ABOUT US
Headquartered in Castroville, California near Monterey Bay, Ocean Mist Farms is one of California’s leading growers of premium quality produce. We have an affiliation with seven companies with operations in California, Arizona and Mexico. Founded in 1924, we are privately held, the largest producer of artichokes in North America and produce over 30 other fresh vegetable commodities. Our operations include plant breeding, farming, harvesting, cooling, distribution and sales. Ocean Mist Farms’ fresh vegetable product line is sold domestically and internationally year-round.
Our talent is the foundation of our success for the first 90 years and will be for the next 90 years and beyond. We have approximately 1,100 field, sales, shipping and administrative employees supporting our year-round operations. The majority of our workforce is bilingual. We are proud of our team, heritage and reputation for being a preferred employer.
All great teams have equally talented leadership. Here at Ocean Mist Farms, we are fortunate to have a cohesive and talented executive management team, most of whom are life-long agriculturists; all are outstanding business people.
If this sounds like the kind of team you are searching for and you are a self-motivated consensus builder, have a positive attitude and the skill set and experience that align with our needs and culture; we want to hear from you!
THE TALENT WE LOOK FOR
The Payroll Manager is responsible for supporting and maintaining the Company’s payroll in a timely, compliant, and precise manner; will provide special guidance and assistance to all locations on various payroll-related matters. This opportunity is available full-time, year-round, Monday – Friday, with occasional call-in, Saturdays & holidays as required. Travel may be required to our remote facilities and surrounding areas. This role reports to the Director of Strategic Planning and Human Resources located in Castroville, CA.
The ideal candidate is bilingual; with the ability to communicate, read & write in English / Spanish proficiently. A high school diploma or equivalent is required; college level accounting and business courses are highly desired; continuing education in accounting and other job related areas may be required. An American Payroll Association (APA) Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) will be highly regarded.
The qualified candidate will be an effective advocate and, at all times, maintain a professional image that supports the Company’s values, image and goals. A strong work ethic, unsurpassed integrity, confidentiality, punctuality, and job dedication is essential to be successful in this position. In addition, the incumbent is expected to provide excellent customer service to employees of all levels of the organization.
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to converse & comprehend English & Spanish is highly desired;
- Working knowledge of ADP and Famous software; prior agricultural industry experience is highly desirable; strong analytical and accounting skills with a minimum of 5 years direct payroll processing; and a minimum of 5 years of general and payroll accounting experience; must be familiar with California payroll regulations and payroll law;
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of applications (Word, PowerPoint, Project, and Visio); web-based applications and database capabilities is highly desired; however, advanced knowledge of Excel is required;
- Some experience managing vendors and/or project management skills preferred. This position requires excellent team participation skills and a self-motivated individual.
- Valid class “C” California Driver’s license is required and must be insurable; possess or ability to obtain a valid passport for international unrestricted travel to Mexico is highly desired;
- Office equipment to be used (not inclusive list): Telephone, computer keyboard, 10-key calculator by touch, scanner, fax, photocopy machine and other clerical and office equipment;
- Majority of time spent working in an office environment often sitting, standing, walking, talking, kneeling, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. Vision abilities required by this job close vision and the ability to adjust focus; turning, reaching, climbing stairs, operating computers and other physical activities related to the office environment for long periods of time; the noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet;
- Ability to travel to office, cooler and various domestic and international locations to meet with employees, clients and vendors; ability to stoop, reach, and walk and other physical activities associated with an office environment; ability to lift and carry 30 pounds to, from and within worksite without undue physical exertion;
- Requires sufficient sight and hearing to perform all duties; strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to communicate verbally and comprehend verbal instructions; ability to carry out defined procedures and duties with specific instructions; ability to work both independently and manage a project from its initiation to completion with minimal supervision; ability to learn new duties with minimal repetition; and work in a cross-cultural environment; ability to maintain effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, customers and peers.
All of our jobs include broad responsibilities for continually improving the processes we use to grow and ship our top quality products. This job description is intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by employees in this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all the job responsibilities.
Payroll Administration
- Process and enter payroll documentation & data which affect the employee’s check;
- Process timesheets and review data entry input into ADP EZ-Labor to ensure accuracy and timely completion;
- Transmit bi-weekly payroll and generate appropriate compliance reports; review and “preview of payroll” prior to the final transmittal to ensure 100% accuracy;
- Track various accruals (i.e. sick time, bereavement, floating holiday, vacation); prepare monthly sick and vacation accrual report;
- Maintain payroll files; maintain employee loan report; process wage garnishments; prepare new hire report; respond to unemployment insurance claims;
- Respond to payroll-related government correspondence in a timely fashion;
- Review Quarterly Tax Reports for accuracy; review and process with payroll service all W-2’s forms for accuracy and distribution;
- Audit payroll service provider invoices for accuracy; prepare and input General Ledger entries each pay period;
- Keep current on payroll regulatory compliance and update affiliates on new requirements; notify information technology department and affiliates of new federal and state compliance updates to ensure company-wide payroll systems are updated.
Retirement Plan Administration
- Retirement plan administration, (i.e., perform on-boarding, enter employee information, assist employees, terminations; loan assistance);
- Prepare 401(k) report and wire transfer request form;
- Coordinate and assist outside auditors in annual 401(k) audits;
- Prepare Profit Sharing loan payback report and wire transfer request form;
- Calculate monthly employer matching contribution;
- Complete mandated reports for governmental regulatory agencies;
- Calculate annual profit sharing contribution;
- Assists affiliates with 401(k) and profit sharing plans.
Workers’ Compensation Administration
- Monthly: Prepare workers’ compensation report and related general ledger entries;
- Annual audit: prepare audit documents and work with outside auditor.
Additional Responsibilities
- Annually: prepare payroll and benefits budget for department managers; payroll summary by department for annual wage reviews; annual vacation accrual entry for fiscal year end;
- Monthly: Preparation, reconciliation, process payments and maintain accounting for insurance bills and benefits claims;
- Annually: Prepare annual benefit statements for Ocean Mist Farms’ employees;
- The Company’s Leadership Development Program administrative coordinator.
