Glass House Brands Inc. · 14 hours ago
Director of Payroll & Benefits
Long Beach, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
8+ years expGlass House Brands Inc. is a California-based cannabis organization seeking a strategic Director of Payroll & Benefits. This role involves providing leadership for payroll and benefits functions, ensuring compliance, and enhancing employee experiences across various operations.
CannabisConsumer GoodsRetail
Responsibilities
Provide leadership oversight of payroll operations across multiple California entities and locations, including cultivation sites, manufacturing facilities, retail stores, and corporate offices
Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing for hourly, salaried, exempt, and non-exempt populations with complex schedules, premiums, tips and wage requirements
Owns end-to-end payroll production and final approval across all populations (corporate, retail, farms, manufacturing), including off-cycle payrolls and terminated employee final pay
Oversees garnishments, tax withholdings, and employee tax configurations to ensure accurate statutory deductions and regulatory compliance
Conducts regular payroll audits (monthly, quarterly, and annual) to validate data accuracy, compliance, and internal controls
Oversees workers’ compensation payroll reporting, audits, and payments, including annual audits and state filings
Maintain strict compliance with California wage and hour laws, including meal and rest periods, overtime, premiums, final pay requirements, and reporting obligations
Establish and maintain strong internal controls, audit readiness, and documented payroll procedures
Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll matters, including corrections, audits, agency inquiries, and legal reviews
Partner closely with Finance on payroll reconciliations, accruals, general ledger alignment, and payroll-related reporting ensuring internal controls and processes support SOX compliance and audit requirements
Lead the administration and governance of all employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, leaves of absence, 401(k) and retirement plans, and wellness offerings
Oversees workers’ compensation and unemployment administration in partnership with Finance, Safety, and external vendors, ensuring accurate reporting, audits, and compliance
Ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, ACA, FMLA, CFRA, state disability programs, and regulatory requirements governing 401(k) plan administration, reporting and fiduciary processes
Partner with VP of HR, CFO, brokers and vendors on plan design, renewals, cost management, and compliance strategy
Oversee open enrollment planning and execution, ensuring clear communication and accessibility for both hourly and salaried employees
Monitor benefits utilization trends and recommend enhancements that balance employee experience with cost control
Own payroll and benefits system strategy, including HRIS, timekeeping, and vendor integrations, with a strong focus on data accuracy and process efficiency
Oversees payroll system configuration, administrative user access, and security controls, including periodic audits of system permissions and internal access
Audits employee payroll records, withholding elections, and system data to ensure integrity, accuracy, and compliance
Develops, maintains, and enforces payroll and benefits SOPs, workflows, and internal control documentation
Leads manager training on timekeeping and payroll systems to improve accuracy, compliance, and accountability across the organization
Troubleshoots payroll system issues and partners with vendors on enhancements, upgrades, and integrations
Lead process improvements to streamline payroll and benefits workflows, reduce manual intervention, and support scale across multiple business units
Partner with HR Operations to ensure seamless payroll and benefits execution across the employee life cycle, including onboarding, transfers, leaves, and terminations
Ensure processes are designed to support high-volume retail and operations populations while maintaining compliance and consistency
Lead, coach, and develop payroll and benefits team members, setting clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards
Reviews payroll teamwork product for accuracy, compliance, and consistency prior to submission and approval
Serves as the subject matter expert on payroll laws, compliance requirements, and payroll system functionality
Create strong cross-functional alignment between Payroll, Benefits, HR Team, HR Operations, and Finance
Build a culture centered on accuracy, ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Identify payroll, benefits, and retirement-plan risks and implement mitigation strategies aligned with regulatory requirements, SOX internal control standards, and fiduciary best practices
Maintain current policies, SOPs, and documentation aligned with evolving regulatory requirements
Oversees year-end payroll processing, including W-2 preparation, tax filings, and regulatory submissions
Provides payroll data and reporting to HR, Safety, Finance, and leadership, including OSHA reporting, employee counts, and total hours worked
Conducts audits of payroll system access, administrative permissions, terminations, and employee data to ensure data security and compliance
Supports internal and external audits by preparing payroll documentation, participating in audit meetings, and responding to payroll-related inquiries
Ensures confidentiality and secure handling of sensitive payroll and benefits information in accordance with regulatory and company standards
Qualification
Required
8+ years of progressive experience in payroll and benefits, including leadership at the manager or director level
Extensive experience with California payroll compliance and wage and hour regulations
Strong expertise in benefits administration, leave management, and regulatory compliance
Experience supporting multi-entity, multi-location operations with large hourly workforces
Proven ability to lead system implementations, process improvements, and cross-functional initiatives
Exceptional attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to operate effectively in a regulated environment
Experience supporting SOX-controlled environments and administering or overseeing 401(k) plans, including audit and compliance requirements
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Life
Disability
Leaves of absence
401(k)
Retirement plans
Wellness offerings
Company
Glass House Brands Inc.
Glass House Brands Inc.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$292.5MKey Investors
WhiteHawk Capital Partners
2025-07-16Post Ipo Equity· $77.5M
2025-03-03Post Ipo Debt· $50M
2023-08-24Post Ipo Equity· $15M
Leadership Team
Kyle Kazan
Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Graham Farrar
President
Recent News
2026-01-20
GlobeNewswire
2025-12-19
New Cannabis Ventures
2025-11-30
Company data provided by crunchbase