Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Adams County Health Department; Quincy (IL); On-site; USD 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Adams County Health Department is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Specialist in Quincy, IL to manage biweekly payroll, benefits administration, and related reporting. This role acts as the subject matter expert for payroll processes and ensures compliance with regulations.

The position requires 3+ years in payroll/HRIS and strong Excel skills. A Associate degree is preferred, with CPP/SHRM-CP certification encouraged. No supervisory duties are listed; typical full-time hours apply.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of payroll, HRIS and benefits experience.
• Proficient with payroll systems and benefits administration.
• Strong Excel and MS Office skills; Excel advanced.
• Ability to handle confidential information.
• CPP and/or SHRM-CP certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Administers biweekly payroll for all employees and handles garnishments and adjustments.
• Maintain employee records in payroll system and ensure accuracy.
• Administer time and attendance and paid leave policies for all employees.
• Coordinate with Treasurer’s office for GL posting and year-end audits.
• Prepare periodic reports such as EEO1, Vets 100 and IMRF reports.

Skills

Payroll administration

HRIS

Benefits administration

Microsoft Excel

Education

Associate degree

Tools

PAYCOM

Microsoft Office

Adobe

Job description

• Salary/Pay Rate: $45,000 / annually, adjusted for experience
• Posted Date: 09/15/2026 11:12 AM

JOB TITLE
Payroll & Benefits Specialist

DEPARTMENT
County Board Office

REPORTS TO
Director of County Board Office

CLASSIFICATION
Nonexempt

DATE
September 2026

POSITION TYPE AND EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK
Full Time, Monday-Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm

TRAVEL
No overnight travel is expected for this position. There may be occasional local day travel.

SUMMARY
The Payroll & Benefits Specialist administers the activities relating to the County payroll to include developing and implementing internal processes and controls to ensure timely and accurate payroll and benefits administration. This individual will be the County’s subject matter expert with all payroll administration.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Administers biweekly payroll for all employees, including reviewing and importing hours from departmental time and attendance submissions, administering regulatory requirements (i.e., garnishments and other adjustments to pay as necessary).
• Implement and maintain payroll best practices to improve efficiency and consult with the Director, County Board Executive Assistant, Department Heads, and County Board to improve payroll processes.
• Maintain employee records in payroll system.
• Administer the time and attendance policy and paid leave policy for all employees, with the ability to interpret multiple union contracts.
• Executes pay data for collective bargaining unit contracts and works closely with Department Personnel to ensure accuracy of benefits.
• Stays up-to-date and knowledgeable with relative payroll laws and regulations.
• Administers health and welfare plans including enrollments and terminations. Processes required documents through payroll and insurance providers to ensure accurate record keeping and proper deductions.
• Fulfills all governmental regulatory mandates and ensures filings are performed as required.
• Plans, conducts and reports results of audits to ensure all enrollments are accurate and that dependent information is correct for each employee and works closely with the Treasurer’s office for quarterly and year end audits.
• Processes monthly billings from providers. Reviews billings for accuracy and approves for payment in a timely manner. Resolves discrepancies with carriers and payroll.
• Maintains employee payroll files.
• Prepares files/reports such as EEO1/Vets 100, annual reports, as well as other special and ad hoc reports as requested.
• Prepare the monthly IMRF reports monthly resolve and differences.Work closely with employees upon their termination and/or retirement to ensure that all of the proper information is obtained and processed.
• Coordinate with outside vendors with audits as they pertain to payroll and resolve any issues.
• Coordinate with Treasurer’s office in the balancing and posting of information into the General Ledger accounts.
• ACH monthly and biweekly transactions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• At least 3+ years of experience administering payroll, HRIS and benefits processes required. Work experience should include knowledge of basic human resources, payroll practices, benefits administration, and compliance or other related experience.
• Must have strong knowledge of a variety of computer software applications including payroll, benefits, time and attendance, and self-service systems. Experience with PAYCOM a plus.
• Must have a high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills; detail oriented; excellent time management.
• Proven track record of reliability and responsibility.
• Discreet, able to handle confidential and proprietary information appropriately. High level of integrity.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, with advanced skills in Microsoft Excel.
• Knowledge of Adobe

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

A minimum of an Associate’s degree and/or three (3) years’ experience relative to accounting practices and procedures including payroll. CPP and/or SHRM-CP certification preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary. Lift boxes required to file- approximately 10lb.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copy machines, filing cabinets and fax machines.

EEO Statement
Adams County is an equal opportunity employer and affords equal opportunity to all applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OTHER DUTIES
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.