US Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Leader in the food industry seeking Payroll & Benefits Administrator with expertise in US wage & hour laws. AMAZING benefits package available!

This Jobot Job is hosted by: Gabriel Ozuna
Are you a fit? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Quick Apply" button and sending us your resume.
Salary: $30 - $33 per hour

A bit about us:

We are a leading manufacturer of fresh and frozen premium food products and we supply a deep network of clients throughout the US across a wide range of industries.

Why join us?

Our mission has always been to lead with a people-first approach. Everything we do as an organization is centered around improving the lives of our employees and delivering the highest quality and service to our clients.

We're ready for more great people to join us who share our passion for innovation, diversity, inclusion and quality!

• Top industry pay
• 401(k) with Match
• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, STD/LTD
• Generous PTO & Paid Holidays: Up to 13 days PTO + 9 paid holidays in your first year
• Career Growth Opportunities: Strong focus on training and advancement

Job Details

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist owns the end-to-end payroll processing and benefits administration for our U.S. workforce utilizing our HRIS (UKG Pro) and time keeping portal (UKG Work Force Management/WFM). Reporting to the Senior Human Resources Generalist, this role serves as a vital operational bridge between HR, Finance, and our employees.
In this capacity, the Payroll & Benefits Specialist will:

• Deliver accurate, timely, and fully compliant multi-state payroll processing, tax remittances, benefit deductions, and 401(k) plan operations across all U.S. locations.
• Safeguard the financial well-being of our workforce and the compliance of the organization by maintaining "audit-ready" records, streamlining UKG workflows, and ensuring a seamless pay and benefits experience from onboarding to year-end reporting.
• Partner closely with Finance on payroll funding and journal entries, support managers and employees with daily WFM timekeeping, and collaborate with our Canadian Payroll & Benefits counterpart for cross-border backup coverage.

Major Responsibilities
Payroll Processing & Compliance o Process multi-jurisdictional payroll with strict accuracy, confidentiality, and compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
o Audit timecards for coding or calculation errors and process salaries, overtime, vacation pay, bonuses, and payroll adjustments.
o Calculate and reconcile statutory tax withholdings, wage garnishments, voluntary deductions, and 401(k) contributions.
o Manage year-end pay cycles, W-2 generation, and new-year rate configurations. o Cross-train with and provide backup coverage for the Payroll & Benefits Specialist in Canada.

Benefits & HRIS Administration
o Manage seamless employee lifecycle transitions in UKG Pro by ensuring new hire data (banking, W-4s) transmit accurately from the onboarding portal, administering benefit enrollments/terminations on Benefits Solver, and configuring new hires in the timekeeping system.
o Manage 401(k) enrollment processes with Equitable and the Broker.
o Ensure accurate entries and deductions are set up in UKG Pro by paygroup and updated annually with new rates, while monitoring plans for accurate billing and payments to providers.
o Set up, configure, and troubleshoot the WFM timekeeping portal and physical UKG facial recognition time clocks.
o Ensure managers have an accurate view of their direct reports across both UKG Pro and WFM and ensure they know how to approve time and pay processes.

Reconciliation, Reporting & Support o Generate accurate payroll analytics, journal entries, and timely reports for Finance, management, and various audits, including monthly workers' compensation reconciliations and annual 401(k) compliance testing.
o Provide professional, confidential, and timely customer service to resolve discrepancies and assist employees with inquiries related to timekeeping, payroll, deductions, direct deposits, and tax forms.
o Keep the Senior Human Resources Generalist up to date on all pertinent matters and perform other related duties as assigned, initiating recommendations to further enhance the company’s recognition as a top employer.

Key Success Measures

• Maintain strict accuracy and confidentiality across all payrolls and payroll-related processes.
• Process all benefits and retirement plans on time with appropriate documentation.
• Complete all weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, submissions, and remittances accurately and on time.
• Ensure employee records remain complete, compliant, and up-to-date.

Qualifications & Considerations for the Position
Core Requirements (Must-Haves)

• College or University graduate, with a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation
• 3 to 5 years’ experience processing U.S. payroll using UKG Pro and Workforce Management (WFM, formerly UKG Dimensions), administering benefits and retirement plans and maintaining a HRIS
• Knowledge of rules and laws which govern the payroll administration practices across all jurisdictions, such as Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), IRS rules for 401k contribution, etc.
• Computer proficiency in MS Office, specifically Outlook and Excel (including formulas, pivot tables, and VLOOKUPs).
• Fluency in English.

Professional Attributes

• Exhibit exceptional attention to detail, math, and problem-solving skills, accompanied by a high degree of accuracy and ownership over your work.
• Execute strong time management, prioritization skills, and strict adherence to deadlines.
• Take initiative as a self-starter, consistently delivering timely, high-quality services to all employees.
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic by handling confidential and sensitive employee data in a discrete, professional manner with the utmost privacy.
• Handle multiple projects and priorities effectively while streamlining existing processes and recommending new, more effective practices or technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building custom reports, extracting data, and generating dashboards using UKG Pro People Analytics (IBM Cognos) or similar business intelligence platforms (e.g., Power BI).
• Prior experience working in a manufacturing and distribution environment.
• Fluency in Spanish is considered an asset.

Interested in hearing more? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Quick Apply" button.

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