Payroll & Benefits Generalist

Great States; Fargo (ND); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance (

HSA and FSA options

401(k) with 3% match

Paid holidays and PTO

Volunteer hours

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Great States is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Administrator Lead to support Great States Construction, Great States Development, and Collective. This role handles end-to-end payroll, benefits administration, and employee relations, ensuring compliance and data integrity.

Based in Fargo, ND, you will manage multi-state payroll, open enrollment, onboarding/offboarding, and audits, while partnering with accounting and HR to deliver accurate compensation and robust benefits programs.

Qualifications

• Must have 2+ years leading end-to-end payroll administration.
• Experience with sales/commissions payroll is required.
• Multi-state payroll experience preferred.
• Benefits administration experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll administration and serve as the primary point of contact for payroll inquiries.
• Process bi-weekly and off-cycle payroll accurately and on time.
• Ensure accurate calculation of wages, overtime, bonuses, reimbursements, deductions, and commissions.
• Own onboarding and offboarding tasks including new hire setup and final pay coordination.
• Maintain payroll records in compliance with federal and state retention requirements.
• Reconcile payroll reports, resolve discrepancies, and conduct payroll audits.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Confidentiality

HRIS knowledge

Education

Associate's degree or equivalent in HR/Finance

Tools

Microsoft Excel

BambooHR

Job description

Position Summary

This role supports all three of our organizations: Great States Construction, Great States Development, and Collective, offering a diverse and rewarding opportunity to make a broad impact across the construction, real estate development, and property management sectors.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Administration (Lead)

• Lead end-to-end payroll administration and serve as the primary point of contact for all payroll inquiries
• Process bi-weekly and off-cycle payroll accurately and on time
• Ensure accurate calculation of wages, overtime, bonuses, reimbursements, deductions, and commissions
• Own all payroll-related onboarding and offboarding tasks, including new hire setup, compensation changes, and final pay coordination
• Maintain payroll records in compliance with federal and state retention requirements
• Reconcile payroll reports, resolve discrepancies, and conduct routine payroll audits
• Generate standard and ad-hoc payroll reports and partner with accounting on reporting and reconciliations
• Administer garnishments, child support orders, and tax levies
• Support payroll tax filings and audits; ensure timely preparation and distribution of annual W-2s

Benefits Administration (Lead)

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all employee benefits inquiries and issue resolution
• Partner with the HR Manager to administer employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, HSA, and FSA plans
• Own all benefits-related onboarding and offboarding tasks, including new hire enrollments, qualifying life event changes, and benefit terminations in applicable systems
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of benefit deductions through payroll
• Partner with HR Manager, brokers, and benefit vendors on plan administration, escalations, and ongoing service needs
• Support annual open enrollment planning, execution, and employee communication
• Maintain accurate benefits records and data integrity across HRIS and benefits platforms; reconcile monthly benefit invoices with accounting

Employee Relations & Culture (Support)

• Support employee engagement, recognition, and culture-building initiatives across all entities
• Assist with company events, employee communications, and the new hire onboarding experience
• Refer employee relations concerns, complaints, and conflicts to the HR Manager

Compliance (Support)

• Maintain accurate personnel files, I-9 documentation, and required recordkeeping
• Assist with labor law posting requirements, policy acknowledgments, and handbook administration
• Support internal and external audit preparation and HR reporting requirements

Recruiting (Support)

• Post open positions, conduct phone screens, schedule interviews, and coordinate candidate communications
• Coordinate background checks, offer logistics, and pre-employment steps
• Support a smooth handoff from hiring into onboarding

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in HR, Accounting, Finance, or a related field OR equivalent experience
• 2+ years leading end-to-end payroll administration required
  • Sales/commissions payroll administration experience required
• Multi-state payroll experience preferred
• Benefits administration experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Strong knowledge of payroll laws and compliance requirements
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality
• Proficient in HRIS platforms (BambooHR preferred)
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel

Benefits and Perks

• Health, dental, and vision insurance with HSA and FSA options
• Supplementary insurance
  • Eligibility the first of the month following 30 days
• 401(k) with a 3% match
• Flexible time off with 9 paid holidays
• Paid volunteer hours
• Professional development opportunities

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift and/or move 20 pounds
• Occasionally climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl

Work Environment

This position requires regular office hours (8 am – 5 pm, Monday–Friday) along with availability for emergency situations outside of regular office hours.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER