HR Benefit & Payroll Specialist

Maplewood Senior Living•Westport, CT

72d•$70,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

The HR Benefit & Payroll Specialist role at Maplewood Senior Living is responsible for administering various HR functions including benefits, payroll, leave, workers' compensation, and HRIS. This position supports accurate and timely processing of payroll, manages employee benefits throughout their lifecycle, coordinates leave and workers' compensation claims, and maintains HR data integrity. The specialist will also provide support to associates, troubleshoot system discrepancies, and contribute to process improvement initiatives within the HR department.

Requirements

2–5 years of experience in benefits administration, payroll, leave administration, workers’ compensation, or a related HR operations role.
Hands-on experience supporting payroll processing and employee benefits administration.
Experience with HRIS and payroll systems.
Strong analytical skills and the ability to investigate issues, identify root causes, and recommend practical solutions.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Strong Microsoft Excel skills and comfort working with reports and employee data.
Clear, professional communication skills and a customer-focused approach to associate support.
The ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
A proactive mindset, a commitment to continuous improvement, and the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with others.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with FMLA, state leave requirements, workers’ compensation processes, and related documentation is preferred.
UKG experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Administer medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary benefit programs.
Manage benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, coverage changes, and terminations.
Reconcile monthly benefit invoices and resolve discrepancies with vendors.
Support Affordable Care Act (ACA) tracking, compliance, and reporting.
Coordinate annual Open Enrollment activities.
Audit benefit elections, payroll deductions, eligibility, and HRIS data.
Respond to associate questions regarding benefits, payroll, and claims.
Process court-ordered benefit garnishments.
Support accurate, timely weekly and biweekly payroll processing.
Review employee changes, benefit deductions, taxes, garnishments, and payroll adjustments.
Analyze payroll reports, identify discrepancies, and resolve issues.
Prepare payroll, PTO accrual, and month-end reports.
Process payroll deductions and vendor payment files.
Ensure final pay is issued in accordance with state wage payment requirements.
Monitor payroll processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
Coordinate leave administration, including FMLA and other company-approved leaves.
Track leave requests, eligibility, documentation, deadlines, and return-to-work dates.
Communicate leave requirements and status updates to associates and HR partners.
Partner with associates, managers, HR, and benefits providers to support the leave process.
Oversee workers’ compensation claim coordination, including incident documentation and claim submissions.
Monitor claim status and support the coordination of work restrictions and return-to-work arrangements.
Maintain accurate records and reporting for leave and workers' compensation compliance.
Identify recurring issues and opportunities to improve leave and workers’ compensation processes.
Maintain accurate employee and employment-related data in UKG Pro and related HR systems.
Research and troubleshoot HRIS, payroll, benefits, and system integration discrepancies.
Manage UKG Pro Learning assignments and completion tracking.
Monitor and respond to inquiries through shared HR mailboxes.
Support audits, employment verifications, compliance reporting, and special HR projects.
Develop training materials, process guides, and standard operating procedures.
Partner with HR and cross-functional teams to streamline workflows and improve the associate experience.