HR/Payroll Generalist - Compliance and Payroll

Overview The HR Coordinator supports daily workforce operations by maintaining personnel records, coordinating frontline employee relations, and executing compliance workflows. Serving as the first point of contact for employee inquiries, this role balances administrative precision with strong communication. Additionally, this position acts as the critical operational backup for payroll processing and timecard administration, requiring a high level of mathematical accuracy, discretion, and familiarity with automated workforce management systems.
Responsibilities Payroll Continuity & Time Tracking
Payroll Backup: Serves as the operational backup for payroll execution, assuming full processing responsibilities in the absence of the Payroll Administrator.
Timecard Reconciliation: Partners with supervisors to audit, address, and resolve timecard discrepancies, ensuring accurate labor distribution and policy compliance.
HRIS Maintenance: Maintains real-time employee data within the HRIS/Payroll interface to support precise data synchronization and reporting.
Tracks and documents lifecycle personnel changes within the core database for financial and operational reporting.
Regulatory Compliance: Maintains tracking for protected leaves (FMLA) and statutory employment eligibility (I-9 document control/E-Verify). Assigns training to new hires through the talent management system.
Monitors access to personnel, medical, and insurance files to ensure strict alignment with privacy and security standards.
Communication & Employee Engagement
Employee Relations: Serves as the first point of contact for frontline inquiries, professionally fielding questions, escalating grievances, and answering department communications.
Prepares and assembles new hire orientation and onboarding documentation packets.
Recognition Programs: Coordinates communications, milestone tracking, and logistical planning for employee retirements and corporate recognition programs.
Talent Pipeline & Operations
Contingent Labor: Communicates with external staffing agencies to schedule interviews.
Audits on-site safety and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies to maintain optimal inventory.
Technical & Payroll Must-Haves
Payroll & Timekeeping: 12 years of experience working with automated time and attendance software (e.g., HRIS & Digital Literacy: Proven experience navigating an HRIS database for data entry, onboarding, and basic reporting. Proficiency with Microsoft Office (specifically intermediate Excel).
Compliance & Administrative Must-Haves
Hands-on experience with I-9 document control, E-Verify, and a foundational knowledge of FMLA regulations to accurately track employee leaves.
Strict Confidentiality: Proven track record of handling highly sensitive data (medical records, insurance reports, compensation) with absolute discretion.
Professional Experience: 2+ years of dedicated administrative experience within a corporate HR department or a high-volume payroll/workforce operations setting.
Hands-on proficiency navigating cloud-based HRIS and automated time-tracking systems—specifically Paylocity or an equivalent platform.
Educational Foundation: High School Diploma or equivalent required
Frequently required to walk out onto the manufacturing/shop floor to interface with supervisors, distribute notices, or address employee inquiries. Splits time between a climate-controlled office and an active manufacturing plant floor (exposure to moving mechanical parts, varying temperatures, and moderate to loud noise).
Ferno-Washington, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran, or disability status.

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