Human Resources Assistant

The Opportunity: HR and Benefits Assistant (Flexible Hybrid in SF Bay Area)

The HR and Benefits Assistant provides administrative support to the Human Resources Department, assisting the Director of Human Resources, Benefits Manager, HR Generalist, and HR/Payroll Specialist with benefits administration, invoice processing, payroll processing, employee onboarding, recordkeeping, and general HR operations.

This position is based in San Francisco, CA but may be a flexible hybrid position working remotely and in the office. Working in the office will be required three days per week.

The Day-to-Day:

Recordkeeping and Reporting: Assists the Human Resources Department with recordkeeping and reporting activities, including:

• Enters and updates employee data in the HRIS and other designated systems.
• Maintains electronic personnel files, benefits records, and other HR documents in an organized and confidential manner.
• Prepares routine HR reports, including headcount, turnover, and personnel activity reports.
• Prepares ad hoc reports for the HR Department and other departments as requested.
• Assists with employment verifications and related requests for information.
• Helps prepare EEOC, OSHA, and other government compliance reports.
• Assists with filing, tracking, and quality-checking HR records and reports.
• Assists with gathering information for survey submissions and special projects.

Benefits Administration Support: Assists the Benefits Manager with benefits administration activities, including:

• Assists the Benefits Manager with enrollment processing for health and welfare plans.
• Maintains benefits records in the HRIS; distributes benefits communications, forms, and notices.
• Assists employees with routine questions regarding benefits eligibility, enrollment, coverage, and deadlines; escalates complex issues as appropriate.
• Assists with the preparation and distribution of initial and qualifying-event COBRA notices and related documentation.
• Assists with the preparation and distribution of Leave of Absence memos and related forms and notices.
• Assists with the preparation of materials, tracking, and updates for annual Open Enrollment.
• Reviews and reconciles benefits invoices against enrollment records and routes discrepancies or payment requests for follow-up.
• Assists with tracking benefits enrollment changes and outstanding employee documentation.

Payroll Support: Assists the HR/Payroll Specialist and HR Generalist with payroll support activities, including:

• Follows up on missing, incomplete, or inconsistent Timesheet information.
• Prepares Payroll Action Forms and related supporting documentation for payroll processing.
• Responds to routine payroll inquiries and routes complex questions to the HR/Payroll Specialist.
• Provides backup to the HR/Payroll Specialist as assigned, including payroll and related reports.

Retirement Plan Support: Assists the Benefits Manager and HR/Payroll Specialist with retirement plan administration, including:

• Assists with preparing 401(k) deferral funding and loan repayment documentation.
• Assists with preparing schedules, spreadsheets, and other materials for the annual retirement plan audit.
• Assists with new-loan confirmation including verification of receipt of loan

Onboarding and Offboarding Support: Assists the HR Generalist with onboarding and offboarding activities, including:

• Prepares offer letters and assembles onboarding packets for new employees.
• Coordinates background checks and tracks completion of pre-employment requirements.
• Schedules orientation sessions and assembles orientation materials.
• Prepares new hire paperwork and assists with collecting required employment documents.
• Maintains onboarding checklists and follows up on outstanding items.
• Processes termination checklists and assembles offboarding documentation.

HR Events and Wellness Programs:

• Assists with logistics and coordination for HR-sponsored and Firmwide events.
• Assists with coordination of employee volunteer programs.
• Supports wellness programs, including scheduling presentations, tracking participation, and coordinating wellness challenges.
• Assists with charitable matching initiatives, including collecting pledges and processing related payments.
  
  

General Administrative Support:

• Proofreads communication pieces.
• Assists the department in improving processes and efficiency.

Works Cooperatively and Collaboratively with Others: Strives to meet deadlines. Assists with special projects as assigned. Works cooperatively with attorneys and staff in the firm.

Other: Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required. Associate’s degree or coursework in human resources, business administration, or related field preferred.

Experience: A minimum of one year of administrative or office support experience required. Prior experience in a human resources department or professional services environment desirable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with intermediate Excel skills.
• Strong basic math skills.
• Accurate touch-typing at a net speed of at least 40 words per minute.
• Strong organizational skills and impeccable attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Demonstrated use of correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity.
• Ability to work effectively within a team and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Strong time management skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to learn and effectively use HRIS.
• Customer-service orientation and a professional, responsive approach to assisting employees and colleagues.

What We Provide:
Farella supports all the members of our Farella family in achieving both personal satisfaction and professional accomplishment. Farella provides competitive salary and excellent benefits including comprehensive, medical, dental, vision, generous PTO, educational reimbursement and charitable contribution matching. The annual base compensation range for this California position is expected to be between $70,000 and $75,000. Placement within the salary range depends upon a number of factors including years of experience, professional skills required for this role, and location. Additional compensation may include a discretionary bonus, health and welfare benefits, PTO, leave, paid holidays and retirement plan benefits.

At Farella, we recognize that the contributions, individuality and diversity of all of our professionals are key to the firm’s success and meeting the needs of our clients. And like our clients, we value attributes such as enthusiasm, character, and high ethical standards. In fact, these are core qualities in all the individuals who come to work with us—and in all those with whom you will work! The longevity of those in all positions at the firm speaks to the warm, collegial, professional and rewarding environment at the firm. Farella has for many years been named one of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times / Silicon Valley Business Journal, and placed #2 in our size category this year. We ranked the #4 Best Midsize Law Firm to Work For in the United States by Vault.

Who We Are:
Farella Braun + Martel is a leading Northern California law firm representing corporate and private clients in sophisticated business transactions and complex commercial, civil and criminal litigation. Clients seek our imaginative legal solutions and the dynamism and intellectual creativity of our lawyers. We are headquartered in San Francisco and maintain an office in the Napa Valley that is focused on the wine industry.

Farella’s commitment to supporting the industries of Northern California and our entrepreneurial responsiveness to the regional demands, have driven our growth and evolution. Nimbleness and opportunistic management have propelled our success through 60 years. From trial prowess in high-stakes litigation to utility-scale renewable energy project development and complex transactional expertise, Farella’s clients rely on and appreciate our fierce focus on client service and high quality work. Farella has successfully fused the quality, experience and resources of large firms with the relationship, flexibility and personal attention associated with a mid-sized firm.

Commitment to Diversity, Equality + Inclusion
We strive to ensure that everyone working at Farella feels like they belong. To that end, our recruiting, retention and practice development programs welcome, support and promote the interests of women, families and people of all ethnicities and sexual orientations. At Farella, we are committed to diversity, both as an ethical ideal and as a business imperative.

Recognition
Farella has received industry and peer recognition equal to any firm in the country. Our attorneys include fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers, American College of Appellate Lawyers, American College of Environmental Lawyers, American College of Coverage Counsel, College of Labor & Employment Lawyers, and American College of Investment Counsel. Farella has been named among Law360’s California Powerhouses, featured on the National Law Journal’s Midsize Hot List.

Green Business
In 2006, Farella was the first major law firm in San Francisco to obtain certification as a green business by the San Francisco Green Business Program, recognizing the firm for meeting the program’s stringent environmental standards. We received our fourth Green Business certification in 2020.

Farella is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, change of sex or transgender status, genetic information or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Farella is an Equal Opportunity Employer