Maria Jose Correa
Shafter,CA
Summary
Detail-oriented Payroll and Human Resources professional with experience in payroll processing, benefits administration, employee recruitment, training, and HR support. Proven ability to deliver accurate and timely payroll services while maintaining compliance, confidentiality, and attention to detail. Experienced in supporting smooth transitions across payroll and HRIS platforms, coordinating recruitment and onboarding activities, and fostering positive relationships with employees and management. Strong organizational and communication skills with a commitment to regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and employee satisfaction.
Overview
1
1
Language
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Recruiter Specialist
Ready Work Inc.
Wasco, CA
01.2026 - 09.2026
- Sourced talent through various channels, including LinkedIn and job boards.
- Developed and maintained pipelines of active and passive candidates through LinkedIn, job boards, employee referrals, networking events, and other recruiting channels to ensure a consistent flow of qualified talent.
- Identify qualified candidates based on organizational workforce needs and position requirements.
- Evaluated candidate skills and experiences during interviews.
- Review resumes and applications to assess candidates' qualifications, skills, and experience.
- Conduct phone and virtual interviews and evaluate candidates for alignment with position requirements and organizational needs.
- Coordinated candidate interactions throughout recruitment process.
- Managed candidates throughout recruitment lifecycle, streamlining processes for interview scheduling, offer presentation, onboarding support, and follow-up to enhance candidate experience.
- Tracked recruitment metrics to assess hiring efficiency.
- Tracked recruitment metrics, including time-to-fill and candidate conversion rates, using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to inform strategic recruiting decisions.
- Maintain accurate recruitment records and support compliance with employment laws, company policies, and hiring practices.
- Collaborated with hiring managers to align on staffing requirements.
- Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing needs and develop effective recruiting strategies.
- Coordinate recruitment activities to help deliver qualified candidates in a timely manner.
- Streamlined recruitment processes to enhance candidate sourcing efficiency.
Payroll Specialist
Ready Work Inc.
Bakersfield, CA
02.2025 - 01.2026
- Processed payroll accurately and timely for employees.
- Collected, calculated, verified, and entered payroll data to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Maintained accurate payroll records, including wages, overtime, sick leave, and vacation time.
- Distributed employee paychecks and supported timely payment processing.
- Utilized payroll and accounting software for data entry, recordkeeping, and account management.
- Prepared and maintained payroll reports and documentation to support audit readiness and accurate recordkeeping.
- Maintained organized financial and payroll records while protecting confidential employee information.
- Managed invoicing processes.
- Organized financial and payroll records, safeguarding confidential employee information to uphold privacy standards.
- Processed payroll for over 500 employees, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulations.
Payroll & Benefits Specialist
Skin and Cancer Institute
Bakersfield, CA
10.2023 - 01.2025
- Managed payroll processes
- Processed payroll transactions accurately and according to established payroll schedules, including salaries, benefits, garnishments, taxes, and other deductions.
- Maintained and updated payroll records for new hires, terminations, compensation changes, and employee status updates.
- Prepared and maintained payroll reports and supporting documentation.
- Ensured compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour requirements.
- Supported internal and external audits by providing payroll records and required documentation.
- Identified and implemented improvements in payroll systems, processes, and procedures.
- Coordinated employee benefits
- Coordinated benefit enrollments, eligibility verification, and qualifying life-event changes with insurance carriers.
- Assisted with new-hire orientations and benefits enrollment.
- Responded to employee and management questions regarding benefits, enrollment, eligibility, and plan changes.
- Supported annual open enrollment activities.
- Compiled and analyzed reports on benefits allocation and billing.
- Processed payroll for over 700 employees, ensuring timely and accurate disbursements.
Payroll Specialist
Primex Farms
Wasco, CA
03.2021 - 10.2023
- Processed employee payroll, ensuring accuracy of payroll records and compliance with regulations.
- Collected and verified payroll documentation, including tax forms, banking information, and payment schedules.
- Reviewed and audited employee timesheets for accuracy and compliance.
- Investigated and corrected payroll discrepancies.
- Processed wage garnishments and direct deposit requests.
- Maintained current payroll and employee records consistently.
- Updated payroll and employee data as needed.
- Processed employee onboarding, terminations, and final paychecks.
- Generated Kronos and Excel reports for management meetings, providing insights for operational review.
- Facilitated benefits administration and managed annual open enrollment, supporting employees with enrollment inquiries.
- Managed end-to-end payroll processing using ADP Workforce Now software.
Payroll Clerk
Cal Central Harvesting Inc.
Shafter, CA
07.2017 - 02.2021
- Managed payroll processing and ensured timely and accurate employee compensation.
- Collected and calculated payroll and accounting data to ensure accuracy in employee compensation.
- Maintained payroll records with precision, tracking employee earnings, deductions, and leave balances.
- Oversaw accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, ensuring timely processing and reporting.
- Utilized accounting software for financial recordkeeping and reporting.
- Oversaw Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable functions.
- Prepared invoices and managed billing processes.
- Maintained organized financial documentation and company records.
- Supported day-to-day accounting and financial operations.
- Processed payroll for over 500 employees with high accuracy and attention to detail.
Education
Associate of Arts With Area in Business Admin. - Liberal Arts
Taft College
Taft, CA05-2015
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Pshychology - Art Therapy
Taft College
Taft, CA05-2019
High School Diploma -
John Muir High School
Wasco, CASkills
- Payroll Processing & Administration
- Payroll Auditing & Reconciliation
- Payroll Reporting & Recordkeeping
- Employment Law
- Candidate Records
- Talent Sourcing
- Candidate Screening
- Interview Coordination
- Benefits Administration
- Open Enrollment
- Employee Onboarding & Offboarding
- New-Hire Orientation
- Terminations & Final Paychecks
- Recruitment Software
- ADP
- Paycom
- Kronos
- WorkSight
- QuickBooks
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
- Payroll expertise
- Financial management
- HR services
- Data analysis
- Payroll system transitions
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to accuracy and confidentiality
- Employee relations
- Problem-solving
- Payroll expertise
- Accounts management expertise
- Benefits and onboarding
- HRIS and payroll proficiency
- Payroll system transitions
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Detail-oriented organization
- Proactive problem-solving
- Continuous improvement
- Social Media Recruiting
Languages
Bilingual Communication
Section name
Payroll System Transitions: Experience supporting transitions from Paycom to ADP and from ADP to WorkSight.
Timeline
Recruiter Specialist
Ready Work Inc.
01.2026 - 09.2026
Payroll Specialist
Ready Work Inc.
02.2025 - 01.2026
Payroll & Benefits Specialist
Skin and Cancer Institute
10.2023 - 01.2025
Payroll Specialist
Primex Farms
03.2021 - 10.2023
Payroll Clerk
Cal Central Harvesting Inc.
07.2017 - 02.2021
Associate of Arts With Area in Business Admin. - Liberal Arts
Taft College
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Pshychology - Art Therapy
Taft College
High School Diploma -
John Muir High School