of Agriculture Award
• Second Harvest Food Bank – Big Step and Platinum Awards for Holiday Food and Fund Drive
• Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce – Business of the Year 2025, 2021 and 2018
• The Pajaronian – Best of the Pajaro Valley 2024 Readers’ Poll, Best Bank
• The Press Banner – The Best of Scotts Valley 2024 Readers’ Poll, Best Local Bank

About the Role

The HR, Payroll & Benefits Generalist supports a 200+ employee, multi-branch community bank by independently managing payroll, benefits administration, leave of absence programs, regulatory reporting, and benefits-related invoice reconciliation. This role serves as a primary HR contact for employee questions related to pay, benefits, policies, and general HR inquiries while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficient HR operations.

Essential Responsibilities

Payroll

• Process semimonthly payroll accurately and on time for all employees.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws.
• Maintain accurate payroll data and support Finance with payroll reporting, audits, and GL reconciliation.
• Maintain data integrity in Paylocity or comparable HRIS/payroll systems.

Benefits Administration

• Administer health, welfare, and retirement benefits, including new hire enrollments, life events, open enrollment, and terminations.
• Provide timely support for employee questions on medical, dental, vision, life/disability, and 401(k) plans.
• Ensure compliance with COBRA, ACA, Section 125, and other regulatory requirements.

Leave of Absence Management

• Fully manage all employee leaves including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, ADA/FEHA accommodations, disability claims, and workers’ comp coordination.
• Track eligibility, documentation, timelines, and communication to maintain regulatory compliance.

Billing & Invoice Reconciliation

• Reconcile monthly benefit invoices and resolve discrepancies quickly.
• Maintain organized documentation for Finance, audits, and compliance reporting.

Regulatory Reporting

• Prepare and submit all required HR regulatory filings, including EEO-1, ACA, OSHA logs, state pay transparency reports, and other mandated submissions.
• Complete salary surveys and benchmarking reports for industry, compliance, and annual compensation planning.

Employee Support & HR Operations

• Act as a first point of contact for employee questions related to pay, benefits, timekeeping, and HR policies.
• Maintain accurate HRIS data and personnel files.
• Support onboarding and offboarding processes.
• Assist with employee relations documentation and policy interpretation.

HR Process Improvement & AI-Enabled Efficiency

• Identify opportunities to streamline HR workflows using digital tools, automation, and AI-enhanced processes.
• Improve accuracy and efficiency in payroll, benefits, LOA tracking, reporting, and employee communications by leveraging: 
  • AI-assisted document creation and policy updates
  • Automated data validation and error detection in payroll/benefits files
  • AI-powered analytics for compliance reporting and HR metrics
  • Enhanced employee self-service tools and guided support
• Recommend, pilot, and implement process improvements that reduce manual work and increase HR service quality.

Required Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of HR experience with strong hands-on payroll and benefits administration.
• Paylocity experience preferred; experience with other HRIS/payroll systems acceptable.
• Strong invoice reconciliation, analytical, and data accuracy skills.
• Thorough understanding of employment laws, wage & hour rules, and LOA compliance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, Copilot).
• Excellent communication skills and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through.

Core Competencies

• Detail-focused accuracy
• Analytical and reconciliation skills
• Problem-solving and judgment
• Strong communication and employee support
• Ability to manage confidential information
• Organization and time management
• Continuous improvement mindset, including the use of digital and AI tools

Supervisory Responsibility: None. 

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Vacation, sick leave, paid Holidays
• Paid volunteer time
• Employer paid life insurance
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Ongoing training, professional development and career advancement opportunities

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a teammate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate typical office equipment such as a computer, telephone, mouse and keyboard.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.
• Light to moderate lifting may be required.
• Regular, predictable attendance is required; including the occasional evening and weekend work as business demands dictate.
• Travel between company locations as needed.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a teammate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Moderate noise (i.e., business office with computers, phone, and printers, moderate traffic).
• Ability to work in a confined area.
• Ability to sit or stand at a computer terminal for an extended period.