Payroll & Benefits Specialist II

Job Description

Job Description

Payroll & Benefits Specialist II

| Louisville, Kentucky | Full-Time | On-Site

Compensation: $56,000–$70,000 annually ($27–$34 per hour), commensurate with experience

***Position Overview: **LLFlex is seeking an experienced Payroll & Benefits Specialist to deliver accurate, timely, and compliant payroll and benefits services to our multi-state manufacturing workforce. Our employees rely on this role for correct pay every pay period and for benefits support at the moments that matter most to them and their families.This position offers broad, hands-on responsibility. The Specialist II manages weekly and biweekly payroll for union and non-union employees, maintains time and attendance, leads annual open enrollment, processes leaves of absence, and supports our pension and retirement plans. The role reports to the Director of Human Resources and works closely with Finance, Safety, Operations, union representatives, and outside vendors. The successful candidate will also contribute to ongoing improvements in our payroll and benefits processes and systems.

Key Responsibilities: Payroll Administration - Process weekly (hourly) and biweekly (salaried) payrolls from start to finish in Paycor, meeting all cutoff and pay-date deadlines.

• Administer shift differentials, overtime, premium pay, bonuses, retroactive pay, garnishments, and off-cycle and final pay.
• Apply collective bargaining agreement pay provisions, and administer union dues deductions, initiation fees, and remittances.
• Maintain federal, multi-state, and local tax setups, including Kentucky occupational license taxes, and respond to tax agency notices.
• Reconcile gross-to-net, keep a complete audit trail of all payroll transactions, and resolve discrepancies before finalizing payroll.
• Prepare general ledger and journal entry reports for Accounting, man-hours reports for Safety, and ad hoc reports as requested.
• Support quarter-end and year-end processing, including the preparation, review, and distribution of W-2s.

Time and Attendance - Maintain the time and attendance system, including employee profiles, schedules, pay rules, and accrual policies.

• Review timecards each pay period and work with supervisors to resolve exceptions before cutoff.
• Administer PTO, vacation, sick, and holiday accruals according to the collective bargaining agreement and company policy.
• Serve as the primary contact for timekeeping issues, and train supervisors and employees on timekeeping procedures.

Benefits Administration - Lead annual open enrollment, including planning, employee communications, system and carrier setup, and post-enrollment audits.

• Administer enrollments, qualifying life events, and terminations for medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA/HSA, retirement, and ancillary benefits.
• Set up and maintain FSA and HSA accounts, and conduct dependent eligibility verification.
• Reconcile monthly carrier invoices, coordinate COBRA administration, and support ACA tracking and reporting.
• Support 401(k) plan administration and maintain benefit plan documents and vendor relationships.

Leave Administration - Process FMLA leave, including eligibility determination, required notices, medical certifications, and continuous and intermittent leave tracking.

• Coordinate benefits continuation and premium collection during leave, along with short-term disability and workers' compensation.
• Manage return-to-work documentation and keep complete, accurate leave records.

Pension Plan Support - Maintain pension eligibility, service credit, and employment data for the company's defined benefit plan.

• Provide data for actuarial valuations, audits, and Form 5500 filings, and respond to employee pension inquiries.

HRIS, Reporting, and Audits - Serve as the primary contact with Paycor for support, troubleshooting, and configuration.

• Support payroll and HRIS implementation and conversion projects, including system configuration, data validation, and parallel payroll testing.
• Support workers' compensation, 401(k), pension, and benefits audits with accurate payroll data and reports.

Qualifications**Required - An associate or bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, human resources, or a related field.

• 2–5 years of full-cycle, multi-state payroll experience, including hourly and shift-based employees.
• 1–3 years of benefits administration experience.
• Hands-on experience processing payroll in Paycor or ADP.
• Experience with at least one payroll or HRIS implementation or conversion.
• Experience with workers' compensation audits and payroll reporting for Finance and Safety.
• Working knowledge of FLSA, wage and hour laws, payroll tax regulations, and FMLA.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including XLOOKUP and pivot tables.
• Exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to handle confidential information with discretion.

Preferred - Experience with both Paycor and ADP.

• Payroll experience in a unionized environment.
• Manufacturing or industrial experience.
• Knowledge of ERISA-governed plans, including defined benefit pension plans.
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.

Work Environment- This is an on-site position based in Louisville, Kentucky, with occasional time on the manufacturing floor. Additional hours are sometimes required around payroll deadlines, quarter-end, year-end, and open enrollment. This is a non-exempt position.

Benefits- LLFlex offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off and paid holidays

LLFlex is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in accordance with the ADA and applicable law.

You should be proficient in:

• Human Resources
• Recruiting and Training Experience
• Microsoft Excel