Payroll Manager

Location: San Diego County, CA (On-site)
Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt

Soapy Joe’s is a growing, membership-based car wash company with 30+ sites throughout San Diego County, and we’re looking for a highly experienced Payroll Manager to lead the accuracy, compliance, and efficiency of our payroll operations.

This role is responsible for full-cycle payroll across a multi-location, hourly workforce with commissions, tips, and bonuses. The Payroll Manager also serves as our in-house expert on all payroll-related systems, audits, and legal requirements, helping drive improvements across HR and Finance.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll System Management

• Serve as system administrator for payroll-related modules in Paylocity (including timekeeping, payroll, GL, time off, org structure, and reporting)
  
• Maintain accurate employee records, including for ACA and EEO reporting
  
• Develop and train end users on system best practices
  
• Act as backup administrator for additional HRIS modules (benefits, onboarding, recruiting, performance, etc.)
  

Payroll Processing & Compliance

• Process payroll on a semi-monthly schedule across multiple locations
  
• Audit and process timecards, status changes, deductions, and liabilities
  
• Ensure payroll accuracy for hourly, tipped, and commissioned employees
  
• Issue manual and termination checks in compliance with San Diego County and California laws
  
• Oversee payroll-related components of mergers and acquisitions
  

Audits & Reporting

• Lead regular audits and reconciliations for payroll accuracy and legal compliance
  
• Monitor areas including earnings/deduction codes, time off, taxes, overtime, premium pay, benefit feeds, and more
  
• Reconcile tax reports to the GL; prepare ACA, W2, 941s, and workers comp reporting
  
• Establish 2nd and 3rd level payroll approval processes
  
• Track and report payroll errors, wage/hour violations, and overtime issues to leadership
  

Training & Process Innovation

• Partner with field managers to train on timekeeping and payroll best practices
  
• Identify process improvements and implement scalable payroll strategies
  
• Stay current on changes in wage & hour laws, taxation, and compliance standards
  
• Build and improve payroll procedures to support company growth

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
  
• 8–10 years of payroll and accounting experience
  
• Experience with California payroll, including commissions, tips, and bonuses
  
• Advanced Paylocity system administrator experience
  
• High proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, etc.)
  
• Deep knowledge of employment law, wage & hour regulations, and state/federal tax reporting
  

Preferred:

• Experience supporting multi-location operations in hospitality, retail, or service environments
  
• Familiarity with payroll-related system integration and HRIS self-service platforms