Job Description

Santa Monica Proper Hotel is a luxury boutique property located steps from the iconic Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade. This sophisticated 267-room hotel features distinctive design, world-class dining at Palma and Calabra restaurants, a rooftop pool deck, and exceptional meeting spaces. As part of the renowned Proper Hotels collection, we're committed to delivering personalized service and creating memorable experiences for our guests while fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment for our team members. We are seeking an experienced Payroll Manager with exceptional attention to detail and a proven track record in hospitality payroll operations to join our finance team.

Job Overview

We are seeking a detail-oriented Payroll Manager to oversee all payroll operations for Santa Monica Proper. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely processing of payroll for all hotel employees while maintaining strict compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

 The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in hospitality payroll, strong analytical skills and the ability to manage complex payroll systems in a fast-paced luxury hotel environment. This position requires someone who can work independently, handle confidential information with discretion, and collaborate effectively with HR, finance, and department managers to support our team of over 200 employees across multiple departments including restaurants, housekeeping, front office, and management.

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly payroll for all hotel employees, ensuring accurate calculation of wages, overtime, tips, commissions, and deductions while meeting all deadlines
• Maintain and update payroll systems, including employee data, pay rates, tax withholdings, benefit deductions, and direct deposit information
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations including wage and hour laws, tax requirements, and labor standards specific to hospitality industry
• Prepare and file payroll tax returns, quarterly reports, unemployment claims, and workers' compensation audits while maintaining accurate records for audit purposes
• Collaborate with HR on new hire setup, terminations, leave of absence tracking, and employee status changes affecting payroll
• Reconcile payroll accounts, investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, and respond to employee payroll inquiries in a timely manner
• Generate payroll reports for management including labor cost analysis, overtime tracking, and department-specific payroll summaries
• Coordinate with timekeeping systems to ensure accurate capture of hours worked, breaks, and attendance for all departments
• Manage year-end payroll processes including W-2 preparation, 1099 processing, and annual tax reporting requirements
• Support payroll-related audits and maintain comprehensive documentation for compliance and record-keeping purposes

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• CPA or CMA certification is preferred
• 5+ years of experience in accounting or financial management, with at least 2 years in a managerial role, preferably within the hospitality industry
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, financial reporting, budgeting, and internal controls
• Experience with accounting software, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and Microsoft Excel

Skills/Specialized Knowledge

• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop staff
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a keen attention to detail
• In-depth knowledge of accounting principles, financial analysis, and budgeting processes
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and effectively to non-financial stakeholders
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Knowledge of hospitality industry financial regulations and compliance requirements is a plus
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and accounting software

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit for extended periods of time while working at a desk or computer
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds (e.g., filing documents or office supplies)
• Occasional travel for training, audits, or other business-related activities

Company Overview

Proper Hospitality is a diverse team of passionate individuals who share a common love for hotels and the art of hospitality. Our philosophy is simple: there is a right way to do things, and anything less just isn’t proper. We are seeking the best of the best—both within and outside the industry—to join us in building a new kind of lifestyle hospitality company, inspired by a centuries-old tradition. Our work is challenging and fast-paced, but above all, it is rewarding.

To achieve our vision—to inspire and transport people—we seek like-minded candidates who embody our ethos, The Pillars of Proper:

• Care Proper: We are natural and gracious hosts to all.
• Achieve Proper: We are committed to excellence.
• Imagine Proper: We are resourceful.
• Present Proper: We have an appreciation for style and culture.

Proper Hospitality is an equal-opportunity employer. We provide employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other federally or state-protected category.

We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with local Fair Chance Hiring Ordinances.

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