Payroll & Benefits Manager

The Payroll & Benefits Manager leads the accurate, timely, and compliant administration of payroll and employee benefits for a fast-paced, multi-state hospitality organization with 800+ employees. This role manages complex, high-volume payroll operations in an environment with frequent hiring, separations, role changes, variable schedules, overtime, tips, and multiple pay policies. The ideal candidate brings strong multi-state payroll expertise, a service-oriented mindset, exceptional attention to detail, and at lea st two years of current or recent hands-on experience using UKG Ready . They will partner closely with People Operations, Finance, Operations, and location leaders to ensure employees are paid correctly, benefit programs are administered effectively, and the company remains compliant with federal, state, and local requirements. Essential Responsibilities Payroll Administration Oversee end-to-end, multi-state payroll processing for 800+ hourly and salaried employees across multiple hospitality locations. Ensure accurate and timely processing of regular payrolls, off-cycle payrolls, final paychecks, bonuses, commissions, reimbursements, retroactive adjustments, and other special payments. Manage payroll requirements involving variable hours, overtime, multiple pay rates, shift differentials, tipped employees, tip credits, service charges, deductions, garnishments, and paid leave programs, as applicable. Review and validate timekeeping, attendance, PTO, wage changes, new-hire data, terminations, and payroll exceptions before each payroll cycle. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage-and-hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, meal/rest period, pay-frequency, pay-stub, and final-pay requirements. Maintain accurate payroll records, audit trails, employee files, and supporting documentation in accordance with company policy and legal retention requirements. Reconcile payroll registers, payroll funding, taxes, deductions, benefit premiums, general ledger files, and third-party vendor invoices. Coordinate tax filings, payroll tax registrations, unemployment accounts, wage verifications, audits, year-end processing, and distribution of W-2 forms. Research and resolve payroll discrepancies, employee questions, and escalated issues promptly, professionally, and confidentially. UKG Ready Administration Serve as the primary administrator and subject-matter expert for UKG Ready, including payroll, timekeeping, scheduling, reporting, PTO, and benefits-related functions, as applicable. Maintain system configuration, pay rules, earning and deduction codes, organizational structures, employee data, workflows, security roles, and reporting requirements. Monitor interfaces between UKG Ready and benefit carriers, retirement-plan vendors, accounting systems, time clocks, and other third-party platforms. Partner with People Operations, Finance, IT, and UKG support to troubleshoot issues, test system updates, implement enhancements, and improve workflows. Develop standard operating procedures, system documentation, user guides, and training for managers and internal stakeholders. Build and maintain payroll, headcount, labor-cost, turnover, overtime, benefit-enrollment, and audit reports for leadership. Benefits Administration Administer employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement plans, flexible spending accounts, wellness programs, and leave-related benefits, as applicable. Manage employee eligibility, enrollments, qualifying life events, terminations, deductions, carrier feeds, invoices, and reconciliations. Coordinate annual open enrollment, including project planning, employee communications, system configuration, vendor coordination, enrollment support, and post-enrollment reconciliation. Partner with benefit brokers, carriers, retirement-plan administrators, and internal stakeholders to address employee issues and ensure accurate plan administration. Support compliance activities related to benefits, including ACA reporting, COBRA administration, ERISA documentation, plan audits, eligibility tracking, and required employee notices. Maintain accurate benefit records and ensure confidentiality of employee personal and health-related information. Compliance, and Process Improvement Establish payroll and benefits service standards that support a high-volume, high-turnover workforce and a positive employee experience. Identify opportunities to streamline processes, strengthen controls, reduce errors, and improve use of UKG Ready and related systems. Maintain current knowledge of changes in payroll tax, employment law, benefits regulations, and hospitality‑industry pay practices. Participate in cross-functional People Operations, finance, operational, and system-implementation projects. Handle sensitive employee, payroll, and benefits information with a high degree of professionalism, discretion, and integrity. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered. Five or more years of progressive payroll experience , including responsibility for multi-state payroll. Experience supporting a workforce of 800 or more employees . At least two years of current or recent hands‑on experience using UKG Ready , including payroll and timekeeping administration. Experience in a high-volume, high-turnover environment; hospitality, food and dining, contract services, retail, healthcare, staffing, or similarly complex hourly-workforce experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll laws, wage-and-hour requirements, payroll tax practices, garnishments, and final-pay rules. Experience administering employee benefits and working with brokers, carriers, retirement-plan vendors, and COBRA/leave administrators. Strong proficiency with Excel, including reconciliations, formulas, pivot tables, reporting, and data analysis. Proven ability to manage confidential information, meet recurring deadlines, and maintain exceptional accuracy under pressure. Preferred Qualifications CPP, FPC, CEBS, PHR, SHRM‑CP, or comparable professional certification. Experience with multi‑entity payroll structures, labor-cost allocation, and general ledger integrations. Experience leading payroll or benefits supporting system implementations or process‑improvement initiatives. Familiarity with ACA reporting, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, state leave programs, and retirement‑plan administration. Physical and Work Requirements Ability to work in‑office 5 days a week with flexibility to support payroll deadlines, open enrollment, year‑end processing, and urgent employee or operational needs. Equal Employment Opportunity Phoenix3 Collective is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to legally protected characteristics under applicable federal, state, or local law. Phoenix3 is a collection of boutique culinary and hospitality companies that leverage expertise, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence to deliver consistent, brand‑driven dining experiences in the sectors we serve. More information about Phoenix3 can be found at Phoenix3 | Taking Hospitality To New Heights. Don’t meet ALL the requirements but think you have the ability and determination to have an impact in this role? Let us know! Data shows that diverse candidates may be less likely to apply when they do not think they meet all the job requirements, but very few successful candidates possess all the requested skills and experiences. We are a culture of learners, and we want culture accelerators who are willing to learn and grow. If you think that is you and this role fits with your career aspirations, give it a shot! #J-18808-Ljbffr