Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Accountabilities:

• Own end-to-end biweekly US payroll processing through ADP, including input validation, pre-submission checks, reconciliations, approvals, and funding coordination.

• Administer payroll changes and transactions, including new hires, departures, compensation changes, variable payments, deductions, leave-related pay, garnishments, and off-cycle payments.

• Maintain multi-state payroll tax and jurisdiction setups, investigate discrepancies and tax notices, and coordinate corrections with payroll providers and Finance.

• Partner with Finance on payroll reconciliations, journal entries, reporting, year-end close, W-2 production and corrections, payroll audits, and workers’ compensation audit data.

• Serve as the primary US payroll contact, resolving employee and vendor questions and escalating significant errors, compliance concerns, and policy exceptions when needed.

• Administer US employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA/HSA, commuter, wellness, EAP, and voluntary plans, as applicable.

• Manage benefits eligibility, enrollments, qualifying life events, leaves, departures, carrier files, payroll deductions, employer contributions, invoices, and reconciliations.

• Coordinate COBRA administration, ensuring qualifying events, notices, elections, and coverage records are handled accurately and on time.

• Lead the operational delivery of annual open enrollment, including timelines, system configuration and testing, employee communications, enrollment tracking, carrier submissions, and post-enrollment reconciliation.

• Act as the internal 401(k) plan administrator within delegated authority, managing eligibility, enrollment, deferral changes, employer contributions, vesting data, loan repayments, and participant requests in coordination with providers.

• Coordinate 401(k) contribution reconciliations and remittances, annual compliance activities, census data, nondiscrimination testing, participant notices, audit requests, and Form 5500 preparation and filing with qualified providers and authorized signatories.

• Support the annual benefits renewal cycle by coordinating broker requests, data collection, vendor meetings, premium and contribution analysis, and implementation of approved plan changes.

• Maintain payroll and benefits compliance calendars, coordinate required reporting and disclosures, and work with internal specialists and external providers on ERISA, ACA, Section 125, and other applicable requirements.

• Maintain confidential, accurate, audit-ready records, plan documents, standard operating procedures, and employee guidance, applying appropriate privacy and access controls.

• Monitor vendor performance, resolve operational issues, improve processes and data quality, and maintain documented review, approval, payment, and contingency coverage controls.

Requirements:

• Typically 5–7+ years of progressive US payroll and benefits experience, including independent responsibility for multi-state payroll, benefits administration, and annual open enrollment.

• Hands-on experience administering 401(k) plans, including contribution reconciliations, provider coordination, testing data, audit support, and annual reporting activities.

• Practical experience with COBRA administration and employee benefits renewal processes.

• Advanced proficiency with ADP Workforce Now or a comparable payroll platform, benefits administration systems, and Microsoft Excel.

• Strong reconciliation, reporting, and data-analysis skills, with the ability to investigate discrepancies and ensure accurate records across systems.

• Working knowledge of US payroll taxation, wage and hour requirements, benefits compliance, and retirement plan administration.

• Sound judgment in identifying compliance risks and recognizing when specialist advice or additional approval is required.

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and resolve issues promptly.

• Clear communication skills and confidence serving as a primary point of contact for employees, vendors, brokers, and internal stakeholders.

• A high level of discretion and commitment to confidentiality when handling sensitive payroll, benefits, and employee information.

• Ability to work independently while maintaining effective collaboration and appropriate operational controls.

• Must be locally based in Ohio, as the role requires working on the ground with the US-based office.

Benefits:

• Salary and specific compensation details are not specified in the job description.

• The role offers responsibility for end-to-end US payroll, benefits, and 401(k) administration.

• Opportunity to work closely with Global Payroll, Total Rewards, Finance, and external benefits and payroll partners.

• Work location: Columbus, Ohio, United States. Local presence is a core requirement; this is not advertised as a remote position.

• Specific healthcare, retirement, paid leave, and other employee benefit details are not provided in the source description.