Payroll and Benefits Administrator

Journey Mental Health Center; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 64,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Journey Mental Health Center in Madison, WI, is seeking a Payroll Administrator to join our Human Resources team. This full-time role will manage payroll for all employees, administer benefits, and maintain HRIS data with strict confidentiality.

You will ensure compliance with tax regulations and wage and hour laws, generate audit-ready reports, and collaborate with Finance to keep accurate records. A High School diploma with 3–5 years of experience is preferred, and hybrid work is available.

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of payroll principles, tax regulations, and employment laws.
• Proficiency with HRIS, payroll, and benefits administration systems.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive information.
• Excellent organization and ability to handle multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, process, audit, issue, and distribute payroll for all employees.
• Manage benefits programs, enrollments, terminations, and COBRA where applicable.
• Maintain HRIS and employee records with regular audits.
• Generate reports for management, auditors, and regulatory agencies.
• Ensure compliance with wage and hour, tax, and benefits regulations.

Skills

Payroll principles

Tax regulations

Employment laws

Excel analytics

Data accuracy

Confidentiality

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

High School

Tools

HRIS systems

Payroll software

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Kessel Court Campus - MADISON, WI 53711

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: High School

Salary Range: $63,800.00 - $73,500.00

Salary/yearTravel Percentage: Negligible

Job Shift: Day

Job Category: Human Resources

Job Summary

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Journey Mental Health Center upholds a strong commitment to People, Opportunities, Community, and Access (POCA) that guides our daily operations. We foster a caring community for all individuals to feel a sense of belonging. We prioritize delivering services that are centered around ensuring fairness and inclusivity for all. We are dedicated to demonstrating courage and initiative within our agency and community to actively dismantle structural oppression for all affected communities.

Payroll Administration

• Prepare, process, audit, issue, and distribute payroll for all employees.
• Ensure accurate payroll data including earnings, deductions, benefits, taxes, leave balances, and direct deposits.
• Manage and track garnishments, child support orders, tax levies, and other payroll deductions in compliance with applicable laws.
• Process payroll deduction payments and payroll tax deposits.
• Review and audit quarterly and annual payroll tax reports, including W-2s and other required filings.
• Manage year-end payroll processes and new-year payroll setup.
• Maintain payroll-related general ledger allocations and reporting.
• Ensure accuracy and confidentiality of payroll records.
• Process employment verifications and wage information requests.
• Maintain and update payroll policies, procedures, and documentation.

Benefits Administration

• Administer employee benefit programs including health, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and voluntary benefits.
• Coordinate benefit enrollments, changes, terminations, and annual open enrollment activities.
• Conduct new employee benefits orientation and education.
• Serve as the primary contact for employees regarding benefit questions and issues.
• Manage COBRA administration and related communications.
• Coordinate benefit premium payments and reconciliations.
• Prepare retirement plan contribution reports and support retirement plan administration activities.
• Participate in retirement plan census preparation, audits, and reporting.
• Assist with Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting and compliance requirements.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) and benefits communications.

HRIS and Employee Records Administration

• Maintain accurate employee, payroll, and benefits records within the HRIS and related systems.
• Perform regular audits to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
• Maintain confidential personnel and compensation information.
• Generate reports and analytics for management, finance, auditors, and regulatory agencies.
• Ensure compliance with document retention requirements.

Compliance, Reporting, and Audits

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll, tax, benefits, wage and hour, and employment regulations.
• Prepare reports required by government agencies, auditors, and organizational leadership.
• Support annual financial, payroll, retirement plan, and benefits audits.
• Assist with compensation analyses, salary surveys, and workforce reporting.
• Monitor regulatory changes affecting payroll and benefits administration and recommend process updates.
• Maintain written procedures and process documentation for all areas of responsibility.

Collaboration and Employee Support

• Coordinate and reconcile information between Human Resources and Finance.
• Provide training and guidance to employees and supervisors regarding payroll and benefits processes.
• Assist with the development and implementation of HR policies and procedures.
• Serve as a backup resource for other HR functions as needed.
• Participate in committee meetings, special projects, and organizational initiatives.

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of payroll principles, practices, tax regulations, and employment laws.
• Knowledge of employee benefits administration, retirement plans, leave management, ADA, FMLA, COBRA, ACA, and HIPAA requirements.
• Proficiency with HRIS, payroll, and benefits administration systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and data analysis skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive employee information.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to interpret policies, regulations, and plan documents and explain them to employees and managers.
• Ability to reconcile payroll, benefits, and financial data accurately.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, accuracy, compliance, and employee support

Education and Experience

• Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of experience in payroll, benefits administration, human resources, or a related field.
• Experience administering employee benefits programs and payroll processes.
• Knowledge of payroll tax regulations and employment-related compliance requirements.
• Experience working with HRIS, payroll systems, and large databases.
• Experience with ACA compliance and reporting.
• Experience with compensation analysis and wage surveys.

Physical Requirements

• Requires driving, sitting, standing, light lifting, bending, and reaching; and the ability to use and operate standard office equipment, including computer, calculator, phone, printer, cell phone, facsimile, etc.

Working Conditions

In person or limited hybrid

Hiring Process

All potential candidates will need to successfully pass the Background Information Disclosure (BID) for entity employees and contractors. Wisconsin’s Caregivers Law requires background and criminal checks are required by the Department of Health Services and Wis. Stat. 50.065(6)(c) and Wis. Admin Code § DHS 12.05(4)

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Journey Mental Health Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.