We are looking for a Payroll and Benefits Specialist to support accurate, timely payroll operations and dependable benefits administration for a well-respected manufacturing client. This permanent role works closely with finance and human resources to maintain employee pay data, uphold regulatory compliance, and deliver a high standard of service across the employee lifecycle. The ideal candidate brings strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and hands-on experience managing payroll processes in a multi-state environment.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for hourly and salaried employees across multiple pay schedules, ensuring each payroll is completed accurately and on time.
• Maintain employee payroll records by updating hires, separations, transfers, compensation adjustments, deductions, and other status changes in coordination with HR.
• Review payroll results through audits and reconciliations, including earnings, tax withholdings, benefit deductions, garnishments, banking activity, and related general ledger entries.
• Help manage benefits administration tasks by coordinating deductions, supporting employee inquiries, and ensuring payroll and benefits data remain aligned.
• Apply federal, state, and local payroll regulations to daily operations, including wage and hour rules, employee classification, unemployment requirements, and wage attachments.
• Support quarter-end and year-end payroll activities such as tax submissions, W-2 preparation, applicable 1099 processing, audits, and required regulatory reporting.
• Track payroll law updates across relevant jurisdictions, assess operational impact, and recommend procedural adjustments to maintain compliance.
• Collaborate with HR and finance leadership to strengthen payroll procedures, documentation, internal controls, and scalable workflows, including support for added site locations and system-related process updates.