Payroll, Benefits, & Retirement Plans Specialist

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Manager, HR Operations, the Payroll, Benefits & Retirement Plans Specialist serves as the subject matter expert responsible for end-to-end payroll processing, benefits administration, and retirement plan management for Abacus Group’s US operations. This critical role ensures accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery of all payroll and benefits functions for approximately 800-900 US employees across multiple states.

This position requires deep technical expertise in multi-state payroll processing within Workday, comprehensive knowledge of federal and state tax regulations, and proven ability to manage complex benefits and 401(k) administration. The successful candidate will serve as the primary point of contact for payroll vendors, act as the Workday payroll power user, and ensure full compliance with FLSA, tax law, SOC 2 audit requirements, and DOL regulations.

This role has been created in response to critical operational needs, system configuration challenges during Workday implementation, and gaps in benefits and retirement plan administration. The ideal candidate will bring immediate expertise to stabilize operations, implement robust compliance controls, and support the Senior Manager, HR Operations in establishing best-in-class payroll and benefits delivery.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Including, but not limited to):

Payroll Processing & Compliance (60%)

• Own end-to-end payroll processing in Workday for 800-900 US employees across multiple states
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations including wage-hour laws, garnishments, and multi-state requirements
• Configure and maintain Workday payroll rules, deductions, and earnings codes with precision and accuracy
• Process off-cycle payrolls including bonuses, commissions, severance payments, and corrections
• Reconcile payroll accounts and resolve discrepancies proactively to prevent errors
• Manage payroll tax filings and year-end W-2 processing
• Serve as primary point of contact for payroll vendor, managing relationships and escalations
• Identify and resolve payroll errors before they impact employees, acting as compliance safety net
• Support SOC 2 and DOL audit requirements related to payroll controls and documentation

Benefits Administration (25%)

• Administer health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plans
• Support open enrollment and new hire benefits onboarding processes
• Manage benefits vendor relationships and resolve escalations
• Ensure accurate benefits deductions and reconciliations in Workday
• Support leave of absence administration including STD, LTD, and FMLA coordination
• Maintain compliance with ACA reporting and other benefits regulatory requirements

Retirement Plan Administration (15%)

• Administer 401(k) plan including eligibility, enrollments, and contributions
• Coordinate annual compliance testing including ADP, ACP, and Top-Heavy testing
• Manage 401(k) vendor relationship with Fidelity or other provider
• Process loan and distribution requests in compliance with plan documents
• Support plan audits and Form 5500 filing preparation
• Ensure accurate 401(k) deductions and employer contributions in payroll system

System Administration & Process Improvement

• Serve as Workday payroll power user, troubleshooting system errors and optimizing workflows
• Configure and maintain Workday payroll rules, deductions, and system parameters
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and compliance controls
• Develop and maintain payroll and benefits procedures documentation
• Train HR Operations team members on payroll and benefits processes as needed
• Generate and analyze payroll reports and metrics for leadership review

SKILLS:

Technical Expertise - Payroll

• Expert knowledge of multi-state payroll processing, tax regulations, and wage-hour compliance
• Deep understanding of FLSA, tax withholding, garnishments, and payroll compliance requirements
• Advanced Workday Payroll proficiency including configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization
• Proven ability to identify and prevent payroll before they occur
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliation, and financial controls
• Experience with payroll vendor management and service delivery expectations

Technical Expertise - Benefits & Retirement

• Comprehensive knowledge of benefits administration including health, dental, vision, life, and disability plans
• Strong understanding of 401(k) plan administration, compliance testing (ADP, ACP, Top-Heavy), and DOL requirements
• Experience with ACA reporting, COBRA administration, and benefits compliance
• Knowledge of leave of absence administration including FMLA, STD, and LTD coordination
• Ability to manage benefits and 401(k) vendor relationships effectively
• Understanding of benefits enrollment systems and open enrollment processes

Compliance & Risk Management

• Strong compliance orientation with deep understanding of SOC 2, DOL audit requirements, and IRS regulations
• Ability to identify compliance risks and implement preventive controls
• Experience with audit preparation, documentation, and response
• Understanding of internal controls and segregation of duties principles
• Proactive approach to catching errors before they impact employees or create compliance violations

System & Technical Skills

• Advanced Excel skills including VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and complex formulas
• Strong HRIS proficiency with ability to configure systems and troubleshoot issues independently
• Ability to generate, analyze, and interpret payroll and benefits reports
• Experience with payroll integrations, data feeds, and system interfaces
• Comfortable learning new systems and adapting to technology changes

Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills

• Strong analytical capabilities with attention to detail and accuracy
• Independent problem-solver who can troubleshoot complex issues without extensive guidance
• Ability to identify root causes of errors and implement sustainable solutions
• Process improvement mindset with ability to streamline workflows and increase efficiency
• Critical thinking skills to evaluate situations and make sound decisions

Communication & Collaboration

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to explain complex payroll and benefits concepts clearly
• Strong customer service orientation with ability to respond professionally to employee inquiries
• Collaborative approach with ability to work effectively with HR Operations team, finance, and external vendors
• Ability to escalate issues appropriately and keep stakeholders informed
• Professional demeanor with strong discretion handling confidential payroll and benefits information

Work Style & Attributes

• Extreme attention to detail with zero tolerance for errors in payroll processing
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities
• Self-directed and able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Calm under pressure with ability to handle time-sensitive payroll processing deadlines
• Proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues before they escalate
• Strong work ethic with commitment to accuracy and timeliness

ATTRIBUTES THAT WILL DRIVE SUCCESS:

• COMPLIANCE EXPERT who understands tax law, wage-hour regulations, and audit requirements inherently
• WORKDAY POWER USER who can configure systems, troubleshoot errors, and optimize workflows independently
• INDEPENDENT OPERATOR who catches errors before they happen and solves problems without extensive guidance
• DETAIL-OBSESSED with zero tolerance for payroll errors and commitment to accuracy
• CRISIS STABILIZER who can step into urgent situations and fix problems immediately
• CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL with CPP/FPC credentials demonstrating mastery of payroll compliance
• RISK MITIGATOR who serves as compliance safety net for SOC 2 audits and DOL requirements
• PROCESS IMPROVER who identifies opportunities to increase efficiency and strengthen controls
• BENEFITS ADMINISTRATOR who can manage vendor relationships and handle 401(k) compliance testing
• TEAM PLAYER who supports Senior Manager HR Operations in building excellent service delivery

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Education

From an accredited college or university in the related field of:		Required/Preferred
Bachelors Degree	Bachelors degree in Business, Accounting, Human Resources, or related field	Preferred
High School Diploma	High school diploma or equivalent with relevant payroll experience	Required (minimum)

Experience

In the field of:		Required/Preferred
5+ Years	Multi-state payroll processing experience	Required
2+ Years	Workday Payroll experience required (hands-on configuration and processing)	Required
Experience	Benefits administration including health, dental, vision, life, and disability plans	Required
Experience	401(k) plan administration including compliance testing and vendor management	Required
Experience	Post-merger payroll integration or complex payroll system implementations	Preferred
Experience	SOC 2 or external audit support experience	Preferred
Experience	Professional services, healthcare, or PE-backed environment	Preferred

Licenses and Certifications

	Professional Association	Required/Preferred
CPP or FPC	Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC)	Required
CEBS	Certified Employee Benefits Specialist or similar benefits certification	Preferred
Workday Certification	Workday Payroll certification or comparable advanced Workday training	Preferred