PAYROLL SPECIALIST (REMOTE)

Since our opening in 1987, New Hope Treatment Centers has been a welcoming place for young people in moments of crisis. The Payroll Specialist is a key member of our Employee Experience & Talent team, responsible for ensuring accurate and timely processing of payroll for all employees. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of payroll processes, tax regulations, and compliance standards. The Payroll Specialist will play a vital role in maintaining payroll records, resolving payroll-related issues, managing employee benefits, and contributing to the overall efficiency of our financial and EE&T operations.---

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

Payroll Processing:
• Process bi-weekly or monthly payroll in compliance with company policies and applicable regulations.
• Ensure accurate calculation of wages, deductions, and withholdings.
• Review and verify time sheets, attendance records, and overtime.

Tax Compliance:
• Stay current with federal, state, and local tax regulations to ensure accurate tax withholding and reporting.
• Ensure payroll tax returns and other related documents are submitted via HRIS in a timely manner.

Record Maintenance:
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date payroll records, including employee profiles, tax information, and benefit deductions.
• Reconcile payroll accounts and resolve discrepancies.

Employee Benefits & ACA Compliance:
• Administer employee benefit programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, and other voluntary benefits.
• Ensure compliance with Affordable Care Act (ACA) regulations, including eligibility determination, enrollment, reporting, and communication with employees.
• Manage open enrollment processes and provide assistance to employees with benefit-related inquiries.
• Coordinate with benefit providers to ensure accurate and timely administration.

Employee Inquiries:
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding payroll matters, deductions, tax-related concerns, and benefits.
• Address and resolve payroll and benefits-related issues in a timely and professional manner.

Reporting:
• Generate and distribute payroll reports to management as needed.
• Prepare ad-hoc reports and analyses for finance and HR departments.

Compliance and Auditing:
• Conduct regular audits to ensure payroll and benefits accuracy and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with auditors during internal and external audits.

Competencies

The Payroll Specialist must demonstrate competence in the following areas:
• Payroll Accuracy & Attention to Detail: Demonstrates excellence by accurately processing payroll, reviewing timekeeping data, identifying discrepancies, and ensuring employees are paid correctly and timely in accordance with established procedures.
• Payroll Tax Compliance: Maintains compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements, including accurate tax withholding, reporting, reconciliations, filings, and timely submission of payroll tax obligations.
• Wage & Hour Compliance: Applies knowledge of applicable federal and state wage-and-hour requirements, including overtime, deductions, minimum wage, timekeeping, and other payroll-related legal requirements to support compliant payroll practices.
• Records Management & Confidentiality: Maintains accurate and organized payroll records, employee compensation documentation, tax records, and related files while safeguarding confidential employee and financial information.
• Reporting & Reconciliation: Prepares, reviews, and reconciles payroll reports to ensure data integrity, identify discrepancies, support audits, and provide accurate payroll information to internal stakeholders and leadership.
• Compliance & Accountability: Demonstrates integrity by following payroll policies and procedures, meeting payroll and tax deadlines, maintaining required documentation, and promptly addressing compliance concerns or discrepancies.
• Problem Solving & Collaboration: Investigates payroll discrepancies and employee inquiries, determines appropriate resolutions, and collaborates with HR, Finance, Benefits, and other stakeholders to ensure accurate and compliant payroll outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications
• 4+ years of related experience in payroll.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• Proven experience processing payroll and maintaining accurate payroll records.
• Working knowledge of payroll processes, tax withholding, wage and hour requirements, compliance standards, and employee benefits deductions.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Ability to pass required background checks, drug screening, and any state-mandated employment clearances.

Preferred Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Experience working in a healthcare, behavioral health, residential treatment, or other regulated healthcare environment.
• Experience with multi-state payroll processing and applicable state and local payroll requirements.
• Experience with payroll systems such as Paycom, UKG, ADP, or similar platforms.
• Experience with payroll reporting, audits, reconciliations, and year-end processes.