Payroll Specialist

Payroll & Benefits Specialist Location: Brattleboro, VT About the Opportunity We are partnering with a well-established manufacturing organization seeking a Payroll & Benefits Specialist to join its team. This position offers the opportunity to take ownership of payroll processing while supporting benefits administration in a collaborative, employee-focused environment. The organization maintains a friendly, team-oriented culture where employees are approachable, supportive, and committed to helping one another succeed. The work environment is business casual, quiet, and professional, with onsite amenities including a cafeteria and comfortable workspace. This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who enjoys balancing payroll administration, employee support, compliance responsibilities, and benefits coordination while working alongside an experienced and collaborative team. Key ResponsibilitiesPayroll Administration + Process biweekly payroll for approximately 170 employees across multiple states. + Review and audit payroll data for accuracy, including timecards, earnings, deductions, taxes, and garnishments. + Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations. + Maintain payroll records and documentation. + Research and resolve payroll discrepancies and employee inquiries. + Prepare payroll-related reports and support payroll audits as needed. Benefits Administration + Assist with employee benefits administration, including enrollment changes, terminations, and ongoing maintenance. + Support open enrollment activities and employee benefit communications. + Serve as a resource for employee questions related to benefit programs. + Coordinate benefit updates and changes with internal stakeholders. Benefits Audit & Reconciliation + Reconcile benefit carrier invoices against payroll deductions. + Review employee benefit elections for accuracy and compliance. + Investigate and resolve benefit deduction discrepancies. + Assist with benefit audits and reporting initiatives. HRIS & Reporting + Maintain employee data within the HRIS/payroll system. + Generate payroll, benefits, and compliance reports as requested. + Support ongoing process improvements and system optimization efforts. QualificationsRequired + 3+ years of payroll experience. + Experience processing multi-state payroll. + Strong understanding of payroll tax regulations and compliance requirements. + Experience managing full-cycle payroll processing. + Excellent attention to detail and problem-solving skills. + Strong communication and customer service orientation. Preferred + Benefits administration experience. + Benefits audit and reconciliation experience. + HRIS experience, preferably within a payroll environment. + Experience with payroll systems such as Paylocity, ADP, UKG, Workday, Paycom, or similar platforms. + Manufacturing or industrial company experience. What Makes This Opportunity Attractive? + Collaborative and highly supportive team environment. + Experienced payroll professionals available for training and guidance. + Friendly employee population and strong workplace culture. + Quiet, low-drama work environment. + Business casual atmosphere. + Onsite cafeteria and employee amenities. + Opportunity to broaden experience across payroll, benefits, compliance, and HRIS functions. This position is ideal for a payroll professional looking for a stable organization, supportive leadership, and an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while continuing to develop their payroll and benefits expertise. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Brattleboro, VT. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $26.00 - $29.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. 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 Brattleboro,VT. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 9, 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® Platinum Award 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.