Payroll and Benefits Specialist

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist is responsible for owning the full payroll cycle and benefits administration process for a growing organization of approximately 100 employees. This position ensures accurate and timely payroll processing, maintains employee records, administers a self-funded health plan and ancillary benefits, and serves as the primary point of contact for employee payroll and benefits inquiries. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, maintains strict confidentiality, and has experience managing payroll and benefits in a fast-paced environment.

• Own the end-to-end payroll process for all employees from data collection through payroll completion.
• Process payroll accurately and on schedule, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Review and audit payroll for accuracy, including earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, bonuses, commissions, PTO, and reimbursements.
• Enter and maintain employee payroll data, including new hires, status changes, compensation changes, direct deposit updates, tax elections, and terminations.
• Process off-cycle payrolls and manual adjustments as needed.
• Reconcile payroll reports and resolve discrepancies prior to payroll processing.
• Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate payroll with Finance to ensure accurate reporting and reconciliations.
• Manage payroll compliance, including wage garnishments, tax notices, unemployment requests, and employment verifications.
• Support year-end payroll activities including W-2 preparation and reconciliation.

• Administer all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA/HSA, and retirement plans.
• Manage a self-funded health plan in partnership with third-party administrators, stop-loss carriers, and benefit vendors.
• Process benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, changes, and terminations.
• Conduct benefit orientations for new hires.
• Ensure timely employee enrollment and accurate payroll deductions.
• Audit monthly benefit invoices and reconcile eligibility files.
• Maintain eligibility records and ensure compliance with plan requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits questions and issue resolution.
• Coordinate annual Open Enrollment, including employee communications and system updates.
• Assist with ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and other benefit-related compliance requirements.
• Support annual reporting requirements such as RxDC, PCORI, and other employer health plan filings as applicable.

• Maintain accurate employee records within HRIS and payroll systems.
• Process personnel changes, including promotions, transfers, compensation updates, and organizational changes.
• Ensure data integrity across payroll, HRIS, benefits, and timekeeping systems.
• Perform regular audits to ensure data accuracy and compliance.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and employment laws.
• Maintain confidentiality of payroll, compensation, and employee information.
• Assist with internal and external audits.
• Maintain knowledge of changing payroll and benefits regulations.

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of payroll and benefits administration experience.
• Experience independently processing full-cycle payroll.
• Experience administering employer-sponsored benefits, including self-funded medical plans.
• Strong understanding of payroll taxes, wage and hour laws, garnishments, and benefit deductions.
• Experience with HRIS and payroll systems (UKG Ready, Paylocity, Rippling).
• Experience with benefit administration platforms
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.

• Experience with multi-state payroll processing.
• Experience working with self-funded medical plans, third-party administrators (TPAs), and stop-loss carriers.
• Experience supporting audits and employer health plan compliance reporting.
• Familiarity with retirement plan administration and 401(k) compliance.

• Ability to remain seated and work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to travel occasionally for meetings or training if required.