summary of position

The Payroll and Employee Benefits Specialist is responsible for processing payroll, completing related payroll procedures, and managing employee payroll and benefit records.

Essential functions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Payroll:

• Prepare and process payroll weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, quarterly, and special payroll runs on time.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies by collecting and analyzing information.
• Calculate payroll liabilities and pay federal and state taxes following each payroll processed.
• Maintain and update payroll and employee records as information changes (usually weekly), including changes in exemptions, insurance coverage, savings deductions, and job title and department/division transfers.
• Process new hire paperwork; create employee physical file and employee record in AS400.
• Process employee terminations, including calculating and processing final paycheck and recovering any money owed to RAE Corporation.
• Manage employee garnishments, including deducting from paychecks, managing online payments, and creating weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly AP requests.
• Perform month-end procedures, including balancing and closing payroll and posting journal entries.
• Perform required reporting, including W-2 forms and annual reporting to government agencies and corporate tax preparers.
• Analyze data and prepare a variety of analyses for supervisors and leadership.
• Respond to employee questions about payroll and benefits.
• Maintain employee confidence and protect payroll operations by keeping information confidential.

Employee Benefits:

• Attend new hire orientation twice a month and present to new employees about RAE Corporation's insurance benefits.
• Meet with new hires individually to answer any insurance questions they may have and enroll them in their choice of benefits before their effective date.
• Manage all employee benefits information: new enrollments, terminations, benefit changes, status changes, etc.
• Reconcile benefit invoices each month to the current employee census, make necessary adjustments, and remit benefit invoices monthly.
• Completes various journal entries and closes modules at the end of each month.
• Organize annual open enrollment: ensure dates are scheduled at an appropriate time, create benefit statements and deliver to all employees before meeting dates, schedule and coordinate individual employee meeting times to minimize the impact on their departments, speak at each meeting throughout the day, organize and enter changes for all employees before the open enrollment deadline.

Other Functions:

• Understand and communicate company policies and procedures.
• Supply new and relevant information for the RAE newsletter three times per year.
• Attend work as outlined in Employee Handbook and specified by your supervisor.
• Maintain a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Complete other tasks as directed by supervisor.
• Comply with government regulations, laws, company policies, and company procedures.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed

Desired qualifications

Education: High school diploma or GED required.

Experience: Previous experience processing payroll and benefits administration preferred—experience working with AS400 or similar systems a plus.

Skills: Basic computer skills, including the ability to use Microsoft productivity software. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required. Practical oral and written communication skills. Self-motivated. Organizational / Multi-tasking abilities. Strong math skills. Analyzing Information. Data Entry. Attention to Detail. Confidentiality. Thoroughness. Reporting Skills.

Interaction with others

Reports to the Controller and direct interaction with the VP of Accounting, senior leadership, and individual employees companywide. Must be able to accurately receive and understand supervisors' instructions to determine if further instruction is required before attempting to complete the assigned task in constant communication with other departments (Human Resources, production, etc.). The employee must be able to work with all RAE team employees and show a spirit of cooperation with others in the organization.

working environment

The job is conducted primarily in a climate-controlled office setting, with occasional exposure to the manufacturing environment, including moving mechanical parts and vehicles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

tools & equipment used

Calculator

Photocopier/Scanner/Fax Machine

Online Benefit Portals

Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Sharepoint, Outlook, etc.)

Telephone

AS400

Safety Glasses when required

Computer

Printer

physical demands

Other Physical Requirements: Vision – Near, Sense of Sound (Audible Voice), Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Safety Glasses)