Payroll and Benefits Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY: We are seeking a detail-oriented and service-focused Payroll and Benefits Specialist to support the accurate and timely administration of the firm's payroll and employee benefit programs. This role will process semimonthly payroll through UKG, maintain payroll and benefits data, coordinate with external vendors, and partner closely with internal teams on payroll funding, invoices, reconciliations, reporting, and audit requests.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, comfortable working with sensitive employee and financial information, and committed to providing accurate and responsive employee support.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Process semimonthly payroll accurately and on schedule.
• Review employee earnings, deductions, benefit elections, reimbursements, paid time off, and payroll changes.
• Process payroll transactions related to new hires, terminations, compensation changes, bonuses, expense reimbursements, and other employee updates.
• Review payroll registers, funding reports, alerts, and exceptions and resolve discrepancies before payroll is finalized.
• Coordinate payroll funding requirements and reporting with Corporate Finance.
• Administer employee benefit programs through UKG, including enrollment changes, qualifying life events, deductions, and terminations.
• Reconcile benefit elections, payroll deductions, vendor invoices, and enrollment records.
• Support annual benefits renewal and open enrollment activities.
• Coordinate retirement-plan deductions, contribution changes, loan repayments, and audit documentation.
• Serve as a day-to-day administrator for payroll and benefits functions within UKG.
• Maintain accurate payroll, tax, direct-deposit, deduction, and benefit information.
• Manage payroll and benefits vendor relationships, invoices, service issues, and related documentation.
• Provide payroll, benefits, and employee data needed for Finance, 401(k) retirement-plan, and other audit requests.
• Respond to employee payroll and benefits questions promptly and professionally.
• Maintain complete, confidential, and audit-ready payroll and benefits records.
• Document payroll and benefits procedures and identify opportunities to improve controls, reporting, and workflows.
• Other administrative duties as assigned by management 

MINIMUM POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Associate degree in human resources, business administration, accounting, finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Three or more years of experience in payroll, benefits administration, HR operations, accounting support, or a related function.
• Hands-on experience processing payroll through an HRIS or payroll platform.
• Experience administering employee benefits and reconciling deductions, invoices, or carrier records.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and the ability to review and reconcile information from multiple sources.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Ability to manage recurring deadlines and resolve discrepancies independently.
• Strong written, verbal, and employee-service skills.
• Ability to handle confidential employee, compensation, tax, banking, and benefits information with discretion.
• Must consent to and have favorable consumer report and background check

OTHER ESSENTIAL CANDIDATE TRAITS:

• Experience using UKG Ready.
• Experience supporting multistate or multi-entity payroll.
• Familiarity with retirement-plan administration, open enrollment, COBRA, ACA reporting, leave administration, and year-end payroll processing.
• Experience in financial services, banking, professional services, or another regulated environment.
• Ability to multi-task, manage several projects at one time, and follow through to completion
• Ability to be proactive and anticipate issues; works quickly and proactively to solve them
• Willingness to learn, expand responsibility