Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Yellow Brick Road Early Childhood Development Center•Golden Valley, MN

3d•$65,000 - $70,000

About The Position

At Yellow Brick Road, we’re on a mission to put good humans into the world and leave it better than we found it. Our team creates warm, inclusive, and joyful environments where children, families, and staff can thrive. If you’re energized by purpose, connection, and meaningful work, you’ll love being part of a community that invests in your growth and celebrates what makes you exceptional. We're looking for a detail-oriented and customer-focused Payroll & Benefits Specialist to support our employees by ensuring accurate payroll processing and exceptional benefits administration across our growing organization. The Payroll & Benefits Specialist is responsible for processing semi-monthly payroll, administering employee benefit programs, and ensuring compliance with payroll and benefits regulations across multiple states. This role serves as a trusted resource for employees, school leaders, Human Resources, and Finance by providing timely support, maintaining accurate records, and continuously improving payroll and benefits processes. This position also supports Yellow Brick Road's continued growth by assisting with payroll and benefits integration for newly acquired schools and new locations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
3–5 years of payroll and/or benefits administration experience.
Experience processing multi-state payroll for a high-volume hourly workforce.
Experience administering employee benefit programs.
Paylocity experience strongly preferred.
Knowledge of payroll tax regulations, wage and hour laws, and employee benefits administration.
Strong Microsoft Excel and reporting skills.
Excellent attention to detail, organization, and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to manage confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
Outstanding communication and customer service skills.

Nice To Haves

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

Process semi-monthly payroll for employees across Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska using Paylocity.
Review and audit payroll data including hours worked, overtime, paid time off, bonuses, deductions, and adjustments.
Ensure payroll is processed accurately and on schedule while maintaining confidentiality of employee information.
Reconcile payroll reports and investigate discrepancies prior to payroll submission.
Manage off-cycle payrolls, final paychecks, retroactive adjustments, and payroll corrections as needed.
Administer employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement plans, and employee leave programs.
Coordinate benefit enrollments, life event changes, terminations, and annual open enrollment.
Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefit questions and vendor communications.
Reconcile benefit invoices and ensure accurate payroll deductions.
Partner with Human Resources to maintain compliance with applicable benefits regulations.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll and benefits regulations.
Assist with payroll tax reporting, year-end processing, W-2 preparation, and payroll audits.
Prepare payroll and benefits reports for Finance and leadership teams.
Maintain accurate employee payroll and benefits records within Paylocity.
Support payroll and benefits integration for newly acquired schools and new school openings.
Coordinate employee setup and benefits enrollment during acquisitions and organizational growth.
Partner with HR, Finance, and Operations to ensure smooth transitions and consistent processes.
Serve as the primary administrator for payroll functions within Paylocity.
Maintain payroll configurations, earnings codes, deduction codes, tax settings, and employee records.
Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, and efficiencies.
Partner with HR and Talent Acquisition to ensure accurate employee onboarding, status changes, and terminations.
Respond to employee and leader questions regarding payroll, benefits, deductions, taxes, PTO, and related policies.
Provide guidance regarding pay, deductions, taxes, PTO balances, and payroll policies.
Support school directors and department leaders with payroll-related troubleshooting and reporting needs.
Develop payroll procedures and training materials to improve payroll accuracy across the organization.