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A well-established organization is seeking an experienced, Manager, Benefits & Payroll to oversee the administration, compliance, and optimization of employee benefits, retirement programs, and multi-state payroll operations.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Human Resources, this role serves as the internal subject matter expert for health and welfare benefits, retirement plans, and payroll compliance. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise, exceptional attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering an outstanding employee experience.

Responsibilities

• Benefits Administration
• Administer health and welfare programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, FSA/HSA, EAP, and other benefit offerings.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state regulations, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and related reporting requirements.
• Manage annual open enrollment planning, communications, and implementation.
• Reconcile HRIS records, payroll deductions, vendor data, and benefits invoices each pay period.
• Support leave and accommodation requests, including FMLA, ADA, and workers’ compensation.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits inquiries and issue resolution.
• Partner with brokers and third-party vendors to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Develop employee education materials and communication initiatives to increase engagement and understanding.

• Retirement Plan Administration
• Serve as the internal expert for retirement programs, including 401(k), 457(b), 457(f), and pension plans.
• Administer plan activities, including enrollments, contributions, compliance testing, corrections, distributions, and separation calculations.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, IRS regulations, plan documents, Form 5500 filings, and participant notice requirements.
• Reconcile HRIS data, payroll deductions, and retirement recordkeeper information.
• Monitor retirement plan vendor performance and operational efficiency.
• Prepare retirement-related reporting and presentations for leadership and board committees.

• Payroll Administration
• Manage end-to-end, multi-state payroll processing and compliance.
• Ensure accurate processing of wages, supplemental pay, benefit deductions, and retirement contributions.
• Oversee timekeeping compliance with FLSA and applicable wage and hour regulations.
• Conduct payroll audits and reconciliations related to taxes, withholdings, PTO balances, and vendor feeds.
• Ensure timely registration and compliance with multi-state tax jurisdictions.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to maintain strong controls and documented standard operating procedures.

• Operational Excellence
• Deliver responsive, high-quality support to employees and stakeholders.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Contribute to HR process improvements and special projects.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve efficiency, compliance, and the employee experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of hands-on experience in benefits, retirement plan administration, payroll, and compliance.
• Deep expertise administering retirement plans, including 401(k), 457(b), 457(f), and pension plans.
• Strong knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, IRS regulations, and multi-state payroll requirements.
• Experience managing payroll tax reporting and wage and hour compliance across multiple states.
• Proficiency with HRIS systems; experience with Dayforce is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with third-party retirement plan administrators and recordkeepers.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and strong analytical capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex regulations and translate them into compliant internal processes.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.

Required Certifications

• Candidates must hold at least one of the following certifications:
• Certified Benefits Professional (CBP)
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
• Certified Retirement Plans Professional (CRPP)
• Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP)
• Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA)