Payroll and Benefits Specialist

At Awty, we believe that students learn best and employees perform best in a culture of vibrant diversity. Diversity is an essential quality of our school environment; our commitment to learning and the pursuit of excellence can occur only in such a context. Our commitment to learning about and respecting one another’s diversity brings distinct richness to the Awty experience for students, alumni, employees, and parents. Report to: Director of Human Resources Role Overview Payroll and Benefits Manager is a critical member of the Human Resources team, responsible for the end‑to‑end execution of payroll, employee benefits administration, and strategic system management for our 500 faculty and staff. Reporting to the Director of Human Resources with collaborative ties to the CFO and Controller, this role requires a systems‑thinking approach to ensure data integrity across HR, Benefits, and Finance. This is a highly operational leadership role. Operating within a small department of three, this position manages and supervises its designated areas while independently providing the day‑to‑day, hands‑on work required to execute them. A critical focus for the incoming manager will be documenting legacy processes, establishing "best practice" standard operating procedures (SOPs), and maximizing our HRIS and school software capabilities to automate manual tasks. Key Responsibilities Payroll & Accounting Administration Execute bi‑weekly and monthly full‑cycle payroll for all faculty, staff, substitutes, and extra‑curricular employees, ensuring proper calculation of wages, stipends, overtime, leave accruals, and holiday pay. Reconcile payroll, taxes, and benefits, and ensure accurate interface of posts to the General Ledger. Manage statutory requirements, including quarterly 941 reconciliations, unemployment billings, payroll taxes, garnishments, W-2 reviews, and ACA reporting. Act as the primary power user for the school's HRIS and operational systems (Paycor), configuring workflows, maintaining employee data confidentiality, and troubleshooting system issues. Serve as the final gatekeeper for payroll integrity by verifying authorizations, agreements, and onboarding documentation before placing new personnel on payroll. Coordinate with banking institutions for stop payments on physical checks and direct deposit reversals as necessary. Provide monthly reporting to other departments for payroll related items such as but not limited to annual fund, tuition deductions, garnishments and other reporting as needed. Benefits & Leave Administration Administer and support comprehensive employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, life, long‑term/short‑term disability, FSA, and other voluntary benefits programs. Administrator of the school's 403(b) retirement plan. Serve as the liaison between employees, benefits brokers, and insurance carriers, leading annual open enrollment and employee education. Perform meticulous, deep dive reconciliation of all monthly insurance carrier invoices and retirement contributions to ensure they align with payroll deductions. Administer comprehensive leave programs (FMLA, ADA, sick, vacation time) and COBRA. Oversee and process unemployment insurance claims and employee verifications. Manage all aspects of the workers' compensation program, including the immediate reporting and management of injuries and processing claims. Lead the preparation for and serve as the primary point of contact for annual audits, including the 403(b) audit, the Workers' Compensation audit, 5500, and Form 990. Maintain I-9 documentation, ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, and maintain internal controls. HR & Expatriate Community Support Assume responsibility for the preparation of Form 1042‑S for our international staff. Provide dedicated guidance during onboarding to assist expatriate and visa holding employees with tax treaty exemptions, ensuring accurate setup and compliance within the Paycor payroll system. Provide guidance to all employees on payroll and benefits processes with professionalism and a service‑oriented approach. Required Qualifications & Skills Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. 5+ years of payroll and benefits administration experience, preferably in a school or nonprofit environment. Preferred Qualifications & Skills Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) strongly preferred. Experience and knowledge of ERISA compliance and the complexities of managing self‑funded benefits plans. Demonstrated advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (mandatory requirement for VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, complex formulas, and data analysis) and the broader Microsoft Office and Google Suites. Extensive experience with HRIS/payroll and school management systems; direct experience with Paycor and Blackbaud is highly desirable. Deep understanding of full‑cycle bookkeeping, payroll procedures, and current financial regulations. Multi‑lingual is a plus with an emphasis on English, French, and Spanish, including the ability to communicate and translate French and/or (Speaking, Writing, Reading). High level of integrity, ethical decision‑making, and ability to manage confidential information. To Apply Submit your application through the school's website. All applicants should include a cover letter detailing their experience with curricular leadership, a current resume, and three professional references (including your most recent direct supervisor). Equal Opportunity Statement The Awty International School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ethnic or religious beliefs, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and athletic and other school‑administered programs or in its employment practices. #J-18808-Ljbffr