Payroll Benefits Manager

The Payroll & Benefits Manager is responsible for the timely processing of the monthly faculty and staff payroll and bi-weekly staff and student payroll. This position will oversee employee benefits including managing the open enrollment process, calculating and inputting benefits costs into payroll and handling adjustments to dedication. The Payroll & Benefits Manager is also responsible for preparing, filing, and reconciling quarterly tax payments with the IRS, applicable state taxing authorities, and the department of economic security (unemployment). This position executes annual payroll and benefits processes including preparing W2 and 1095C forms.

The position works on-site in Jackson, MS with regular office hours from 8:00am – 4:30pm with a one-hour unpaid lunch break. Our regular work week is 37.5 hours per week and this role may work 40 hours per week or more during payroll weeks and peak seasons. Some work will be required during college closures to ensure timely payroll processing. This position reports to the Director of Human Resources. 

Responsibilities

• Ensure proper set up of the payroll and timekeeping systems including yearend rollovers, tax settings updates, wage & hour compliance, and closing pay weeks. Maintains up-to-date payroll policy and procedure manual.
• Manages the payroll process, including collecting and updating employee data, calculating pay, and handling garnishments and other deductions.
• Administers employee benefits programs including retirement plans and insurance programs.
• Oversees the open enrollment process including updating benefits data in the payroll system. Assists with the planning of open enrollment.
• Monitors and resolves payroll discrepancies, data import errors and other payroll-related issues and reconciling payroll records to general ledger data.
• Conducts timely review and reconciliation of invoices related to payroll deductions, processing and submission payments to vendors (TIAA-CREF, medical, dental, life insurance, garnishments, etc.)
• Ensures compliance with all applicable state and federal wage and hour laws and federal work study regulations, including conducting tax reconciliation, reporting and remittance. and assist with the compliance audit for federal work study.
• Responds to wage verifications, and garnishment and levy orders.
• Reconcile, prepare and deliver annual W-2 forms to employees and state and federal agencies.
• Prepares weekly, monthly, quarterly and year-end reports including filing form 941 and producing other reports for the Business Office regarding gross payroll, hours worked, vacation accrual, tax deductions, benefit deductions, etc.
• Creates various journal entries, account reconciliations, and provides general ledger support for all payroll related expense accounts and payroll withholding accrual accounts.
• Maintains current knowledge of international tax treaty regulations and resident versus non-resident alien regulations.
• Identifies and executes process improvements and systems updates related to payroll and benefits administration, onboarding and terminations.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Degrees in business, accounting, or another relevant field are preferred
• 3 – 5 years professional experience managing a payroll process
• 1 year or more of experience processing employee benefits
• Detail-oriented, highly organized, creative problem-solver who takes initiative and is able to work with minimal supervision
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, while appropriately prioritizing tasks and meeting multiple deadlines
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word including experience using VLOOKUPS and Pivot Tables
• Accurate and efficient data entry skills. Able to double check work and produce error-free results.
• General knowledge of accounting and reconciliations.
• Ability to quickly learn new technologies and adapt to varying technological environments
• Displays professionalism, discretion and sound judgment while providing excellent customer service.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Manual dexterity needed for keyboarding and other repetitive tasks.

• Must be able to lift and move up to 15 pounds without assistance.