Payroll & Benefits Specialist

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist manages accurate, timely payroll and day-to-day employee benefits administration. This position applies knowledge of wage-and-hour requirements, helps employees resolve pay and benefits questions, and maintains the records and controls needed for reliable HR operations.

Duties:

• Prepare and process payroll in ADP Workforce Now, including review of timecards, missing punches, overtime, shift differentials, leave, and approved pay changes.
• Work with managers to correct timekeeping issues before payroll deadlines; review payroll preview reports and resolve discrepancies before submission.
• Enter and verify hires, status changes, terminations, deductions, garnishments, and other payroll-related transactions; coordinate new-hire data with the Talent Acquisition & Onboarding Specialist.
• Administer medical, dental, vision, retirement, HSA/FSA, and other applicable benefits, including enrollments, qualifying events, terminations, vendor updates, and open enrollment.
• Reconcile benefit invoices, payroll deductions, and vendor records; research and correct discrepancies promptly.
• Answer employee questions about pay, timekeeping, leave balances, enrollment, coverage, and deductions, escalating policy decisions and complex matters to the HR Manager.
• Apply working knowledge of federal and Maryland wage-and-hour rules, overtime, recordkeeping, paid leave, and payroll deductions; monitor changes and raise needed process or policy updates to the HR Manager.
• Maintain accurate payroll and benefit records, protect confidential information, and support payroll, benefits, and compliance audits.• Provide scheduled coverage for incoming calls and the front entrance, greet and direct visitors, and assist with employee lunch orders or lunch logistics when needed, following visitor and facility procedures.
• Builds positive, trusting relationships with employees, candidates, managers, and visitors; approaches questions and concerns with warmth, patience, and professionalism.
• Assist with employee communications, HR administrative projects, and other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated hands-on payroll processing and benefits administration experience; ADP Workforce Now experience strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of federal and Maryland wage-and-hour and payroll requirements, with ability to research issues and identify when escalation is needed.
• Experience with hourly, multi-shift payroll, timekeeping corrections, benefit deductions, and preferred vendor reconciliations.
• Excellent attention to detail, recordkeeping, confidentiality, and ability to meet firm payroll deadlines.
• Clear, patient communication with employees, managers, vendors, and visitors.
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, payroll/HRIS systems, and benefit administration portals

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required for this position due to applicable government contract requirements.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Accounting, or a related field preferred.
• At least 3 years of hands-on payroll processing experience and 2 years of benefits administration experience.
• Experience processing payroll for hourly employees, including overtime, shift differentials, timecard corrections, and deductions.
• Working knowledge of federal and Maryland wage-and-hour requirements, with the ability to identify issues requiring review or escalation.
• Experience with benefits enrollment, qualifying life events, open enrollment, and deduction or vendor reconciliations.
• Demonstrated experience writing or improving SOPs, checklists, reconciliations, or payroll and benefits workflows.
• ADP Workforce Now experience strongly preferred; experience with a multi-shift workforce preferred