Payroll & Benefits Manager
$50 - $58/hr
Mid
Bachelor's
California, USA
RemoteMust reside in California. Occasional travel and onsite support may be required.
People & HRCompensation & Benefits
About the job
Requirements
- A bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university, or at least 3–5 years of payroll and benefits management experience, ideally in a fast-paced, multi-state environment.
- Experience with benefits administration and human resources information system and payroll systems is required.
- Deep knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including wage and hour rules and garnishments.
- Strong understanding of payroll and benefits workflows and best practices.
- Strong proficiency in Excel and Google Suite.
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet strict deadlines.
- Ability to learn new systems and adapt to evolving processes.
- The role requires strict adherence to privacy and data security policies when accessing confidential payroll, benefits, and employee data.
- The role requires frequent collaboration via email, chat, and video conferencing across a dispersed workforce.
- The role may require occasional travel for training or onsite support and occasional time onsite in production facilities where food allergens may be present.
- The role requires prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer, lifting up to 15 pounds at times, communicating clearly by phone, video, and in person, using hands to handle, type, or feel and reaching with hands and arms, and may require occasional standing, bending, or walking to file or retrieve materials.
Responsibilities
- Process accurate and timely biweekly payroll for approximately 400 employees across multiple states and entities.
- Ensure correct calculation and entry of all pay types, including overtime, sick and vacation pay, bonuses, retroactive adjustments, reimbursements, and commissions.
- Manage the timesheet approval workflow and partner with leaders to ensure compliance with deadlines.
- Calculate and process off-cycle payments in compliance with California labor law.
- Serve as the internal payroll expert by interpreting payroll policies and guiding employees and leaders.
- Respond to payroll-related employee inquiries promptly and professionally.
- Prepare payroll-related reports for HR, Finance, Accounting, and other internal and external stakeholders.
- Oversee benefits eligibility, enrollments, changes, and terminations, ensuring timely and accurate updates across HRIS and carrier systems.
- Support employee questions about medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, 401(k), and other benefits programs.
- Lead Open Enrollment as the HR lead and project manager, including communication planning, system updates, and auditing.
- Reconcile benefit invoices and resolve discrepancies in partnership with Finance.
- Ensure benefits data accuracy in payroll, including deductions, arrears, and retroactive corrections.
- Partner with HR to maintain accurate, audit-ready HRIS data for job changes, wage updates, new hires, and terminations.
- Run regular and ad hoc audits to align HRIS, payroll, and benefits systems.
- Support system enhancements, automation opportunities, and new integrations.
- Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour, and benefits regulations across multiple states.
- Manage garnishment orders, wage verifications, and government inquiries.
- Maintain internal payroll standard operating procedures and audit documentation.
- Support internal and external audits, including 401(k), workers' compensation, and financial audits.
- Oversee accurate tracking and pay alignment for leaves of absence, including FMLA, CFRA, PDL, workers' compensation, and ADA-related accommodations.
- Partner with internal and external stakeholders to ensure accurate pay and benefit continuation during leaves.
- Work with HR, Accounts Payable, Finance, and Accounting to align payroll data, general ledger mapping, and financial reporting needs.
- Provide payroll and benefits insights for budgeting, forecasting, and compliance initiatives.
- Cross-train and serve as backup for key People Operations workflows as needed.
- Identify opportunities to streamline payroll and benefits processes and recommend and implement best practices for a growing, multi-state organization.
- Participate in People Operations projects and support broader culture and employee experience initiatives.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience supporting a workforce of approximately 300–500 employees is strongly preferred.
- UKG or large-scale HRIS experience is a plus.
About the company
Kiva Confections makes cannabis-infused edibles, including chocolates and gummies, with precisely measured THC and CBD dosages. Their products are designed to deliver consistent effects by using premium ingredients and careful dosing, produced in Oakland, California. Unlike many competitors, Kiva emphasizes quality control and reliable dosing to build consumer trust. The company’s goal is to be a leading, trusted brand in cannabis edibles by offering safe, accurately dosed treats and expanding its distribution.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Early VC
Total Funding
$12.3M
Headquarters
Oakland, California
Founded
2010
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- August 2026 merger creates a larger cannabis distribution platform under Arun Kurichety.
- Kiva expanded retail availability into CA, AZ, NV, IL, OH, MI, HI, MA, OK, NY, NJ, CT, MO, NM, FL.
- Fatburger ketchup and Garden Society partnerships keep Kiva culturally visible and retail-relevant.
What critics are saying
- Federal cannabis illegality exposes Kiva to trademark fights and regulatory enforcement.
- Kiva Health Brands’ KIVA trademark case directly attacks Kiva’s brand ownership and legality.
- Federal illegality blocks national trademark protection, threatening Kiva’s brand moat and long-term exit value.
What makes Kiva Confections unique
- Kiva’s Camino gummies now deliver in Texas, Georgia, and 20+ states in 2026.
- Kiva Sales & Service merged with Petalfast, widening distribution reach across California and beyond.
- Kiva still owns premium, precisely dosed edibles credibility across chocolates, gummies, and partnerships.
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