Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Position summary

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist will maintain the information and review routines needed for dependable payroll. Reporting to the Financial Controller, you will coordinate approved compensation changes, time records and payroll-provider inputs, then reconcile the resulting reports. You will work with People & Culture to keep employment records consistent and employee questions moving toward resolution.

Benefit responsibilities concern the administration of programs the company has approved and put in place. You will coordinate enrollment records, provider files and employee communications without making independent coverage or policy decisions. This is a detail-focused position requiring discretion, a reliable calendar and a willingness to investigate discrepancies before a processing deadline.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a payroll calendar and collect approved time, compensation and employment-status changes before each cutoff.
• Prepare payroll inputs and review provider calculations, exceptions and control totals for authorized sign-off.
• Reconcile payroll reports to accounting entries and investigate differences with the Controller.
• Coordinate employee enrollment and change records for benefit programs that are in place.
• Reconcile provider invoices and eligibility files with approved employee records.
• Answer administrative payroll and benefit questions, escalating coverage, policy or legal interpretation to the appropriate specialist.
• Maintain restricted payroll records and follow approved retention and access procedures.
• Support year-end reporting and provider requests with complete, reviewed supporting information.

Required qualifications

• Experience processing payroll or coordinating payroll with an external provider.
• Understanding of gross-to-net payroll records, deductions and payroll reconciliation techniques.
• Ability to manage recurring deadlines and verify approved changes accurately.
• Experience handling sensitive employee information with appropriate access controls.
• Clear communication and practical experience using payroll systems and spreadsheets.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience administering benefit enrollment records and reconciling provider invoices.
• Familiarity with payroll activity involving more than one employment location.
• Payroll certification or experience supporting a payroll-system migration.

Measures of success

• Payroll inputs are complete, reviewed and submitted within the approved schedule.
• Payroll and benefit records reconcile to the relevant accounting and employee records.
• Employee questions receive accurate administrative guidance and appropriate escalation.
• Sensitive records remain accessible only to authorized colleagues.

First 90 days

Review the current payroll setup, approved compensation data and provider responsibilities with Finance and People & Culture. Map submission and review deadlines, document recurring exceptions and reconcile opening payroll balances. Complete supervised processing cycles, then take ownership of the checklist and identify any gaps in employee change or benefit-provider handoffs.

Compensation

Proposed annual base salary of $65,000–$90,000 USD. The final offer will reflect relevant experience, qualifications and the agreed scope of the position, subject to approval. This range covers base pay only; any incentive compensation or benefits would be specified separately in an employment offer.

What to include in your application

Describe your payroll processing responsibilities and a discrepancy you identified before submission. Explain your review process without including employee or compensation records.