Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Hudsonville Ice Cream - Holland MI

Position Summary

This role acts as the subject-matter expert and strategic advisor to HR Business Partners, Executive Team, Finance, and Operations on all payroll and benefit-related matters. The primary objectives are the accurate processing of payroll, compliance with benefit regulations, and the provision of dependable workforce data. Specifically, the position is responsible for delivering comprehensive payroll and benefits preparation, processing, administration, and optimization across the manufacturing environment, while serving as the escalation point for complex employee pay and benefit issues for team members at every level within the company.

Duties & Responsibilities

Payroll & Benefits Subject Matter Expert:

• Work alongside HR Business partners to support team member needs and benefit offerings.
• Provide training as needed for supervisors and other team members to ensure compliance and full utilization of tools.
• Address or respond to inquires from managers and employees.
• Support manufacturing environment with 24/5 some Saturdays, shift-based operations.
• Responsible for identifying potential improvements in benefits, payroll and control processes, ensuring that identified opportunities are implemented successfully.
• Escalation point to resolve complex pay and benefit issues
• Design and execute check points to ensure 100% accuracy in payroll processing
• Ensure alignment between timekeeping rules and payroll calculations.
• Provide weekly/monthly/quarterly labor and benefit claims reporting including 401k funding reporting, overtime, headcount, metric, utilization and claims analysis.
• Maintain an updated presentation for New Team member Orientation that may be shared via e-mail and/or presented in-person.
  
  
  

Payroll & Timekeeping:

• Accurate end-to-end processing of weekly and bi-weekly payrolls for hourly, executive and salaried team members in UKG Pro WFM/Timekeeping, Core, and Payroll Applications.
• Ensure compliance with FLSA, wage & hour laws, tax regulations, and audit requirements, corrections and reconciliations
• Manage off-cycle payrolls, incentives, and special compensation
• Process court orders that impact pay and communicate liens/garnishments to team members.
• Ownership of time & attendance systems, system logic, timecard accuracy, and cutoff controls.
• Responsible for reviewing and calculating premium adjustments that affect payroll deductions, including determining refunds or retroactive payments resulting from status changes or new hire enrollments.
• Document and maintain comprehensive procedures for all payroll and timekeeping processes to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
  
  
  

Benefits:

• Responsible for overall administration of all benefit programs including, medical/dental/wellness/vision, FML, STD, LTD, Life Insurance, 401(K), etc.
• Lead and execute open enrollment strategy, communications and execution.
• Manage tools for employees to be well informed of what benefits are offered and their current enrollment elections.
• Primary contact with Benefits consultants and plan providers; ensure efficient administration of benefit plans.
• Ensure proper day-to-day administration of benefit changes and enrollments are processed correctly in systems.
• Recommend and implement new benefits offerings or modifications to annual plan to improve competitive position and drive the company’s long-term strategy.
• Oversee compliance with government regulations for all retirement and health & welfare plans, including ensuring the satisfaction of data protection and privacy requirements.
• Administer life insurance claims by collaborating with HR, family members and the external life insurance vendor for payment.
• Responsible for reviewing and responding to court orders that may require new enrollment and communications to team members.
• Responsible for administrative type items such as updates to annual benefit summaries, Health Savings Account Employer contribution processing / audits, and other similar activities.
• Participate in system testing, understanding how the enrollment system works, and working on the day-to-day system improvements
• Document and maintain comprehensive procedures for all benefit system processes to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
  
  
  

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this role. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required. All employees may be required to perform other duties outside of their normal responsibilities as needed

Qualifications

Experience:

• 5-7 years of progressive payroll and benefits experience
• Strong UKG Pro experience in Workforce Management, Core, Payroll and Performance or similar payroll processing system.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of employee benefit plans, health and wellness, FML/STD/LTD, Smart Dollar, Wellness, Life Insurance and 401k Plan Management.
  
  
  

Skills and Competencies:

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Strong analytical skills with a focus on process optimization and problem-solving.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Motivated by serving team members in a manufacturing environment
• Strong computer skills required; Microsoft Office suite, proficient to advanced skills in Excel, and experience with HRIS systems are required and essential.
• Must have strong mathematical proficiency.
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve, analyze, and ability to escalate when needed.
• Ability to be nimble and adapt to a fast-paced environment.
• Highly organized and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Vendor management and customer service skills using diplomacy and sensitivity.
  
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an standard office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate (up to 20 pounds) amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; may be required to travel to other locations using various modes of private and commercial transportation; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.
• The ability to see normally, including close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth vision with or without correction.
• Ability to hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.