Payroll and Benefit Specialist

About Us:

Empire Marketing Strategies has been a leader in delivering exceptional in-store execution for over 40 years, enhancing the customer experience in grocery retail. Operating in all 18 Kroger divisions across the U.S., we partner with some of the world's top brands to optimize their presence in over 2,500 store locations. Our team thrives on tackling diverse challenges in the fast-paced retail industry.

We value dedication, talent, and a passion for excellence.

• Flexible, M-F Work Schedule, 9 Holidays off
• Earn a competitive salary plus 80% employer-covered benefits
• Full-Time Associates:
  Eligible for medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability coverage, a retirement program, mental health support, paid time off, and 9 paid holidays annually.
• Part-Time Associates:
  Eligible for our retirement program and access to mental health support resources
• A dynamic work environment where you’ll make a real impact.

The Payroll and Benefit Specialist owns the end-to-end payroll process and the recurring audit of payroll-related benefit billing for Empire Marketing Strategies. This exempt role is responsible for planning, administering, auditing, reconciling, and improving payroll and benefit billing processes for a high-volume, multi-state employee population. Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, the Payroll and Benefit Specialist exercises discretion and independent judgment in evaluating payroll data, resolving complex pay and deduction discrepancies, interpreting payroll and benefit billing requirements, recommending process improvements, coordinating with payroll providers, benefit vendors, tax agencies, retirement plan administrators, Finance, HR, managers, and employees, and ensuring payroll and benefit billing activities are accurate, timely, compliant, confidential, and well documented.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions:

• Own, administer, and continuously improve the end-to-end payroll process, including payroll governance, controls, processing, auditing, reconciliation, reporting, and compliance support.
• Exercise independent judgment to research, evaluate, and resolve significant payroll, tax garnishment, year-end, deduction, benefit billing, and 401(k) payroll contribution issues.
• Lead recurring benefit deduction and carrier billing audits, partner with internal and external stakeholders, and recommend corrective actions to strengthen payroll accuracy, compliance, vendor billing integrity, and financial controls.

• Payroll Ownership, Administration and Compliance
  • Own and manage the full payroll cycle, including regular and off-cycle payrolls, payroll calendars, payroll inputs, time and attendance review, payroll changes, earnings, deductions, direct deposits, garnishments, special payments, manual adjustments, paid leave, holidays, and other payroll-related items.
  • Independently audit payroll inputs prior to processing, evaluate exceptions, determine appropriate corrective action, and ensure accuracy of hours, rates of pay, paid time off, benefit deductions, tax with holdings, retroactive adjustments, bonuses, commissions, reimbursements, address changes, and other employee data.
  • Evaluate, finalize, and approve employee changes in the HRIS as appropriate for each pay period and partner with HR and Benefits to ensure new hires, terminations, status changes, compensation changes, benefit elections, and leave updates are reflected accurately in payroll and benefits systems.
  • Run, review, validate, reconcile, and approve payroll reports each pay cycle, including gross-to-net calculations, deduction registers, tax reports, payroll funding, general ledger files, exception reports, and other reports needed to confirm payroll accuracy and support business operations.
  • Support multi-state and local payroll tax processes, including withholding setup, tax account maintenance, agency notices, unemployment rates, registrations, tax audits, reconciliations, and coordination with payroll tax providers and government agencies.
  • Process and monitor wage garnishments, child support orders, levies, and other legally required payroll deductions in partnership with the payroll provider and in accordance with applicable requirements.
  • Assist with quarter-end and year-end payroll activities, including W-2 review and distribution, taxable fringe benefits, earnings and deduction reconciliations, tax balancing, and required reporting.
  • Develop, maintain, interpret, and improve payroll procedures, calendars, checklists, audit controls, reporting processes, and documentation while protecting sensitive employee, payroll, and benefits information with strict confidentiality.
• Post-Payroll Reporting and Accounting Support
  • Complete weekly and recurring payroll reporting for leadership review, including Regular Roll-Up Hours, Division YTD Earnings, Supervisor Time Detail, and other required payroll…