Benefits/Payroll Specialist

Description

Under the general supervision of the Accounting Operations Manager responsible for performing technical functions related to bi-weekly payroll, administering employee benefits and related deductions. The essential duties and responsibilities of this position involve a variety of functions that have little similarity requiring extensive knowledge relative to payroll, benefits programs, personnel database maintenance, EEOC recordkeeping and COBRA administration. Responsible for records management for the

Finance Department. Serves as a confidential employee in developing records and reports relating to union negotiations. Develops and compiles special reports and information required in conjunction with labor negotiations.

Duties

Manages, monitors and maintains benefit programs and provider contracts for compliance.

Coordinates benefit enrollment, submits necessary documents for changes to providers; conducts open enrollment meetings and coordinates health and benefit fairs. Counsels employees on benefits and conducts benefits training as necessary.

Calculates and inputs data concerning all employee status changes, new personnel, payroll, incentives, and other changes relevant to the payroll/human resources

information database.

Researches and analyses trends and regulatory development in benefits programs as requested.

Advises employees on specific benefits, responsibilities and requirements.

Responsible for the in-processing of new hires explaining benefit entitlements and options available. Responds to inquiries and requests for information from employees concerning their benefits and problems incurred.

Ensures timely and proper enrollment of employees in all benefit programs selected. Prepares reports concerning employee benefit enrollment, costs, etc., upon request.

Responsible for payroll administration for the City ensuring proper biweekly pay, deductions and leave accrual for all employees. Reviews and verifies employee time sheets received from departments. Updates and maintains payroll database relative to employee earnings, benefits, taxes, etc.

Provide COBRA entitlement notices to eligible former employees and dependents of current or former employees. Maintains the required information concerning COBRA enrollees and ensures that monthly premium payments are received. Terminates

COBRA entitlement when appropriate.

Prepares annual EEOC reports.

Researches, compiles, and analyzes data necessary to generate required or requested biweekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports.

Responsible for developing and compiling data and information for management used in the labor negotiation process.

Responsible for the records management program in the Finance Department.

Required Education, Experience, License, Registration, and Certification Qualifications

An Associate's Degree and four (4) years of experience in functions that included administering employee benefits and payroll programs or a related field of work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Computer skills to perform essential job functions using Microsoft Word and Excel and centralized database, payroll and general ledger systems.

Supplemental or Additional Information

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to use a wide variety of dissimilar reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

Ability to read, analyze, interpret and communicate laws, rules, regulations and general directives.

Ability to write general business correspondence.

Ability to orally present information to individuals and groups and respond to questions from managers, employees, customers, and the general public.

DATA UTILIZATION

Ability to compile, assemble, copy, record and/or transcribe data and/or information according to a prescribed schema, plan or matrix.

Ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, maintain and analyze data and/or information.

Ability to calculate, compute, summarize and/or tabulate data and/or information.

MATHEMATICAL APTITUDE

Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, calculate decimals and percentages.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding, apply principles of rational systems and carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, schedule or diagram form.

Ability to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to

meet variations in assigned functions.