Payroll & Benefits Lead - UKG Ready Expert (Hospitality)

Phoenix3 Collective; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Phoenix3 Collective in Massachusetts is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Manager to lead payroll and benefits administration for 800+ hourly and salaried staff across multiple hospitality locations.

The role focuses on UKG Ready administration, compliance with wage and hour laws, and partnering with People Operations, Finance, and location leaders to ensure accurate pay and effective benefits programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, accounting, finance, business administration, or related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Five or more years of progressive payroll experience, including responsibility for multi‑state payroll.
• Experience supporting a workforce of 800+ employees.
• At least two years of current or recent hands‑on experience using UKG Ready, including payroll and timekeeping administration.
• Experience in a high‑volume, high‑turnover environment; hospitality, food and dining, contract services, retail, healthcare, staffing, or similarly complex hourly‑workforce experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll laws, wage‑and‑hour requirements, payroll tax practices, garnishments, and final‑pay rules.
• Experience administering employee benefits and working with brokers, carriers, retirement‑plan vendors, and COBRA/leave administrators.
• Strong proficiency with Excel, including reconciliations, formulas, pivot tables, reporting, and data analysis.
• Proven ability to manage confidential information, meet recurring deadlines, and maintain exceptional accuracy under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Oversee multi-state payroll processing for 800+ hourly and salaried employees.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of payrolls, bonuses, overtime, and deductions.
• Manage timekeeping, attendance, PTO, wage changes, and payroll data accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with wage‑and‑hour laws across states.
• Maintain payroll records, audit trails, and documentation.
• Reconcile payroll, taxes, deductions, and vendor invoices.
• Coordinate tax filings, W‑2s, and unemployment accounts.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies and respond to employee questions.
• Serve as UKG Ready administrator including configuration and reporting.
• Develop SOPs, system documentation, and training for managers.
• Produce payroll and labor-cost reports for leadership.
• Administer benefits programs and open enrollment coordination.
• Support ACA, COBRA, and leave administration initiatives.

Skills

Multi-state payroll expertise

UKG Ready experience

Excel proficiency

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field

Tools

UKG Ready administration

Job description

Phoenix3 Collective in Massachusetts is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Manager to lead payroll and benefits administration for 800+ hourly and salaried staff across multiple hospitality locations.

The role focuses on UKG Ready administration, compliance with wage and hour laws, and partnering with People Operations, Finance, and location leaders to ensure accurate pay and effective benefits programs.