Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Canal Insurance Company•Greenville, SC

12h•Onsite

About The Position

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist is responsible for owning end-to-end payroll processing and supporting the administration of the organization’s employee benefits programs. This role serves as a key subject matter expert (SME) in payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency across multi-state payroll and benefits administration. The ideal candidate brings strong technical payroll expertise, advanced Excel capabilities, and experience working within HRIS platforms (UKG strongly preferred).

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business, or related field
3+ years of end-to-end payroll processing experience (multi-state strongly preferred)
Proven experience administering employee benefits programs
Strong working knowledge of payroll laws, tax regulations, and HR compliance
Advanced Excel skills required (e.g., pivot tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, data reconciliation, complex formulas)
Experience with HRIS/payroll systems

Nice To Haves

UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) experience strongly preferred
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation
Experience with payroll audits, GL integration, and reconciliations
Experience supporting ACA reporting and 401(k) administration

Responsibilities

Own and execute full-cycle payroll processing for multi-entity, multi-state operations with the highest levels of accuracy, compliance, and confidentiality
Manage and audit time and attendance data within the HRIS system (UKG preferred)
Process regular and off-cycle payrolls, including: Wage and salary payments, Retroactive pay adjustments and benefit deductions, Severance payments, Garnishments and tax withholdings
Perform pre- and post-payroll audits and reconciliations to ensure accuracy of earnings, deductions, taxes, and general ledger postings
Prepare and post payroll-related journal entries and support Finance with payroll funding, reporting, and account reconciliations
Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including multi-state tax requirements
Manage year-end payroll processes including W-2 review, audit, and distribution
Generate, analyze, and maintain payroll reports; leverage data to identify discrepancies and drive improvements
Partner with internal stakeholders to resolve payroll issues and deliver excellent employee support
Administer day-to-day operations of employee benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), disability, life insurance, FSAs, HSAs, and dependent care accounts
Conduct new hire benefits orientation and support enrollment processes
Manage benefits offboarding, including COBRA administration, final deductions, and conversion processes
Oversee administration of FMLA, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability programs in compliance with applicable laws
Support and help execute annual open enrollment
Serve as a point of contact for employee benefit inquiries, ensuring a high level of customer service
Manage ACA compliance and 1095-C reporting/distribution
Coordinate with vendors and brokers to ensure accurate and timely benefits administration
Serve as the primary point of contact for the organization’s wellness initiatives, including planning and coordinating activities such as lunch-and-learn sessions, partnering with vendors, and collaborating with the onsite clinic to promote employee health and engagement
Prepare and deliver monthly benefits reporting and reconciliations
Support compliance with ERISA requirements and 401(k) audits/testing (as applicable)
Process employment verification requests
Identify and implement process improvements and system enhancements related to payroll and benefits
Participate in HRIS updates, implementations, or optimization efforts
Support internal and external audits as needed (payroll, benefits, 401k, financial)
Maintain strict confidentiality of employee data
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned