Sr. HR Generalist- Payroll

Job Description

Job Description

The Role: AVP, Sr. HR Generalist

The Location: Brea, California

Make a Difference Where It Matters Most

At CalPrivate Bank, we believe banking is personal. We have deep roots in the communities we serve, and our client relationships are built on genuine care, thoughtful problem-solving, and unwavering integrity. Our solutions-based service, paired with best-in-class talent, sets us apart in the market, but it’s trust that defines who we are. It's our gold standard, the currency we trade in, and the foundation of every decision we make.



We’re looking for leaders who want more than a title. We’re looking for team players who want to make an impact. If you're driven to lead with purpose, ready to shape the future and have meaningful impact at a relationship-centered bank, CalPrivate Bank may be the place for you.

Your Opportunity: Sr. HR Generalist

The Senior Human Resources Generalist plays an important role in delivering a thoughtful, responsive, and high-touch employee experience across CalPrivate Bank. As a trusted resource to employees and leaders, this position supports the full employee lifecycle, from onboarding and day-to-day employee relations through employee transitions and offboarding, while helping ensure HR practices are consistent, compliant, and reflective of the Bank’s culture and values.

This role requires an experienced HR professional who combines sound judgment and strong relationship skills with exceptional operational discipline. The Senior HR Generalist will also serve as a knowledgeable payroll resource and primary function owner, managing the payroll function ensuring continuity, accuracy, and timely execution. The ideal candidate will bring meaningful hands-on payroll experience, preferably within ADP Workforce Now, along with an understanding of payroll controls, confidentiality, regulatory requirements, and California wage-and-hour practices.

Beyond executing core HR responsibilities, the Senior HR Generalist is expected to be a solutions-oriented partner who anticipates needs, identifies opportunities to strengthen processes, and provides employees and leaders with a high level of service. This individual will contribute directly to CalPrivate Bank’s ability to welcome, support, engage, and retain exceptional people while reinforcing a culture built around Relationships, Solutions, and Trust.

What You’ll Do

Payroll Support & Administration

• Own the payroll process to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll administration.
• Partner with the payroll lead and HR team to review employee changes, compensation adjustments, deductions, bonuses, commissions, benefits, and other payroll-related transactions.
• Serve as a knowledgeable payroll resource, managing payroll processing to support business continuity and timely execution.
• Leverage strong payroll knowledge to identify discrepancies, research issues, and support timely resolution of employee payroll questions.
• Maintain accurate payroll-related employee data and documentation within ADP Workforce Now, with prior ADP Workforce Now experience strongly preferred.
• Own payroll reconciliations, reporting, audits, documentation, and internal controls.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Benefits, and other internal partners to ensure information impacting payroll is communicated and processed accurately.
• Maintain working knowledge of federal and California wage-and-hour requirements and payroll practices to support compliant payroll administration.

Employee Relations & HR Partnership

• Serve as a trusted HR resource for employees and managers regarding workplace questions, policies, procedures, performance matters, and employee relations concerns.
• Provide thoughtful and consistent guidance while balancing the employee experience, business needs, company policies, and applicable employment laws.
• Support employee relations matters, including documentation, coaching, performance management, corrective action, and workplace investigations as appropriate.
• Partner with HR leadership and managers to proactively identify and address employee concerns and workplace issues.
• Provide guidance to managers regarding effective employee communication, documentation, performance expectations, and HR best practices.
• Maintain a high degree of confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive employee matters.

Onboarding & Employee Experience

• Coordinate and facilitate a seamless onboarding experience for new employees from pre-employment through their initial integration into the Bank.
• Ensure new-hire documentation, payroll information, system entries, employment eligibility documentation, and required acknowledgments are completed accurately and timely.
• Partner across departments to ensure new employees have the information, resources, access, and support necessary for a successful start.
• Provide employees with a knowledgeable and accessible HR resource throughout the onboarding process.
• Help create a welcoming experience that introduces new employees to CalPrivate Bank’s culture, expectations, values, and service philosophy.

Offboarding & Employee Transitions

• Coordinate employee separations, including voluntary resignations, involuntary terminations, and other employment transitions.
• Ensure final payroll information, required documentation, benefit notifications, system updates, and internal communications are completed accurately and within required timelines.
• Facilitate exit interviews and identify meaningful themes or trends that may help strengthen the employee experience, engagement, and retention.
• Process employee changes, including promotions, transfers, compensation adjustments, reporting changes, and other personnel actions.
• Coordinate with appropriate internal partners to ensure employee transitions are handled professionally, respectfully, and consistently.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Maintain accurate employee records and HRIS data while ensuring appropriate confidentiality and document retention.
• Support HR audits, reporting, compliance requirements, and internal controls.
• Assist with benefits administration, leave coordination, policy administration, and employee inquiries.
• Help ensure HR practices and documentation remain consistent with applicable federal and California employment requirements.
• Identify opportunities to streamline HR processes, strengthen controls, and improve the employee and manager experience.
• Support HR projects, organizational initiatives, employee engagement activities, and culture programs as needed.

Facilities & Office Administration

• Support day-to-day facilities and administrative needs, including order and maintaining office supplies and coordinating general office requests.
• Coordinate new-hire access requirements for employees in the LA and Montecito markets including the creation of key cards, photo ID badges, and elevator access credentials.
• Manage and distribute incoming mail for the Brea office, ensuring timely and appropriate handling of correspondence.
• Coordinate employee ergonomic assessment requests, partnering with appropriate vendors and internal teams to support a safe, comfortable and productive work environment.
• Identify opportunities to streamline HR processes, strengthen controls, and improve the employee and manager experience.
• Support HR projects, organizational initiatives, employee engagement activities, and culture programs as needed.

AML/CFT/Compliance Responsibilities

This position includes direct or indirect interaction with customers and other employees and therefore includes responsibilities relating to BSA/AML. The employee will have opportunity to examine and view information and documents produced by other employees of the Bank relating to BSA and therefore has the obligation to report suspicious activity to the BSA Officer as appropriate. The employee is responsible for understanding and following the Bank’s BSA/AML policies including elevating suspicious activity to the BSA Officer. Additionally, the employee is required to understand and follow the Bank’s compliance program BSA/AML policies including elevating suspicious activity to the BSA Officer. Additionally, the employee is required to understand and follow the Bank’s compliance program.

Who You Are

Experience & Expertise

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related discipline preferred.
• 5-7+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, including meaningful responsibility for employee relations and HR operations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting employee relations, onboarding, offboarding, performance management, and general HR administration.
• Strong hands-on payroll knowledge and experience, with the ability to effectively serve as a backup payroll resource.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of federal and California employment and wage-and-hour requirements.
• Experience working within banking, financial services, or another highly regulated environment preferred.
• Experience with benefits administration, HRIS systems, employee records, and HR compliance.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or payroll-related certification is a

Mindset & Values

• You lead with accountability, integrity, and consistency.
• You thrive in a collaborative environment where transparency and follow-through matter.
• You model professionalism, calm under pressure, and a solutions-oriented mindset.