Payroll and Benefits Administrator

Cardiff

2d•Remote

About The Position

Cardiff, Inc. is seeking a detail-oriented Payroll & Benefits Administrator to own end-to-end payroll operations across our US and Mexico workforce, serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits, and ensure compliance across all states in which we operate. This role is critical to keeping our people paid accurately and on time, supported through their benefits journey, and confident that Cardiff meets its regulatory obligations everywhere we do business. This person will work closely with our benefits provider, King Benefits, and our Mexico payroll and compliance agency, so they won't be navigating carrier issues or Mexico regulatory complexity alone.

Requirements

5+ years of payroll and benefits administration experience, ideally including multi-state and international (Mexico) payroll
Strong knowledge of US payroll tax regulations and multi-state compliance requirements
Familiarity with FMLA, ADA, and state leave law requirements
Experience with payroll platforms (e.g., Rippling or similar) and benefits administration systems
Comfortable working cross-functionally with external vendors and agencies

Nice To Haves

Willingness to learn Mexico payroll processing and labor law in partnership with our Mexico payroll agency is a plus
Excellent communication skills, with comfort presenting to and supporting employees directly
Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus

Responsibilities

Process and administer bi-weekly/semi-monthly payroll for US-based employees, ensuring accuracy in wages, deductions, taxes, and garnishments
Coordinate Mexico payroll processing in partnership with our Mexico payroll agency, ensuring accurate and timely data flow and compliance with local labor and tax requirements
Lead new hire benefits onboarding and orientation sessions, walking employees through plan options, enrollment deadlines, and key terms
Serve as the primary internal point of contact for employee benefits questions (medical, dental, vision, retirement, leave programs), partnering with King Benefits to resolve carrier-level issues
Administer employee medical leave requests, including tracking eligibility and documentation for FMLA, state-specific paid/unpaid leave laws, and short-term disability, and coordinating with payroll to ensure accurate pay and benefits continuation during leave
Serve as a point of contact for employees navigating medical leave, guiding them through the process and required paperwork
Liaise with our Mexico agency to support, questions, and administration for Mexico-based staff
Monitor and maintain compliance with payroll and employment tax requirements across all US states where Cardiff has employees, including multi-state withholding and foreign qualification obligations
Stay current on federal, state, and Mexico regulatory changes affecting payroll and benefits, and update internal processes accordingly
Partner with HR, Finance, and external brokers/vendors on open enrollment, audits, and benefits renewals
Maintain accurate payroll and benefits records and generate reports as needed for leadership and compliance purposes