Payroll And Benefits Specialist

Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Job Description

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist manages day-to-day payroll execution and benefits administration for a growing, multi-state employee population. This role ensures accurate and timely processing of bi-weekly payroll while serving as the primary point of contact for employee questions related to payroll, health plans, retirement benefits, and leave programs. The position combines strong financial acumen with a high level of employee support, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly payroll for hourly and salaried employees across multiple states with a high degree of accuracy and timeliness.

• Verify timesheet data, identify discrepancies, and work with department leaders to resolve issues prior to payroll submission.

• Calculate and process special payouts, including bonuses, commissions, severance, and retroactive pay.

• Manage tax compliance for local, state, and federal withholding requirements and ensure proper setup and maintenance of tax profiles.

• Execute payroll deductions for benefits, garnishments, and retirement contributions, ensuring correct and timely withholdings.

• Administer daily benefits operations, including enrollments, terminations, and life event changes in alignment with plan rules.

• Manage leave of absence programs, including FMLA, short-term disability, and parental leave, ensuring accurate tracking and communication.

• Reconcile monthly benefit invoices to confirm accurate carrier billing and correct internal cost allocation.

• Coordinate the annual open enrollment process in partnership with benefits brokers, including plan selections, employee meetings, and processing all benefit updates.

• Audit 401(k) contributions regularly and coordinate annual compliance testing with third-party administrators.

• Maintain accurate digital employee files and records, ensuring data privacy, confidentiality, and HIPAA compliance.

• Generate ad-hoc payroll and benefits reports for finance, HR leadership, and external auditors as needed.

• Support year-end processes, including W-2 verification and Affordable Care Act (ACA) 1095-C reporting.

• Collaborate with HR and finance teams to continuously improve payroll and benefits processes and enhance the employee experience.

• Provide responsive, service-oriented support to employees regarding payroll, benefits, and leave questions.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in business or a related field.

• 3-5 years of payroll experience, including exposure to benefits administration.

• Hands-on experience processing multi-state payroll, including states such as Florida and Tennessee.

• Proficiency with HRIS or payroll systems and the ability to learn new platforms quickly.

• Experience using Paylocity or a similar payroll/HRIS system.

• Working knowledge of FMLA, FLSA, ERISA, COBRA, and ACA compliance requirements.

• Basic to intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to create pivot tables and use VLOOKUP functions.

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in numerical and data-driven work.

• Demonstrated customer service orientation with the ability to support employees professionally and empathetically.

• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Solid financial acumen and comfort working with payroll, benefits, and related data.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills for explaining payroll and benefits information clearly.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience reconciling benefits invoices and working with benefit brokers or third-party administrators.

• Background in administering 401(k) plans and supporting annual compliance testing.

• Experience managing leave of absence programs, including FMLA, short-term disability, and parental leave.

• Familiarity with ACA 1095-C reporting and year-end payroll activities such as W-2 verification.

• Ability to build positive relationships across departments and collaborate with HR and finance teams.

• A proactive, engaged, and enthusiastic approach to work, with an interest in growing within a scaling organization.

• Comfort working in a growing business where processes evolve and there is opportunity to contribute to improvements.

Kaitland Clawson

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Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Midlothian, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.84 - $40.86/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Midlothian,VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 17, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® double diamond winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io (%View email address on click.appcast.io) for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.