Payroll and Benefits Specialist

H & T Nevada LLC•Sparks, NV

11d

About The Position

The Payroll and Benefits Specialist is responsible for accurate, timely, and compliant administration of biweekly payroll, employee benefits, leave management, and related HRIS transactions. The role owns day-to-day processing and the associated controls, reconciliations, documentation, and communications needed to support reliable HR operations. The specialist works closely with employees, supervisors, Finance, external vendors, and the HR team to resolve issues, anticipate needs, and improve payroll, benefits, and leave processes while maintaining confidentiality, accuracy, professionalism, and responsive service.

Requirements

Associate or bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Accounting, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.
At least 3 years of progressively responsible payroll, benefits, HR operations, or related experience preferred.
Working knowledge of payroll administration, payroll taxes, employee benefits, FMLA, leave management, and applicable federal and state requirements.
Experience with HRIS and payroll systems.
Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, reconciliation ability, and proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Ability to manage confidential information and exercise sound judgment, discretion, and appropriate escalation.
Ability to independently prioritize deadlines, anticipate needs, document procedures, and follow responsibilities through completion.
Effective written and verbal communication; approachable, service-oriented, and collaborative with employees, supervisors, and leaders.
Ability to identify process deficiencies, recommend solutions, and implement sustainable improvements.

Nice To Haves

Paylocity experience.
Experience in manufacturing or a multi-shift environment.
Associate or bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Accounting, or a related field.
At least 3 years of progressively responsible payroll, benefits, HR operations, or related experience.

Responsibilities

Administer biweekly payroll from timecard review and pre-processing through approvals, funding coordination, final validation, and reconciliation; audit hours, overtime, shift differentials, pay rates, earnings, deductions, reimbursements, retroactive adjustments, new hires, and terminations for accuracy.
Maintain payroll change controls, independent verification, employee-level variance and exception reviews, audit workbooks, checklists, and supporting documentation.
Prepare concise pre-process payroll summaries identifying totals, significant changes, exceptions, unresolved issues, and items requiring approval.
Coordinate payroll funding, payroll-related reporting, tax reconciliations, garnishments, final pay, and year-end activities with Finance and applicable partners.
Investigate payroll discrepancies, communicate resolutions, and identify corrective actions to prevent recurring errors.
Administer medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, FSA/HSA, and other benefit programs in coordination with vendors and brokers.
Process and audit benefits enrollments, qualifying life events, terminations, eligibility, and payroll deductions; reconcile vendor invoices against enrollment records, coverage, and deductions, investigate discrepancies, coordinate corrections and credits, and support timely payment approval.
Plan and coordinate annual open enrollment, including employee education, proactive communications, meetings, system preparation, and post-enrollment audits.
Manage continuous and intermittent leave cases, including FMLA, applicable disability and accommodation-related coordination, and personal leaves in accordance with company procedures.
Maintain complete leave records, required notices and designations, accurate leave dates, tracking, and appropriate Paylocity leave-of-absence status updates.
Provide appropriately limited, proactive leave-status updates to department leaders, including during management transitions and when anticipated return dates change.
Coordinate return-to-work activities with employees and leadership, including required documentation, work-status information, and applicable site-access arrangements.
Maintain active leave trackers and document handoffs of pending cases, deadlines, and required actions before planned absences.
Assume ongoing responsibility for employee Paylocity records following initial profile creation and onboarding by the HR Specialist, coordinating with the HR Specialist to obtain approved changes and supporting documentation.
Serve as the primary owner of ongoing Paylocity HRIS administration and employee data integrity, maintaining accurate position, compensation, employment status, payroll, benefits, and leave information throughout the employee lifecycle.
Process approved promotions, transfers, position and pay changes, leaves, returns from leave, and separations using the correct Paylocity workflows; verify changes across affected employee records.
Perform routine HRIS data audits and reconciliations; resolve discrepancies, verify downstream system impacts, and maintain approvals, supporting records, transaction logs, and audit trails in coordination with the HR team.
Prepare and validate HRIS reports and employee data used for time and attendance, payroll, benefits, compliance, and management reporting.
Develop and deliver year-round benefits education and communications to help employees understand plan options, enrollment events, retirement savings, and available resources.
Develop, maintain, and improve detailed SOPs, standard work, checklists, and backup procedures for payroll, benefits, leave, and assigned HRIS activities.
Conduct periodic audits, identify control or service gaps, recommend improvements, and implement approved solutions with documented follow-through.
Provide timely, professional, empathetic, and accurate guidance to employees and managers; collaborate constructively across departments and safeguard confidential information.
Support applicable compliance reporting, internal audits, special projects, and HR team coverage as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned.