Payroll & Benefits Coordinator

Purpose: Lead and execute all aspects of organizational payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness. This role serves as the primary payroll lead within Talent & Culture, while also supporting benefits administration, HRIS integrity, and data‑informed decision‑making.

 Responsibilities:

 Payroll Leadership & Compliance (Primary Responsibility)

• Own and manage the end‑to‑end payroll process for a single‑state workforce, including preparation, processing, review, validation, and reconciliation.
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately and on time in compliance with federal, state, and local wage and tax regulations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all payroll‑related inquiries, resolving discrepancies and responding to employee questions with clarity and professionalism.
• Partner with Talent & Culture leadership and Finance to reconcile payroll, resolve variances, and support internal or external audits as needed.
• Manage earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, and benefit deductions with a high level of accuracy.
• Process off‑cycle payments, retroactive pay, bonuses, and special payrolls when required.
• Monitor regulatory and compliance updates affecting payroll and recommend necessary process or system changes.
• Document payroll procedures and continuously improve processes to ensure strong controls and business continuity.

 Benefits Administration

• Administer health and welfare benefit programs, including enrollments, changes, and terminations, in compliance with ERISA, IRS, HIPAA, COBRA, ACA, and DOL requirements.
• Support annual open enrollment activities, including planning timelines, employee communications, and system updates.
• Ensure payroll deductions align accurately with benefit elections.
• Reconcile benefits invoices and ensure timely and accurate payments.
• Support required benefits compliance filings (e.g., ACA reporting, Form 5500, Medicare Part D notices).

 HRIS & Payroll Systems

• Serve as a key system administrator for ADP Workforce Now, with primary ownership of payroll and related data.
• Configure, maintain, test, and optimize payroll and benefits functionality within HR systems.
• Ensure employee data integrity across payroll and HRIS platforms.
• Identify opportunities for automation and system enhancements to improve payroll, benefits, and reporting efficiency.
• Create payroll, benefits, and workforce reports using ADP, Excel, and Power BI.

 Compensation & Workforce Data Support

• Support compensation programs through payroll alignment, data tracking, and reporting.
• Assist with salary surveys, compensation spreadsheets, and system support for compensation changes and communications.

 Talent & Culture Operations

• Partner with Talent & Culture colleagues on onboarding, reporting, and day‑to‑day operational needs.
• Document payroll, benefits, and system processes to ensure consistency and continuity.
• Demonstrate organizational values and a strong service mindset in all interactions.
• Perform additional duties in support of the Talent & Culture team as needed.

 Requirements and Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 4–6 years of hands‑on payroll experience, serving as the primary payroll administrator.
• Experience administering payroll for a workforce of approximately 75 employees.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll systems and HRIS platforms, preferably ADP Workforce Now.
• Solid understanding of payroll and employment regulations.
• High attention to detail with strong organizational and follow‑through skills.
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Clear, effective written and verbal communication skills.

 Core Competencies: 

• Customer Focus - Prioritizes understanding and addressing the needs and expectations of our community and stakeholders. Demonstrates active listening, empathy, and responsiveness, with a consistent commitment to delivering exceptional service.
• Plans and Aligns - Invests time in planning, discovery, and reflection. Engages in active mindfulness to identify and adjust mental shortcuts and assumptions. Seeks out diverse perspectives and experiences to test thinking, proactively anticipates reactions and multiple outcomes, and plans for potential issues and industry trends.
• Collaborative - Works effectively with others—within the team and cross‑functionally—to achieve individual, departmental, and organizational goals. Values diverse input, shared accountability, and partnership as essential to producing strong outcomes.
• Decision Making & Problem Solving - Simplifies complex challenges using critical thinking and sound judgment. Gathers and evaluates relevant information, incorporates multiple perspectives, identifies root causes, and determines practical, effective solutions. Applies an audience‑centric approach by considering the needs of stakeholders when making decisions and implementing solutions.

Benefits & Salary: 

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan offers a robust total compensation package. The salary range for those entering this role is $57,000 - $86,000.  In addition to a competitive base salary, benefits include but aren’t limited to 20 days of vacation accrued monthly, 5 personal days, 13 holidays, 9 sick days accrued monthly, paid parental leave, and employer paid short/long term disability. The Community Foundation also offers a pension retirement program after 1 year of service which contributes 10% of salary. This position requires the ability to work in a hybrid environment, with an average of 3 in-office workdays per week, with Wednesday being a required in-office day.  

Application Instructions:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until filled.

To apply, visit www.cfsem.org/careers and look for "Current Opportunities".   Submit your application online through the portal.

To provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, height, weight, political or union affiliation, disability or any factor prohibited by law.