Payroll and Benefits Manager

WLRC Inc•Milford Mill, MD

15d

About The Position

Under the direction of the Chief People Officer the Payroll and Benefits Manager will be responsible for managing the company's payroll process and administering employee benefits programs. This role requires a high level of accuracy, confidentiality, and the ability to handle sensitive information. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of payroll systems and benefits administration, along with excellent communication and problem-solving skills. This role is critical in ensuring seamless payroll processing and benefits administration across multiple states, maintaining compliance, reporting and analyzing relevant data, and providing support to employees. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of accuracy and efficiency and compliance knowledge to prohibit violations and penalties. This position requires in depth knowledge of, interpretation, and application on a wide variety of statutes, codes, policies, and procedures related to payroll and benefits. This position counsels employees on payroll and benefit inquiries, manages facilitation of payments and benefits during leave and leaves of absence; interprets pay and provisions affecting all employee types. The benefits administrator position is responsible for directing and planning the day-to-day operations of group benefits programs (group health, dental, vision, varying ancillaries’ coverage lines, HSA, retirement, etc.). The administrator continually monitors, reviews, accepts and processes enrollments and terminations in compliance with policy and performs routine audits. This position provides excellent customer service and partners with broker and vendors alike to design quality benefits plans. This role requires the ability to maintain compliance across multiple states and partnership with leadership to create ongoing improvements of existing programs and processes. This Payroll and Benefits Manager ensures accurate and timely payment of wages and benefits processing, compliance with union requirements, and adherence to all federal, state, and local regulations. The candidate must also have the ability to relate and empathize with employees with benefits or payroll concerns, while simultaneously providing clear concise explanation to employees at a level the employee can relate to yet is accurate and firm, and if an error is present acting swiftly to no only correct the error, but provide in coordination with the CPO or CFO, an immediate bridge for the employee in case of significant error, or perceived significance by the employee.

Requirements

3 or more years of progressive payroll and benefit administration experience
Working knowledge of medical/dental/vision, FSA/HSA, life/AD&D, disability, EAP, and COBRA (via vendor); familiarity with ACA and HIPAA privacy.
Experience with multi entity and multi state payroll processing
Strong Excel skills
Strong knowledge of payroll tax, wage and hour law, benefit compliance
HRIS experience (ADP, Paycom, Paylocity, UKG, etc)
18 years old or older at the time of hire
Graduation From High School or equivalent
Pass a pre-employment drug screen, and all subsequent random or for cause drug screening.
Ability to lift at least 25 lbs
Ability to perform prolonged periods of working at a computer with capability to sit or stand as needed
Ability to flex hours as needed for payroll cycle processing days and open enrollment
Ability to pass a pre-employment background check.
Ability to read, speak, and write English.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing 1,000, or more, mixed exempt and non-exempt employee payroll
Experience with facilitating union requirements
Experience with ADP and/or Traumasoft

Responsibilities

Process the end-to-end payroll for all union and non-union employees, ensuring timely and accurate payment.
Maintain up to date knowledge of regulatory requirements state laws, for multiple states in which payroll and benefits are administered
Ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements, including wage scales, overtime rules, and other contractual obligations.
Process garnishments, child support orders, and IRS withholding requirements
Collaborate with finance and accounting teams for general ledger (GL) entries.
Responds to, addresses, and resolves employee inquiries related to matters of payroll
Identifies opportunities for improvement where applicable when necessary
Develops processes, policies, and procedures relevant to payroll maintenance and processing
Maintain and update employee records related to payroll and benefits within HRIS systems.
Partner with senior leadership, IT, and operations to implement intended applications of bonuses and wage structures.
Configures and adapts systems between payroll software and time and attendance software.
Completes reconciliations for employee benefit billings, SUI, State Paid Family Leave, FMLA, 401(k), ESPP, etc.
Manage year-end processes including W-2 and state filings.
Ensure accurate quarter and year end processing including federal, state and local tax reconciliations (941, W-2, L&I, PFML, ESD etc.).
Prepare and submit required reports and filings, such as tax forms, benefit plan reports, and union-specific documentation.
Administer benefit plans and maintain current knowledge of regulatory requirements and multi-state laws, industry standards, and benchmarks.
Thorough knowledge of federal (ERISA, IRS, DOL, COBRA) and State regulations that apply to Health & Welfare Benefits & Pension Plans; including qualified and non-qualified plans
Support ERISA/Section 125 administration, SBCs/SMMs/SPDs distribution, HIPAA privacy practices, and ACA reporting data quality (1094/1095).
Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, multi-state laws and with all other applicable government regulations
Ensure timeliness and accuracy of required reporting, fees, and dissemination of information to the appropriate parties
Completes routine benefit reconciliation of invoicing, system information, and all other necessary audits to ensure accuracy
Provide insightful benefit communications to encourage plan participation and utilizations that increase employee welfare and promote health
Maintains impactful partnership with brokers and vendors to facilitate benefits administration
Coordinate daily benefits processing within systems to manage enrollments and terminations of all benefit plans offered (new hire, rehire, qualifying life events, medical support orders, terminations)