Payroll Specialist

We are looking for a Payroll Specialist to join a school district team in Downey, California on a Long-term Contract basis. This position will play a central role in supporting payroll operations, partnering with cross-functional teams, and helping ensure accurate, compliant pay practices. The ideal candidate brings strong payroll systems knowledge, a detail-focused approach to validation and reporting, and the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.Responsibilities:• Partner with HR, finance, IT, and district stakeholders to gather payroll process needs and translate them into system and operational requirements.• Guide payroll-related system implementation activities, including setup coordination, workflow alignment, and issue resolution throughout the project lifecycle.• Configure payroll functions, perform end-to-end testing, and investigate processing errors to maintain reliable system performance.• Oversee data conversion efforts by reviewing migrated records, reconciling payroll information, and confirming the accuracy of employee and pay data.• Create user guides, reference materials, and training sessions to support payroll staff and other end users in adopting updated processes and tools.• Act as the primary point of contact with external software partners to escalate concerns, track resolutions, and support timely troubleshooting.• Monitor payroll practices for adherence to applicable regulations, district policies, and reporting standards.• Provide ongoing support after implementation by addressing user questions, recommending improvements, and assisting with future payroll system enhancements.