Payroll & Benefits Specialist

National Material L.P.•Rosemont, IL

10d

About The Position

National Material L.P. (NMLP) is a family-owned, U.S.-based holding company with a diverse portfolio of businesses focused on metals processing and distribution. NMLP and its affiliates employ more than 2,200 people across North America. The Payroll & Benefits Specialist processes accurate, timely full-cycle payroll and provides day-to-day support for employee benefits and leave programs. This payroll-first role supports a complex, multi-state environment with multiple legal entities, pay groups, locations, and union and non-union employee populations. The specialist works with Human Resources, Finance, managers, employees, and vendors to resolve issues, maintain accurate records, support compliance, and provide employee service.

Requirements

At least 5 years of hands-on, full-cycle payroll processing experience in a complex organization.
Experience processing multi-state payroll across multiple legal entities, pay groups, and locations.
Direct experience processing union payroll and applying collective bargaining agreement provisions.
Experience administering employee garnishments and other withholding orders.
Experience supporting benefits administration, including enrollments, deductions, open enrollment, reconciliations, and employee inquiries.
Experience administering employee leaves, including FMLA, disability, state or local requirements, documentation, tracking, and return-to-work coordination.
Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour, benefits, garnishment, and leave requirements.
Experience with an integrated HRIS, payroll, and timekeeping system.
Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including organizing, reconciling, validating, and analyzing payroll and benefit data.
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to payroll accuracy.
Strong organization and time management, with the ability to manage recurring deadlines and competing priorities.
Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently using sound judgment and follow-through.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to trace discrepancies to their source and implement complete solutions.
Ability to interpret and apply complex pay rules, union provisions, garnishment orders, benefit plans, leave requirements, policies, and procedures.
Clear, professional, service-oriented communication with employees, managers, vendors, agencies, and internal partners.
Ability to handle confidential payroll, compensation, benefit, leave, garnishment, and employee information with integrity and discretion.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment where priorities may shift while payroll deadlines remain fixed.
Collaborative approach, with willingness to take ownership, ask questions, and support the broader Human Resources team.

Nice To Haves

Dayforce experience.
An associate or bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Payroll experience in manufacturing, steel, distribution, or another multi-site environment.
Experience with weekly, biweekly, and semi-monthly payroll cycles and hourly and salaried populations.
Experience with payroll taxes, general ledger reporting, year-end processing, and payroll audits.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).

Responsibilities

Process full-cycle payroll accurately and on time across multiple states, legal entities, pay groups, locations, and union and non-union employee populations.
Review and validate time and attendance data, earnings, pay rates, overtime, shift premiums, bonuses, retroactive pay, deductions, taxes, direct deposits, and other payroll transactions.
Administer garnishments and other withholding orders from receipt through completion, including reviewing orders, setting up and validating deductions, monitoring limits and balances, processing payments, responding to inquiries, maintaining documentation, and updating or releasing orders.
Apply collective bargaining agreement provisions and company pay practices, including union-specific wage rates, premiums, deductions, benefit contributions, and contractual requirements.
Complete pre- and post-processing audits, reconciliations, variance reviews, and balancing to confirm payroll accuracy.
Research and resolve payroll discrepancies, system errors, rejected transactions, tax issues, and employee pay concerns.
Process payroll-affecting employee changes, including new hires, transfers, compensation changes, leaves, and terminations.
Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with company procedures and applicable requirements.
Support quarter-end and year-end activities, including reconciliations, W-2 review, tax notices, audits, and reporting.
Monitor deadlines and follow through independently on open items, approvals, and corrections.
Provide day-to-day administrative support for benefit programs, including enrollments, qualifying life events, changes, and terminations.
Assist employees with payroll deduction and benefit questions, escalating complex plan or claim issues as appropriate.
Support open enrollment communications, enrollment tracking, and post-enrollment audits.
Maintain accurate benefit eligibility and enrollment records in HRIS and vendor systems.
Reconcile benefit deductions, carrier eligibility, and vendor invoices, and research discrepancies with internal partners and vendors.
Support administration of health and welfare plans, retirement plan contributions, COBRA, HSA/FSA programs, and disability benefits, as assigned.
Administer employee leave programs, including FMLA, state and local leave, company-provided leave, short-term disability, long-term disability, and other applicable programs.