HR - Payroll/Benefits Administrator

Emmet County; Petoskey (MI); On-site; USD 41,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Emmet County is seeking an HR Payroll/Benefits Administrator to manage bi-weekly payroll and employee benefits with attention to accuracy in HRIS data and general ledger reconciliation.

The role supports open enrollment, tax submissions, W-2s, and coordination with Finance on payroll accounts. Strong Excel and BS&A experience are preferred; 5-7 years in payroll/benefits is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; progressive payroll/benefits experience advantageous.
• 2-3 years’ experience in benefits administration and payroll support.
• Familiarity with BS&A and integrated HRIS systems required.

Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly payroll and negate discrepancies in OT, changes, and garnishments.
• Maintain payroll logs and support reconciliation with general ledger.
• Handle PAFs to keep BS&A and timekeeping accurate; set up new hires and terminations.
• Produce census data for retirement, union rolls, and track hours for retirement contributions.
• Coordinate and reconcile payroll-related vendor invoices and 941 filings.
• Administer leave management for STD/LTD/LOA and workers’ comp; process related claims.

Skills

Payroll processing

Benefits administration

HRIS proficiency

Excel

General ledger reconciliation

Tax payments knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Associate’s degree in accounting/HR/BA

Tools

BS&A

HRIS systems

MS Office Suite

Job description

POSITION: HR Payroll/Benefits Administrator

SUPERVISOR: HR Director DEPARTMENT: Human Resources

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

SALARY GRADE: NBU 11

LOCATION: County Building

RATE OF PAY: $29.67 - $31.38

DATE: 8/25/2026

POSITION SUMMARY

Produces bi-weekly payroll and administers benefits for County employees. Maintains the accuracy of the data contained in the HRIS system and reconciles with the general ledger. Produces and sets up for payment all taxes, remittances, and team member reimbursements. Initial point of contact for County team members for Human Resources benefits/payroll issues.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Process bi-weekly payroll, including OT, rate adjustments, cafeteria/benefit changes/garnishments. Produces GLV payouts as required by policy and contract terms.
• Maintains payroll logs supporting each payroll, processes additional adjustments as they occur.
• Processes Personnel Action Forms (PAF) to maintain the accuracy of the BS&A and timekeeping systems, initiate rate changes, adjust account numbers, set up new hires, and process terminations, leaves of absence, and transfers. Maintains the PAF file for finance and other extraneous users to use during the year.
• Produces census information as requested for retirement, union rolls, and tracks PT hours worked to determine eligibility for annual retirement contributions.
• Calculates benefits adjustments for onboarding, offboarding, and plan rate changes. Maintains, manages, and reports on data in BS&A. Calculates/prorates leave time for new and terminating staff. Works with finance to set up and reconcile payroll accounts.
• Reconciles vendor payments, including benefit invoices, Unemployment Agency Insurance statements, State & Federal tax submissions, etc., along with all other related vendor invoices, identifying and making adjustments as required, and processes all other team member reimbursements as required.
• Coordinates reconciliations, monthly/quarterly/annual reports with Finance.
• Coordinates in-person staff interactions with 401a reps, processes 457 contribution changes, and processes distribution forms for 401 & 457.
• Coordinates and administers leave management for STD, LTD, and Workers' compensation leaves of absence. Works with these benefit recipients as their point of contact. Administers and processes all workers’ compensation claims, FMLA, and other leave requests.
• Files monthly, quarterly State & Federal tax reports, and 941 filings.
• Produces and distributes W-2’s, W3’s and coordinates 1095 filings.
• Point of contact for Payroll & Benefits Administration for team members.
• Coordinates and processes annual Benefits Open Enrollment and validates related systems changes.
• Processes short-term and long-term disability cases.
• Coordinate/tracks contingency satisfaction for new hires. Conducts new hire orientation.
• Updates and maintains the Human Resources Information System (HRIS).
• Tracks COBRA and maintains County retiree benefits data.
• Contacts and works with retirees, ensuring coordination of information and payment of benefits.
• Other staff-related functions – employment verification, new hire maintenance training, annual retirement enrollment, process onboarding and offboarding of benefits.
• Annually provides pension census, 401a census, benefits census, complete mass rate changes, wage changes, and any other human resources function affecting staff.
• DESIRED BEHAVIORAL TRAITS.
• Compassionate, analytic, logical, service-oriented.

DESIRED BEHAVIORAL TRAITS

• Compassionate, analytic, logical, service-oriented.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Proficient in working with the general ledger and monthly reconciliations. 2-3 years of working knowledge of benefits administration, legislative changes, and familiarity with employee retirement products. Excellent communicator, logical problem-solving abilities, proficient computer/HRIS skills, payroll functions, and payroll taxes. Experienced in filing Federal and State tax payments. Working knowledge of the Office suite, Outlook, and advanced skills in working with Excel. Prior experience working with HRIS systems required; previous experience with BS&A and integrated HRIS systems strongly preferred.
• EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred, associate’s degree in accounting, human resources administration, or business administration required. 5-7 years progressively responsible experience in payroll, tax payments, benefits administration, and HRIS functionality required. 2 years of producing Excel reports required.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, associate’s degree in accounting, human resources administration, or business administration required.
• 5-7 years progressively responsible experience in payroll, tax payments, benefits administration, and HRIS functionality required.
• 2 years of producing Excel reports required.