Payroll Specialist

Finding the right place to grow your career isn’t (over) easy, so we’re here to help by sharing a few reasons why the grass is greener at Vital Farms. We think you’ll appreciate our focus on Conscious Capitalism, which drives business decisions that benefit all our stakeholders (leading to even better business results). You might be drawn to our innovative approach and refusal to settle for the “way things have always been done.” Or you could find it exciting to grow your skills while working for an industry-leading brand. Whether you’re into our values, our brand, or our egg-cellent puns, we hope you’ll join our Crew and help us change the world 108 square feet at a time! 

At Vital Farms, we’re proud of the diverse communities we serve and the stakeholders who help bring our purpose to life. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment where every crew member feels valued. We see this as one of our greatest strengths - and your role is key to helping us build on it. 

Your Role:

Reporting to the Vice President, Total Rewards and People Operations, the Payroll Specialist will be a positive, upbeat, “egg-loving” person with the ability to relate to a diverse set of people, communicate clearly and appropriately, and be approachable yet professional. This role is responsible for processing accurate and timely payroll for crew members, maintaining payroll data integrity, partnering with People Operations and Finance on payroll changes and reporting, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour requirements. The Payroll Specialist supports audits and reconciliations, responds to crew questions with professionalism and discretion, and helps continuously improve payroll processes and controls.

What You'll Do:

• Process multi-state, biweekly payroll accurately and on time, including new hires, terminations, job changes, and pay adjustments. 
• Administer payroll changes in the payroll/HRIS system (earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, and direct deposit) and validate data for accuracy.
• Review and audit timesheets, PTO, and leave entries; follow up with People Business partners to resolve discrepancies prior to payroll processing.
• Prepare, reconcile, and submit payroll files (including off-cycle checks) and support month-end/quarter-end/year-end payroll close activities.
• Partner with Finance to reconcile payroll registers to the general ledger, support variance analysis, and maintain strong payroll controls.
• Support payroll tax processes (setups/updates, notices, and reconciliations) and collaborate with vendors to ensure timely and accurate filings.
• Respond to crew payroll questions (pay statements, taxes, deductions, timekeeping, and leave impacts) with confidentiality and excellent customer service.
• Ensure payroll practices comply with applicable wage and hour laws and internal policies; help maintain SOX-ready documentation and audit trails.
• Create and maintain payroll procedures, checklists, and training resources; identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve accuracy.
• Generate routine and ad hoc payroll reports to support Finance and People Operations (headcount, labor costs, deductions, and audit support).
• Act like an owner and assist with payroll and shared services projects as assigned.

What You Bring to the Table:

•  3+ years of end-to-end, multi-state payroll processing experience (multi-location a plus).
• Strong knowledge of payroll laws and confidentiality/controls best practices.
• Hands-on payroll tax support (garnishments, W-2s, agency notices) with a payroll provider.
• Proficient with payroll/timekeeping/HRIS tools (e.g., UKG, ADP, Workday, Paycom) and quick to learn new systems.
• Advanced Excel skills (lookups, pivot tables) and comfort with large datasets/reconciliations.
• 10-20% travel is required for meetings, company trainings, and events.
• Exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to work independently and navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced environment. 
• You’re no hero – You know the power of teamwork and celebrate the work of others before your own. 
• You give a sh*t – You believe in acting like an owner and making Vital Farms a place to be proud of. 
• You raise the standards – You know growth can be hard, but you strive to improve yourself and others each day. 
• You can walk in someone else’s boots – You seek to understand other’s viewpoints and think that you get to better answers by sitting on the same side of the table. 
• You don’t walk on eggshells – You’re not afraid to leave the bullsh*t behind and have honest conversations. 
• We recognize that talent comes in many forms. Even if you don’t meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may have strengths we haven’t yet considered! 

What We Bring to the Table:

• A fast-paced, energetic, remote environment with passionate people who are leading a movement to bring ethically produced food to the table.
• Competitive pay and benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, and Paid Parental Leave, just to name a few).
• Generous retirement contributions: 401(k) + 3% Contribution from Day 1.
• Free eggs and butter (yes, really!), along with friends and family discounts. 
• Fun team SWAG that will make you the talk of the town.
• Professional development opportunities and an amazing team dedicated to your growth.