Payroll and Benefits Specialist.

Job Summary  

Essential Job Functions 

• Enter and review of the weekly, bi-weekly or monthly payroll time data, employee maintenance, tax information, direct deposit, new hire and terminated employee processing.  
• Review and import hours from time and attendance system, entering tax and direct deposit information, administering regulatory requirements, e.g., garnishments, tax levies, and support orders, and other adjustments to pay as necessary.  
• Implement and maintain payroll best practices to improve efficiency and consult with human resources team to improve payroll and HRIS processes.  
• Audit payroll data entry, employee status changes to ensure accuracy prior to payroll execution. 
• Manage Benefits, to include orientation, timely enrollment/termination, and auditing/approving monthly invoices. 
• Coordinate with Human Resource Department on the timely and accurate updating of employee changes.  
• Coordinate with Department Supervisors/Managers to ensure timely and accurate reporting of hours to be paid.  
• Manage interfaces between applicable systems of record 
• Ensure timely and accurate administration of employee garnishments, ensuring proper withholding and remittance to appropriate agencies.  
• Prepare and issue manual checks as required.  
• Prepare required monthly, quarterly and annual reports   
• Execute and audit outbound interfaces to be sent to third party vendors.  
• Write and run reports as required using Reporting functionality.  
• Strong understanding of Federal and State laws as they relate to both income tax withholding and labor regulations.  
• Administer all employee benefit programs including enrollments and terminations.   
• Coordinates and conducts the new employee on boarding process and presents benefits presentations to ensure employees gain an understanding of benefit plans and enrollment provisions.  
• Fulfills all governmental regulatory mandates and ensures filings are performed as required.  
• Plans and administers annual open enrollment period. This includes preparation (or revision) and distribution of materials, conducting meetings to communicate changes to employees, arranging for on-site representation by providers, and processing changes within deadlines.   
• Plans, conducts and reports results of audits to ensure all enrollments are accurate and that dependent information is correct for each employee and works closely with Accounting for quarterly and year end audits (payroll, benefits, 401k, etc.).  
• Addresses benefit inquiries to ensure timely and accurate resolutions. Maintains contact with employees and beneficiaries to facilitate proper and complete utilization of benefits for all employees.   
• Resolves discrepancies with carriers and payroll.   
• Coordinate with third party administrator to manage disability claims according to the plan.  
• Administers COBRA enrollments/changes and responds to and manages unemployment claims   
• Other duties as assigned 

Requirements & Preferences 

• Associate’s Degree in Accounting or Business related field, or equivalent experience in payroll and benefits department preferred 
• 2 - 5 years of related multi-state payroll experience utilizing payroll applications 
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal  
• Excellent time management, organizational, and follow-through skills.   
• Has shown ability to respond quickly and accurately to requests for data, ability to provide excellent customer service a must.  
• Ability to respect, protect and maintain highly confidential information  
• Ability to work independently, or with little supervision 
• Experience working with Microsoft Dynamics GP is preferred