Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Payroll Administration

·         Process semimonthly payroll accurately and within established deadlines.

·         Review employee timecards, pay rates, earnings, deductions, reimbursements, adjustments, and other payroll transactions for accuracy.

·         Review payroll prior to submission and identify and resolve discrepancies.

·         Process payroll changes resulting from new hires, terminations, transfers, compensation changes, deductions, and other employee transactions.

·         Partner with supervisors and Human Resources to resolve timekeeping and payroll discrepancies.

·         Maintain accurate payroll records and supporting documentation.

·         Prepare and review payroll reports and conduct routine audits to ensure accuracy and data integrity.

·         Reconcile payroll activity to the general ledger and research discrepancies as needed.

·         Ensure payroll expenses are appropriately recorded to departments, programs, locations, and general ledger accounts.

·         Support labor allocation and cost-center reporting across YMCA departments and programs.

·         Process garnishments, tax levies, and other required payroll deductions.

·         Assist with quarterly and year-end payroll activities, including payroll reconciliations and W-2 processing.

·         Maintain knowledge of applicable wage and hour, payroll tax, and recordkeeping requirements.

Benefits Administration

·         Administer employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, and other YMCA-sponsored benefits.

·         Process benefit enrollments, changes, deductions, and terminations accurately and within required timelines.

·         Ensure payroll deductions accurately reflect employee benefit elections.

·         Reconcile benefit invoices against employee enrollment and payroll deduction records.

·         Research and resolve discrepancies involving benefit deductions, carrier invoices, or employee elections.

·         Coordinate with Human Resources regarding employee eligibility and employment-status changes affecting benefits.

·         Serve as a resource to employees regarding benefit enrollment, deductions, eligibility, and available resources.

·         Support annual open enrollment, including system updates, employee elections, payroll deductions, and reconciliation.

·         Coordinate with benefit carriers, brokers, retirement plan administrators, and other vendors as needed.

·         Maintain accurate and confidential benefit records.

Financial Reporting & Reconciliation

·         Reconcile payroll-related balance sheet and general ledger accounts.

·         Prepare payroll journal entries and supporting documentation as assigned.

·         Review payroll expenses and labor allocations for accuracy.

·         Research discrepancies between payroll, HRIS, benefit, and accounting systems.

·         Assist with month-end and year-end financial close activities related to payroll and benefits.

·         Prepare payroll and benefit documentation for financial, retirement plan, workers' compensation, and other audits.

·         Generate payroll, labor distribution, benefits, and workforce reports as requested.

·         Maintain appropriate internal controls and documentation related to payroll processing.

Systems & Data Administration

·         Maintain accurate payroll and benefit information within Paylocity and applicable accounting systems.

·         Review employee changes for accuracy and ensure information flows appropriately between payroll, benefits, HR, and Finance systems.

·         Conduct routine audits of payroll and benefit data.

·         Generate reports and analyze payroll and benefit information using HRIS and accounting systems.

·         Assist employees and supervisors with payroll, timekeeping, and system-related questions.

·         Support system implementations, upgrades, testing, and process improvements as needed.

·         Maintain written procedures and documentation for payroll and benefit processes.

Employee Support & Collaboration

·         Serve as a responsive and professional resource for employee payroll and benefit questions.

·         Partner closely with Human Resources regarding employee status changes, compensation, benefits eligibility, onboarding, and separation processes.

·         Collaborate with Finance team members regarding payroll accounting, reconciliations, budgeting, and financial reporting.

·         Protect confidential employee, payroll, and financial information.

·         Identify opportunities to improve payroll and benefit processes, controls, accuracy, and efficiency.

·         Perform other duties as assigned.