Benefits & Payroll Administrator

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Support People. Strengthen Processes. Make Every Employee Interaction Count.

Are you a detail-oriented HR professional who enjoys helping employees navigate benefits, payroll, leaves of absence, and HR processes with clarity and care in Buffalo, NY? Fisher Associates is seeking a Benefits & Payroll Administrator to support the administration of our benefits, leave, payroll, and HRIS processes while delivering high-quality employee experience. This role serves as a subject matter resource to employees, managers, benefits vendors, and third-party administrators; interprets plan documents, policies, and regulatory requirements; recommends process improvements; and exercises discretion and independent judgment in administering and resolving benefit, leave, payroll, life event, and engagement programs to drive accuracy, compliance, and a seamless employee experience.

About Fisher Associates

At Fisher Associates, we are a multidisciplinary design services firm with nine locations nationwide. Our services span civil/site engineering, transportation engineering, landscape architecture, planning, environmental services, land surveying, GIS, construction inspection, precast, and construction engineering—each offering opportunities to shape communities and improve lives.

What You Will Do

Summary

The primary duty of this position is the administration, interpretation, coordination, and continuous improvement of company benefits, leave, payroll, and other HR operations programs directly related to Fisher Associates’ operations. The role works under general supervision and regularly exercises discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance, including benefit eligibility, leave coordination, payroll-related issue resolution, compliance documentation, vendor escalation, and process improvement recommendations.

Benefit and Leave Administration

• Administer employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, FSA, 401(k), life, disability, wellness, and related offerings.
• Conduct new hire benefits orientations, educating employees on benefit offerings, deductions, timekeeping, and payroll timelines.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for employee benefits, payroll, leave, and life event questions, providing clear, timely guidance with professionalism, empathy, and confidentiality.
• Administer benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, status changes, and employee updates in accordance with plan rules, company procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Interpret benefit plan rules and company policies to evaluate employee eligibility, qualifying life events, enrollment changes, and benefit issues; determine next steps and escalate complex matters when needed.
• Maintain accurate employee, payroll, benefits, leave, and HRIS records while protecting sensitive and confidential information.
• Lead key components of annual open enrollment, including communications, system updates, employee education, vendor coordination, and follow-up support.
• Administer and coordinate employee leave programs, including FMLA, PFML, disability, parental leave, and company-specific leave policies.
• Partner with HR, managers, employees, and third-party vendors to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant leave processing and return-to-work coordination.
• Collaborate with vendors, brokers, carriers, and internal stakeholders to resolve employee questions, reconcile information, and support high-quality service delivery.
• Administer employee separation paperwork, related processes, and conduct exit interviews with employees.
• Analyze and process benefit invoices, enrollment records, payroll deductions, carrier files, and vendor reports to identify discrepancies, independently resolve issues, and recommend corrective action.
• Assist in the coordination of company-wide engagement events.

Payroll Administration

• Analyze employee changes, wage calculations, deductions, leave impacts, timekeeping issues, and payroll reports; independently identify discrepancies and make corrections before payroll finalization.
• Investigate and resolve complex payroll-related issues involving employee status changes, deductions, leave payments, benefit continuation, retroactive adjustments, and compliance-sensitive wage-and-hour considerations.
• Partner with Accounting to resolve payroll discrepancies and conduct regular audits and reconciliations, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Coordinate with Accounting on year-end payroll processes, including W-2 review and distribution.

Compliance & Process Improvement

• Lead assigned projects related to benefits, payroll coordination, leave administration, HRIS optimization, compliance reporting, vendor transitions, open enrollment, and process documentation.
• Design, update, and maintain standard operating procedures, employee-facing guidance, and internal workflows for benefits, leave, payroll coordination, and other related HR operations activities.
• Evaluate recurring issues and recommend changes to policies, procedures, vendor processes, or system improvements to reduce compliance risk, improve employee experience, and strengthen operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, labor laws, and internal policies; identify compliance risks or process gaps and recommend corrective action to HR leadership.
• Respond to Department of Labor, state unemployment, employment verification, and other required reporting or information requests, as appropriate.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to support audits, benefit renewals, software integrations, and process enhancements.
• Manage sensitive information with a high level of confidentiality and professionalism.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

What You Bring

• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in benefits, leave administration, and payroll coordination, preferably in a multi-state environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply benefit plan documents, leave laws, wage-and-hour requirements, payroll and timekeeping procedures, and HR policies to varied employee situations.
• Experience independently resolving benefits, leave, payroll, HRIS, and employee-service issues using sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Ability to analyze data, identify discrepancies or compliance risks, recommend corrective action, and communicate practical solutions to employees, managers, vendors, and HR leadership.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and local employment, payroll, wage-and-hour, leave, and benefits compliance requirements.
• Experience using HRIS, payroll, benefits, or timekeeping systems; Paylocity and/or Deltek Vantagepoint experience is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, follow-through, and ability to work with time-sensitive and confidential information.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills with the ability to explain complex benefits, payroll, and leave information clearly and professionally.
• Deliver high-quality, accurate work using sound judgment, critical thinking, and strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to building trusting relationships through collaboration, integrity, respect, confidentiality, and continuous improvement.
• Curious and improvement-minded, with a willingness to embrace feedback and seek better solutions for employees and internal partners.

Why You Will Love Working at Fisher

• You are empowered to achieve exceptional results through collaboration and ownership.
• Your voice matters in our inclusive culture, where accessible leadership welcomes ideas and feedback.
• Your growth is our priority, supported by clear career paths, career discussions, and tuition assistance.
• You thrive in a culture that keeps work fun and fosters a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere.
• Your journey is supported by a collaborative environment that promotes mentorship and ongoing learning.
• Your success is supported by a flexible work environment that helps you thrive professionally and personally.

What We Offer

Your Impact Matters, Your Career Thrives. In the Benefits & Payroll Administrator role, you will help employees feel informed and supported while strengthening the processes that keep HR, benefits, leave, and payroll operations running smoothly. We offer competitive salaries and benefits, including:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Company-paid Life and Disability Insurance
• Hybrid Remote Work Schedule
• Generous PTO and Paid Holidays
• Work-Life Balance
• Shareholders Program
• Professional Development Opportunities and Reimbursement
• Supplemental voluntary benefits designed to support total well-being and financial security
• Opportunities to engage with employee groups focused on community, inclusion, and employee voice

Salary Range: Annualized salary of $65,000–$78,000

Actual compensation may vary based on relevant experience, qualifications, education, and other job-related factors. The salary range is not necessarily reflective of actual total compensation that may be earned, nor does it promise any specific pay for any specific employee. The salary range excludes the monetary value of benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Fisher Associates is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are respected, valued, and empowered to thrive. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under federal, state, or local law.

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