Payroll/Benefit Specialist

Smiths Group; Edgewood (MD); On-site; USD 59,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Other benefits

Job summary

Smiths Detection is seeking a Payroll/Benefits Specialist in Edgewood, MD to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing, maintain employee records, and audit deductions and taxes. The role covers union and non-union payroll, benefits administration, and HR support across a high-volume environment.

You will audit timekeeping, process bonuses, garnishments, and year-end W-2s, while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local requirements and delivering excellent employee service.

Qualifications

• Experience in payroll processing with audits and reconciliations.
• Knowledge of federal, state and local payroll requirements; wage-hour rules.
• Familiarity with ADP systems and SAP is desired.

Responsibilities

• Process union and non-union payroll per agreements and laws.
• Review and validate timekeeping, including overtime and premiums.
• Process and audit commissions, bonuses, and retroactive pay.
• Maintain accurate employee records and deductions.
• Audit timecards and payroll reports; resolve inquiries.
• Support year-end W‑2 processing and benefits deductions.

Skills

Payroll processing

ADP experience

Excel skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Time management

Education

High school diploma

Associate or bachelor's degree preferred

Payroll or benefits certification (FPC/CPP/CEBS) a plus

Tools

ADP

SAP

Job description

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place.

Smiths Detection is a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defense, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centers, with a global network of 3,500 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-­art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

Job Description

The Payroll/Benefit Specialist is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely processing of employee payroll. This role supports payroll operations by maintaining employee records, auditing payroll data, reviewing tax and benefit deductions, supporting basic administrative tasks, and providing excellent customer service to employees and managers.

• Process union and non-union payroll in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements, company policies, and federal, state, and local requirements.
• Review and validate hourly timekeeping, including overtime, shift differentials, premiums, and other pay-code activities to ensure accuracy each pay cycle
• Process and audit commissions, bonuses, retroactive pay, and other supplemental earnings.
• Process wage garnishments, tax levies, child support orders, off-cycle payments, and final pay
• Maintain accurate employee records, including new hires, terminations, pay changes, and deductions.
• Audit timecards, earnings, deductions, and payroll reports.
• Research and resolve payroll-related inquiries from employees and managers.
• Review ADP payroll tax withholdings each pay cycle for accuracy.
• Monitor ADP tax-related notices or alerts and elevate issues when needed.
• Perform basic reconciliations to ensure payroll tax totals match ADP reports.
• Support year-end activities by reviewing ADP-generated W‑2 information for accuracy.
• Review benefit deductions in ADP each pay period to ensure they align with employee elections.
• Assist with updating benefit deductions for new hires, terminations, and qualifying life events.
• Conduct simple audits of benefit eligibility and deductions; coordinates corrections with HR or vendors.
• Answer general employee questions regarding benefit deductions.
• Support HR during open enrollment by helping validate deduction updates and confirming elections feed correctly into payroll.
• Generate routine payroll reports for HR, Finance, and management.
• Support audit requests by providing payroll, tax, or benefit documentation as needed.
• Assist with reviewing vendor invoices related to payroll and benefits for accuracy before approval
• Track and reconcile payroll-related invoices such as benefits, garnishments, or third-party payments.

Qualifications

• Education Requirements:
  • High school diploma required; associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.
  • Minimum of 3 years of payroll processing experience, including responsibility for payroll audits and reconciliations
  • Payroll or benefits certification, such as FPC, CPP, or CEBS, is a plus.

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Skills:

• Experience in payroll processing or a related HR/finance role.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll requirements, including wage-and-hour rules, payroll taxation, garnishments, and record retention.
• Familiarity with ADP payroll systems and SAP
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office, including excel, formulas, lookups, filters, and pivot tables
• Strong attention to detail, confidentiality, and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a time-sensitive, high-volume environment.
• Effective communication and customer service skills.

Additional Information

We offer…

Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial andlifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world‑leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

The total compensation for this position ranges from$59,488 - $89,232/yr (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, & abilities of the applicant and the alignment with the internal team & market data). This role offers a competitive Business Profit Plan. This position includes a competitive benefits package. The comprehensive benefits package includes:

• medical, dental & vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• paid time off
• other benefits

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.

If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please e-mail [e-mail] or call toll-free 877-703-1029. This email and phone number is created exclusively to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or technical issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response. Smiths Detection participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment based solely on their skills, experience, and ability to perform the job. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We value professionalism, integrity, and respect in our workplace, and we strive to maintain an environment where every employee can contribute effectively to our mission.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Detection, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website.

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