Benefits and Payroll Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY 

We are seeking an experienced Benefits & Payroll Specialist to serve as the subject matter expert in the Human Resources Department. With a minimum of five (5) years of experience, this position will oversee the full lifecycle of payroll processing and benefits administration and will ensure accuracy, compliance, and a seamless employee experience, acting as the primary point of contact for all compensation and benefits inquiries.

This role is a part-time position, reporting to the Human Resources Director, with a required 2-3 days onsite per week, varying on business needs and payroll processing schedules.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Payroll Administration (End-to-End)

• Full-Cycle Processing: Process semi-monthly payroll for 150+ employees, ensuring accurate calculation of wages, tax withholdings, and deductions.
• Data Integrity: Review time and attendance data, verifying hours worked, overtime, and time-off balances prior to processing and conduct regular payroll audits to ensure accuracy and resolve any discrepancies immediately.
• Tax & Compliance: Assist in the quarterly and year-end payroll tax filing requirements (W-2s) and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax laws (FLSA, wage & hour laws).

Benefits Management

• Plan Administration: Administer all employee benefit programs in HRIS system, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Supplemental Insurance plans and 403(b) retirement plans.
• Open Enrollment: Assist in the annual Open Enrollment process, including system configuration and data transmission (EDI feeds) to vendors.
• Leave of Absence: Assist in the documentation and tracking of all leave requests, including FMLA, ADA, STD/LTD, and other leaves.
• Reconciliations: Monthly reconciliation of benefit invoices against payroll deductions to ensure financial accuracy.

HR Functions & Reporting

• Onboarding & Offboarding: Manage the payroll and benefits responsibilities of new hire enrollments and termination processing (COBRA, final pay).
• HRIS Management: Maintain the HRIS/Payroll system, ensuring data accuracy and generating custom reports for Finance and HR 
• Employee Support: Assist in complex employee questions regarding pay stubs, tax changes, and benefit plan coverage.

• Special Projects as assigned by the CFO/COO and Director of Human Resources as needed. The Autry reserves the right to add or change duties at any time

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience:

• Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in combined payroll and benefits administration.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Certifications: CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist) highly desirable. PHR or SHRM-CP certification preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Strong technical expertise with HRIS and Payroll software (e.g., ADP Workforce Now, Paycom, or Workday). 
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables). 
• Strong working knowledge of federal and state regulations, including ERISA, ACA, FLSA, FMLA, and COBRA. 
• Exceptional attention to detail, high level of confidentiality, and the ability to explain complex tax/benefit concepts to employees clearly.

WORKING CONDITIONS 

Standard office environment with long periods of computer-related work. Requires physical mobility and strength for lifting, carrying, bending, and setting up for staff events.  Extended work hours as needed.