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.