Payroll and Benefits Accountant (Des Moines)

About us

We are a growing commercial printing and marketing services organization with operations in Des Moines, Iowa and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our company serves customers across a wide range of industries through offset printing, digital printing, wide format, fulfillment, mailing, apparel decoration, and related services.

As part of a broader investment in our accounting, payroll, and human resources infrastructure, we are seeking an experienced Payroll Accountant to join our team. This role is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who enjoys ownership, accuracy, process improvement, and working closely with both accounting and HR.

Position summary

The Payroll Accountant will be responsible for processing and administering payroll for a workforce of more than 160 employees across multiple locations and union environments. This position will serve as the primary payroll subject matter expert while working closely with accounting, HR, operations, and leadership.

The ideal candidate will bring strong payroll experience, excellent attention to detail, experience working within an HRIS platform, and a thorough understanding of payroll compliance and reporting requirements.

This role will play a key part in strengthening processes, improving documentation, and reducing organizational risk as the company continues to grow.

Key responsibilities

Payroll administration

• Process weekly and bi-weekly payroll accurately and timely.
• Maintain employee payroll records and supporting documentation.
• Administer payroll deductions, garnishments, benefits withholding, and tax withholdings.
• Reconcile payroll transactions and prepare payroll-related journal entries.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Manage year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing and reporting.

Union payroll administration

• Administer payroll requirements associated with multiple collective bargaining agreements.
• Ensure proper treatment of union wages, deductions, benefits, and reporting requirements.
• Maintain supporting documentation for union payroll calculations and reporting.

HRIS administration

• Maintain employee information within the company's HRIS platform.
• Support onboarding and employee record maintenance.
• Assist with employee benefit administration and reporting.
• Coordinate with HR leadership to improve data integrity and process efficiency.

Accounting support

• Reconcile payroll-related balance sheet accounts.
• Assist with month-end close activities.
• Prepare payroll accruals and supporting schedules.
• Support audits and other compliance reporting requirements.
• Participate in process improvement initiatives and documentation projects.

Qualifications

Required

• 10+ years of payroll administration experience.
• Strong understanding of payroll laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Experience reconciling payroll-related accounting transactions.
• Experience working with HRIS platforms.
• Strong Excel skills.
• Excellent organization and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage confidential employee information professionally.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred

• Experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience administering payroll in a union environment.
• Experience supporting multi-location operations.
• Experience working closely with accounting and finance teams.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field.
• FPC (Fundamental Payroll Certification) or CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification, preferred but not required.

Why join us?

This position offers the opportunity to become the payroll leader within a stable and growing organization while helping build best-in-class payroll, accounting, and HR processes.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Company-paid term life insurance
• Employee voluntary benefits
• Professional development opportunities

Compensation

Expected salary range: $55,000 - $65,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.Tips: Provide a summary of the role, what success in the position looks like, and how this role fits into the organization overall.