Manager, Total Rewards & Payroll

Chris Baily; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Emma L. Bowen CSC seeks a Manager for Total Rewards & Payroll to own end-to-end payroll processing and benefits administration for all employees, including union and non-union staff.

The role ensures accurate and on-time pay, compliant benefit and leave programs, with audit-ready records and primary contact for employees, managers, carriers, and the 1199 SEIU funds. Salary- 70-80k per year, with a focus on compliance with federal and New York State requirements and a strong partnership with HR

Qualifications

• Experience managing end-to-end payroll for union and non-union employees.
• Knowledge of NYS payroll, tax, and leave regulations.
• Proficiency with ADP or comparable payroll platforms.

Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly payroll for union and non-union staff.
• Enter and verify new-hire and status changes in the payroll system.
• Administer timekeeping, train managers, and clear exceptions.
• Reconcile payroll registers and resolve variances.
• Handle taxes, garnishments, deductions, and year-end filings.
• Maintain confidential, audit-ready payroll records.
• Partner with HR to validate data and resolve discrepancies.
• Respond to payroll inquiries with timely, clear answers.
• Administer the full benefits portfolio and open enrollment.

Skills

Payroll processing

Benefits administration

Data accuracy

Compliance knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in finance/business/accounting/payroll

Tools

ADP payroll platform

Excel

Job description

Job Description

The Manager, Total Rewards & Payroll owns end-to-end payroll processing and benefits administration for Emma L. Bowen CSC. The role ensures that every employee — union and non-union — is paid accurately and on time, that benefit and leave programs are administered in compliance with federal, New York State, and collective bargaining requirements, and that payroll and benefits records are accurate, confidential, and audit-ready. The position is the primary point of contact for employees, managers, benefit carriers, and the 1199 SEIU funds.

Salary- 70-80k

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Payroll Operations:Process bi-weekly payroll for all union and non-union employees, ensuring accuracy and on-time transmission.
• Enter, verify, and update new-hire and status-change data in the agency's online payroll system.
• Administer timekeeping: oversee timecards, train and support managers on the system, and clear exceptions before each close.
• Reconcile and validate the payroll register prior to transmission; investigate and correct variances.
• Apply correct taxation to wages, benefits, and other compensation; process garnishments, levies, and voluntary deductions.
• Maintain complete, confidential, and audit-ready payroll records in compliance with federal, New York State, and collective bargaining requirements.
• Prepare and reconcile year-end filings, including W-2 and W-2c.
• Partner with Human Resources to validate incoming data files and resolve discrepancies at the source.
• Respond to employee payroll and timekeeping inquiries with clear, timely answers.
• Perform other payroll-related duties as assigned.

• Total Rewards Administration:Administer the full benefits portfolio: medical, dental, life, disability, voluntary plans, the 403(b), and the 1199 SEIU pension, training, job security, and health funds.
• Serve as primary liaison among employees, the agency, and benefit carriers; own escalations through resolution.
• Onboard employees to their benefits through orientation and answer coverage questions year-round.
• Ensure enrollments and terminations are processed accurately and on time; audit eligibility each cycle.
• Reconcile monthly carrier invoices and resolve billing discrepancies.
• Administer annual open enrollment, delivered virtually through the ADP benefits module.
• Complete implementation of the ADP benefits module, which is already included in the agency's current plan.
• Coordinate disability, NYS Paid Family Leave, and FMLA cases: confirm leave start and return dates early and file required forms on time to prevent delays.
• Ensure accurate contributions and timely reporting to the 1199 SEIU funds.
• Administer the 403(b) plan and resolve contribution discrepancies.
• Prepare and file year-end Form 1095-C.

• Plans and Funds Administered:Mutual of America; 1199 SEIU Pension, Training, Job Security, and Health funds; Emblem Medical; Aetna Dental; Guardian Life; NYS Paid Family Leave (Guardian); Colonial; Aflac.

• Required:Bachelor's degree, Masters Preferred finance, business administration, accounting, payroll, or a related field.
• 3+ years Business, Payroll, Accounting, Benefits experience.
• Hands-on experience with ADP or a comparable payroll platform, or an active payroll benefits certification.
• Working knowledge of federal and New York State payroll, tax, and leave regulations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Demonstrated accuracy, discretion, and sound judgment handling confidential compensation data.

• Preferred:Experience administering payroll and benefits in a unionized environment, ideally under a 1199 SEIU collective bargaining agreement.
• Hands-on experience with the ADP payroll and benefits platform.
• Experience with 403(b) administration and ACA reporting.

• Core Competencies:Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Clear, professional communication with employees, managers, and vendors at every level.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing deadlines, and adapt to shifting priorities.

Monday through Friday (35 hours per week)