Payroll & Benefits Accounting Specialist

Overview

Payroll and Benefits Accounting personnel prepare, document, and disburse payroll checks, payroll taxes, and benefit payments. They ensure proper setup of employee deductions, garnishments, and union dues. They support fiscal and calendar year-end closing processes. They analyze payroll and benefit information and balance accounts to ensure accurate year-end reporting of W2s and 1099s. They evaluate current systems and develop operating efficiency improvements.

They monitor and ensure proper documentation of employee benefit payments. They may prepare reports illustrating payroll expenditures, including tax payments and benefit plan disbursements. They manage insurance policy applications and payments and work closely with the IRS and Department of Revenue to ensure the company is properly registered to pay taxes in a timely manner. They perform analysis to forecast and budget benefit and payroll expenses.

They work with the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration for reporting on payroll and benefits contract deliverables. They support internal and external audit requests. They ensure the payroll and benefits accounts are monitored and reconciled on a monthly/quarterly basis. They support annual benefits open enrollment. They identify, analyze the cause, and implement controls to minimize and prevent wage and improper over payments.

They work with employees to administer employee benefit eligibility and provide information to active and inactive employees related to benefits plans and options. They perform other duties as assigned.

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field plus at least two years of experience (YOE) in a relevant role, OR Master’s degree in a relevant field. Equivalents to experience and education requirements will be considered.

Three years of experience with working knowledge and experience in Payroll and Benefits Accounting.

• Time and Labor
  • Assist with reviewing payroll coding on initial timesheet data entry approved by the employee’s manager.
  • Complete pay-related calculations on timetables as needed.
• Payroll Processing
  • Process weekly and monthly payrolls with a high degree of accuracy and in compliance with company policies and federal/state regulations.
  • Review and validate payroll data to ensure proper employee set-up and timely wage disbursement.
  • Calculate and enter ad-hoc paylines as needed.
  • Calculate and analyze retro pay and retro benefit situations to ensure they are processed accurately in the payroll.
  • Audit payroll control reports and identify discrepancies. Resolve errors in a timely manner to ensure smooth payroll processing.
• Garnishments and Deductions Administration
  • Set up employee garnishments, such as child support, tax levies, and wage assignments, in the payroll system based on court orders and other documentation.
  • Accurately calculate and deduct garnishments within required timelines.
  • Administer other payroll deductions such as benefits premiums, retirement contributions, union fringe benefits and dues, and voluntary deductions.
• Compliance and Documentation
  • Ensure compliance with payroll tax requirements, state garnishment laws, and legal guidelines related to garnishments and deductions.
  • Assist management with data requests for internal and external audit requests as needed.
• Customer Support
  • Respond to employee inquiries regarding garnishments and deductions.
• Reporting and Reconciliation
  • Prepare and distribute payroll reports related to deductions, garnishments, and payroll costs for internal stakeholders.

Please list additional education requirements here. Please specify whether it is required or preferred.

5 years’ experience with other Payroll Processing System (Required). 5 years’ experience with People Soft HRMS (Preferred).

Ability to communicate and function effectively with colleagues.