Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Carex is partnering with a financial services organization to hire a Payroll & Benefits Administrator. This role is responsible for administering payroll, benefits, compensation, and leave programs while ensuring accuracy, compliance, operational excellence, and an exceptional associate experience. The Payroll & Benefits Administrator serves as a key resource for payroll processing, benefits administration, HRIS maintenance, reporting, and associate support. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical skills, attention to detail, discretion, and a commitment to supporting programs that help attract, retain, and reward top talent. This role is based in Madison, WI with on-site requirements. The salary midpoint is $75,000+, and commensurate with experience. What You'll Do Administer and process bi-weekly payroll accurately and on time. Maintain payroll records and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour regulations. Audit payroll data, including new hires, terminations, promotions, salary changes, benefit deductions, garnishments, and tax withholding updates. Reconcile payroll reports, resolve discrepancies, and support payroll audits and examinations. Manage year-end payroll activities, including W-2 preparation and distribution. Respond to associate payroll inquiries and maintain payroll policies, procedures, and documentation. Generate payroll and labor cost reports and recommend process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy. Maintain salary grades, job codes, and compensation-related data within HR systems. Support compensation programs, including merit increases, market adjustments, incentive compensation, and compensation analyses. Conduct compensation audits and prepare reports and materials for leadership review. Administer health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, wellness, and voluntary benefit programs. Lead annual open enrollment activities, communications, and associate education efforts. Serve as the primary point of contact for benefits questions, enrollments, changes, terminations, and qualifying life events. Coordinate with benefit carriers, brokers, retirement plan providers, and third-party administrators. Administer leave programs, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, parental leave, military leave, and other applicable leaves. Ensure proper leave documentation, compliance, communication, and recordkeeping. Assist with compliance efforts related to ERISA, COBRA, ACA, HIPAA, FMLA, and other applicable regulations. Maintain personnel records and support audits, examinations, and reporting requirements. Generate workforce, compensation, and benefits reports and analytics. Develop associate communications, guides, FAQs, and educational materials. Support HR projects, system enhancements, onboarding, offboarding, and continuous process improvement initiatives. What You'll Bring Associate degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience. 5+ years of payroll administration experience. 5+ years of benefits administration experience. Strong knowledge of payroll processes, compensation administration, and employee benefits programs. Experience supporting leave administration, including FMLA and ADA accommodations. Understanding of applicable employment, payroll, and benefits regulations. Experience maintaining data integrity within HRIS platforms. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Excellent communication and customer service abilities. Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism. Proficiency in reporting, auditing, and process improvement initiatives. Experience with Paylocity preferred. Experience within a financial institution preferred. Experience facilitating training or educational sessions preferred. Carex Consulting Group is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. #J-18808-Ljbffr