HR Assistant / Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Lawrence Academy; Groton (MA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established educational institution is looking for an energetic HR Assistant / Payroll & Benefits Specialist to join their team. This full-time position involves managing payroll processes, administering employee benefits, and supporting HR functions in a collaborative environment. The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills and a solid understanding of HR practices. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a vibrant community dedicated to fostering student growth and development. If you're passionate about HR and want to make a meaningful impact in an educational setting, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field preferred.
• Experience with payroll processing and HR practices is essential.

Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly payroll and manage employee benefits administration.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, and offboarding processes.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Project Management

Cultural Competency

Communication Skills

Payroll Management

HR Generalist Knowledge

Time Management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration

Payroll Certification (CPP, UPC)

Tools

ADP Payroll

Google Suite

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Lawrence Academy (LA) is a boarding and day school in Groton, MA, serving 400 students in grades 9-12. LA enjoys its heritage as one of the oldest independent schools in the country while embracing a contemporary student-centered approach that supports its mission. In LA’s tightly knit environment, students are supported and encouraged to exercise their minds, discover their voices, learn creatively, and take their own initiative. The academic program is uniquely hands-on and allows students to discover how their education can be applied in daily life.

Lawrence Academy seeks an energetic and experienced HR Assistant / Payroll & Benefits Specialist to support the HR and Business offices across various processes, including the processing of employee payroll and administration of employee benefits, employee benefits education and communication, leave processing and management, records audits and maintenance, recruiting, hiring, onboarding and offboarding. This is a full-time, exempt, benefits-eligible position reporting to the Director of Human Resources.

Responsibilities:

Business Office and Accounting:

• Prepare and process bi-weekly staff payroll and semi-monthly faculty payroll.
• Enter new employee data into payroll (ADP) and ensure set-up and updates across all applicable benefits vendors and software. Process benefits cancellations, termination and all salary and PTO payouts for separating employees.
• Manager payroll deductions, including taxes, benefits and retirement contributions.
• Address payroll-related inquiries and resolve any discrepancies.
• Collaborate with members of the business office to reconcile benefit invoices.
• Back up to mail and packages (sorting and distribution).

Human Resources:

• Manage HR and benefit databases and metrics and support the open enrollment process for all benefits.
• Support recruiting efforts by working with the Director of HR to develop job descriptions, create and manage job postings, communicate with hiring managers and respond to candidate inquiries.
• Onboard new employees, including processing background checks and creating active employee records.
• Offboard separating employees.
• Maintain documentation, tracking systems, and employee files with accuracy and confidentiality.
• Address employee benefits inquiries in a timely manner.
• Support the Director of HR in compliance and reporting.
• Own the administration of workers’ compensation and employee leave claims (PFML, STD, LTD), from initial claims to returning to work. Communicate effectively with employees and insurers regarding details of leaves.
• Work with the Director of HR to develop and execute benefit plan education and deliver superior customer service to all employees.
• Produce and maintain letters of employment, adjustment letters, and contracts for new and returning staff, faculty, and administrators.
• Work with the Director of HR to execute projects as assigned across the HR and Business Offices.
• Conduct annual employee records review, archive files as necessary, perform repeat background checks for all employees as needed (every 3 years). Support internal audit processes and assist in audits related to HR, payroll and benefits.
• Support the development of employee training programs and manage the execution of training events.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, human resources, accounting, or related field preferred. Payroll certification (CPP, UPC) a plus.
• Experience and comfort with successfully supporting and coordinating onboarding, offboarding and benefits programs and processes—from new hire, open and qualifying event enrollment to changes and leaves to terminations.
• Demonstrated ability to process and manage multiple payrolls in a timely, accurate and efficient manner. ADP payroll experience preferred.
• Experience with private plans and self-billing helpful.
• Working knowledge of HR concepts, practices, policies, and procedures; HR Generalist experience helpful.
• Fundamental understanding of operational systems in a school.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to cultivate effective, professional relationships with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage time.
• Professional presentation and excellent written communication.
• Comfort speaking with large groups and a high degree of cultural competency.
• High ethical standards and strong professional integrity.
• Proficiency with Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite required. ADP payroll and experience utilizing multiple employer web portals across multiple vendors and insurers preferred.

To apply for this position, please send your cover letter, résumé, and reference list in a single PDF document to Alison Geehan, at [e-mail]. The email subject line should be “HR Assistant / Payroll & Benefits Specialist.” No phone calls please.

Cultural competence is an essential element of teaching and learning at Lawrence Academy. We are therefore seeking individuals who are committed to actively participating in professional development and engaging in our cultural competency programs that are structured to move our community forward equitably and inclusively. We encourage candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply. The Academy does not discriminate and does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran or Uniformed Service status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

For more information on Lawrence Academy go to www.lacademy.edu.