HR Companies & HR Consultants in Kailua Kona, HI

The HRB Group is a payroll, human resources and benefits firm headquartered in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii Island. Since it opened its Kona office in 2010, the company has grown from a payroll provider into a broader back-office partner for employers. It runs separate service lines under the names HRB Payroll, HRB Benefits and HRB Accounting. Its clients range from small owner-operated businesses to medium and larger organizations, and its published testimonials come largely from Kona-area employers.

Payroll and HR outsourcing options

The firm does not sell a single package. Instead it offers three levels of engagement, so employers can match support to their needs and avoid paying for services they will not use:

• Professional Employer Organization (PEO) services, built on a co-employment arrangement in which the firm takes on the administrative employer role
• Administrative Services Organization (ASO) services for companies that want HR administration without co-employment
• Stand-alone payroll processing for businesses that do not need HR support

Clients who add HR support can hand off a range of tasks. These include drafting employee handbooks, writing workplace policies and procedures, handling terminations and managing staff day to day. The company also helps clients with regulatory compliance, workplace safety, workers' compensation, hiring and reducing staff turnover. Its stated goal is to lower legal exposure for owners and give them more time to run their businesses.

Benefits, insurance and accounting

Through HRB Benefits, the firm arranges employee benefit options intended to help employers attract and keep qualified staff, and it also provides business insurance coverage. HRB Accounting handles bookkeeping and general accounting for companies of varying sizes. It assigns a dedicated team to each client and looks at finances as a whole, with the aim of improving cash flow. The firm also lists employment and marketing services among its offerings.

A notable feature is bilingual support. Services and written materials are available in both English and Spanish, and the website has a dedicated section for Latino business owners. Prospective clients can request a complimentary one-hour review of their payroll and HR setup before choosing a plan.

Leadership and team

The company is led by CEO Jesus Menendez, who spent 22 years in hospitality management before joining the business, including roles with large hotel and timeshare operators. Wes Garnett serves as Director of Human Resources and holds bachelor's and master's degrees, the latter in education.

Paula Leong, the Payroll Manager, is responsible for payroll, payables and the firm's internal financial reports. Yvanna Menendez works alongside her as a Payroll Specialist. The firm says it asks clients for feedback regularly and uses it to refine its services and staff training.

For employers comparing HR providers in Hawaii, The HRB Group combines PEO, ASO and payroll-only plans with benefits, insurance and accounting in one firm. It also offers Spanish-language service and has a local office on the Big Island.