Payroll Benefits Manager

A growing organization is seeking an experienced Payroll & Benefits Manager to take ownership of payroll operations and employee benefits administration. This individual contributor role offers the opportunity to oversee critical payroll and benefits processes while partnering closely with leadership to enhance the employee experience, ensure compliance, and drive process improvements. The Payroll & Benefits Manager will manage end-to-end payroll processing for exempt and non-exempt employees while leading the administration, evaluation, and optimization of employee benefit programs. This role serves as the organization's primary payroll and benefits subject matter expert and key point of contact for employees and leadership. Key Responsibilities Process weekly and biweekly payroll accurately and on time. Administer payroll adjustments, including garnishments, deductions, reimbursements, and other payroll-related transactions. Serve as the primary resource for payroll inquiries and issue resolution. Administer employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement plans. Lead annual open enrollment and benefits renewal processes while coordinating with external vendors and employees. Evaluate and benchmark benefit offerings, providing recommendations on plan design, cost management, and employee experience improvements. Manage relationships with benefit providers, brokers, and third-party administrators. Oversee 401(k) administration, including audit support, compliance testing, and reporting requirements. Support year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing and fringe benefit reporting. Prepare payroll and benefits reports for leadership and maintain accurate records. Assist with monthly close activities, including journal entries, reconciliations, and related accounting support. Stay current on regulatory changes and industry best practices related to payroll, benefits, and total rewards. Participate in special projects and continuous process improvement initiatives. Qualifications 5-10+ years of progressive payroll and/or benefits administration experience. Strong understanding of payroll regulations, compliance requirements, and best practices. Experience administering employee benefits programs and working with brokers, carriers, and retirement plan providers. Experience supporting or leading 401(k) audits, compliance testing, and retirement plan administration. Experience with ADP or a comparable payroll platform is strongly preferred. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities independently while maintaining a high level of accuracy. Excellent communication and customer service skills. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications. #J-18808-Ljbffr CarsonLynch Professional Search