Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Company: Crown Crafts, Inc

Location: Gonzales, Louisiana

Reports To: HR Manager

Crown Crafts, Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of infant, toddler, and juvenile consumer products, serving major retailers, specialty stores, and e-commerce channels across the United States.

Crown Crafts is seeking a Benefits & Payroll Specialist who will support multi-state payroll operations and lead the administration, communication, and continuous improvement of employee benefits programs across all subsidiaries. This role serves as a key resource for employees, ensuring payroll accuracy while delivering a high-quality, responsive benefits experience. The ideal candidate is an assertive, detail-oriented self-starter who takes initiative, works independently, and brings strong working knowledge of multi-state payroll and benefits administration.

Benefits Administration

• Lead the day-to-day administration of all company benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), COBRA, and voluntary benefits
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits inquiries, providing clear, timely, and solutions-oriented support
• Own and lead the annual open enrollment process, including planning, employee communication, education, and system updates
• Maintain and track new hire benefits eligibility and enrollment
• Ensure all COBRA communications are completed accurately and timely with third-party administrators
• Partner with external benefits advisors and vendors to manage plans and identify opportunities for improvement
• Verify accuracy and consistency of data across benefits and payroll systems
• Support benefits-related audits and ensure compliance with applicable regulations
• Develop and enhance employee communications to improve understanding and engagement with benefits offerings

Payroll Administration

• Assist in overseeing payroll processing through a third-party provider, ensuring accuracy and compliance across multiple states
• Review and complete time and labor entries, resolving missing or incorrect data
• Audit and correct paid time off balances across all entities
• Generate, maintain, and analyze payroll reports
• Verify 401(k) reports and summaries for accuracy
• Log and track quarterly payroll taxes for reconciliation
• Ensure data integrity across payroll systems and records
• Support payroll-related audits and compliance activities

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive employee and company information
• Identify process improvements and take initiative to enhance payroll and benefits operations
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or college degree preferred
• 4 years of experience in payroll and benefits administration
• Strong experience with multi-state payroll processing required
• Experience with Paylocity and/or Employee Navigator preferred

Skills & Competencies

• Assertive and confident communicator with strong employee-facing skills
• Self-starter who takes initiative and ownership of responsibilities
• Highly detail-oriented with a strong focus on accuracy and quality
• Strong time management and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with teams
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and web-based systems
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Ability to perform basic to intermediate mathematical calculations (rates, ratios, percentages)
• Strong analytical and reasoning skills with the ability to resolve issues and follow established guidelines

Why Join Crown Crafts

• Opportunity to take ownership of and enhance employee benefits programs across multiple entities
• High-impact role with visibility across the organization
• Collaborative team environment with opportunities for process improvement and growth
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package