Making Waves Academy

Payroll and Accounting Specialist

Richmond, CA - Full Time

Compensation: $87,875 – $95,000 / year (Based on Experience) + Full Benefits

Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Year-Round

Location: Richmond, CA (On-Site)

Job Function: Finance & Business Operations

When you join Making Waves Academy (MWA), you’re joining a team dedicated to moving the world forward.

Making Waves Academy (MWA) is seeking a meticulous Payroll & Accounting Specialist to manage our end-to-end bi-weekly payroll operations for 160+ team members while supporting core Accounts Payable and general ledger accounting. Reporting to the Business Office, this role is critical to maintaining payroll accuracy, employee satisfaction, and clean financial records.

What You’ll Be Doing

  • End-to-End Payroll Execution: Independently prepare and process bi-weekly payroll for 160+ faculty and staff using UKG. Verify timesheets, process stipends, garnishments, and teacher summer hold-backs in full compliance with CA wage and hour laws.
  • Retirement & Benefits Administration: Manage monthly CalSTRS retirement reporting and reconciliations. Handle employee benefit plan enrollments, tracking, and contribution remittances.
  • Accounts Payable & GL Support: Process vendor invoices, manage employee reimbursements, and post payroll journal entries to Sage Intacct.
  • Account Reconciliations: Clear payroll-related balance sheet accounts (FSA, life insurance) and support routine month-end accruals.
  • HR & Operations Collaboration: Partner closely with People Operations to maintain clean employee data and generate functional reporting (leave balances, overtime, headcount).

What We’re Looking For

  • Experience: 3+ years of direct experience running full-cycle California payroll for 150+ employees.
  • Technical Skills: 1–2 years of hands-on General Ledger and AP experience (Sage Intacct and UKG experience strongly preferred). Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables).
  • Compliance Knowledge: Deep understanding of CA labor laws (overtime, meal breaks, final pay timing) and familiarity with CalSTRS or public school retirement reporting.
  • Education: High School Diploma or GED required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Business preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Making Waves Academy is an equal opportunity employer. We afford equal advancement and employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, gender identity, gender expression, sex, religious creed, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

Apply: Payroll and Accounting Specialist
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