Payroll and Benefits Manager

La Pecora Bianca is the fastest growing Italian restaurant group in NYC, with 10 restaurants currently under operation in Manhattan, and more exciting projects on the horizon. We are seeking enthusiastic and skilled Hospitality Leaders to join our dynamic restaurant group and be part of one of the quickest growing restaurants in NYC with endless opportunities for advancement.

We are looking for a Payroll and Benefits Manager to be our in-house expert on pay and benefits across our restaurants. You'll own multi-location payroll and our benefits programs from start to finish, build stronger processes and controls, monitor compliance, and make sure every team member is paid correctly and understands their benefits.

Responsibilities

Payroll

• Process multi-location payroll from start to finish for hourly and salaried team members
• Review timekeeping with managers each pay period, including missed punches, overtime, and spread of hours, before payroll closes
• Manage tipped wages, tip credits, and tip pool or tip share distributions in line with New York requirements
• Process new hires, pay changes, terminations, garnishments, and final pay accurately and on time
• Reconcile payroll each cycle and partner with finance on payroll reports, journal entries, and audits
• Answer team member questions about paychecks, deductions, and tax withholding
• Manage year-end processes, including W-2s and payroll tax filings with our payroll provider

Benefits

• Administer health, dental, vision, and other benefits, including open enrollment, new-hire enrollment, and life event changes
• Track benefits eligibility for hourly team members, including ACA measurement and reporting
• Manage COBRA notices and the 401(k) plan, including enrollments, deferrals, and deduction accuracy
• Reconcile monthly benefits invoices against payroll deductions
• Serve as the main contact for brokers and carriers, and help evaluate plans and costs at renewal
• Explain benefits clearly to team members and help them through claims or coverage issues

Leave and compliance

• Administer leaves of absence, including NY Paid Family Leave, disability, and sick time, and coordinate them with payroll and benefits
• Keep payroll and benefits practices in line with federal, New York State, and New York City requirements
• Support workers' compensation claims and annual audits
• Build and improve payroll and benefits processes, controls, and documentation

HR support

• Partner with HR on onboarding, offboarding, and records so pay and benefits data stay accurate
• Train managers on timekeeping, tip policies, and payroll deadlines

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll and benefits experience, including at least 3 years running payroll for restaurants or hospitality
• Hands-on experience processing multi-location payroll for a large hourly and tipped workforce, including tip credits, tip pools or tip shares, and service charges
• Experience administering employee benefits, including open enrollment and broker and carrier relationships
• Strong knowledge of federal, New York State, and New York City wage and hour laws, including tipped employee rules
• Working knowledge of ACA, COBRA, ERISA, and NY Paid Family Leave requirements
• High attention to detail and strong skills with numbers, reconciliations, and Excel or Google Sheets
• Discretion with confidential pay and health information
• Clear communication with team members, managers, and finance

Preferred Qualifications

• Multi-unit restaurant group experience
• Experience with Paycom or other HRIS / payroll software
• FPC, CPP, CEBS, or SHRM-CP certification
• Experience leading a payroll or benefits system implementation
• Spanish fluency

What we offer

• Quality of life: Consistent schedules with consecutive days off
• Additional quarterly bonus opportunity equal to 10% of salary
• Gold insurance plan with 75% company contribution for individual plans, 50% for family plans
• 401k with company match up to 6%
• Paid time off
• Paid parental leave
• Discounted gym membership
• Commuter benefits, flexible spending and dependent care accounts