Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Talon Metals Corp.; Tamarack (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Talon Metals Corp. in Tamarack, Minnesota, seeks a Payroll & Benefits Specialist to manage US payroll, benefits, leaves, and workers’ compensation for a multi-state workforce.

You will analyze compensation, administer merit increases, and coordinate with HR, Finance, providers, and employees to ensure accurate, confidential processing and strong controls. The role emphasizes reliability, discretion, and compliance while supporting open enrollment, reporting, and audit activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business, accounting, finance, or related field.
• 3–5 years of payroll, benefits, compensation, or HR administration experience.
• Multi-state U.S. payroll experience preferred.
• Experience using payroll, HRIS, timekeeping, and/or benefit administration systems.

Responsibilities

• Administer weekly and multi-state U.S. payroll cycles.
• Process payroll changes and benefit elections.
• Review time and attendance and resolve discrepancies.
• Support year-end payroll activities including W-2 review.
• Coordinate with payroll providers and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation.
• Administer compensation analyses and merit increases.
• Oversee benefits administration and open enrollment.

Skills

Numerical & analytical skills

Attention to detail

Service-oriented

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR, business, accounting, finance, or related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Excel

HRIS/Payroll systems

Timekeeping systems

Job description

Talon Metals Corp 165 N Warren Street Tamarack, MN 55787

Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Location: Tamarack

Reports to: Human Resources Superintendent

Company Overview

The Company is a TSX-listed junior mining company with one operating mine and a significant exploration and development portfolio. The Company is focused on disciplined capital allocation, operational transparency, and responsible growth while delivering long-term value to shareholders and stakeholders.

Role Purpose

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely administration of Talon’s U.S. payroll, compensation evaluations, employee benefits, leaves of absence, and workers’ compensation programs.

This position independently administers weekly and semi-monthly payroll cycles across a multi-state employee population and serves as the primary day‑to‑day resource for employees regarding payroll and benefits. The role also supports Talon’s compensation programs by conducting compensation analyses, administering the annual merit increase process, and calculating quarterly incentive compensation for exempt and non‑exempt employees.

Working within established Company programs, policies, compensation structures, and benefit plans, the Payroll & Benefits Specialist partners closely with Human Resources, Finance, employees, managers, payroll and benefit providers, and other external partners to ensure accurate, consistent, confidential, and compliant administration.

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist is expected to demonstrate Talon’s values in the day‑to‑day administration of employee pay, benefits, compensation, leaves, and workers’ compensation programs.

Values & Behaviors

• Safety: Support employee well‑being through accurate payroll, benefits, leave, and claim administration, and promptly report errors, risks, or concerns.
• Respect: Provide responsive, considerate service; explain processes clearly; and handle personal information and sensitive circumstances with empathy and discretion.
• Integrity: Maintain accuracy, confidentiality, and compliance; apply policies consistently; correct errors; and elevate issues when guidance or approval is required.
• Adaptability: Respond constructively to changing priorities, systems, regulations, and workforce needs while maintaining critical payroll and benefit deadlines.
• Achievement: Deliver reliable work on schedule, take ownership of employee inquiries, and identify practical improvements to service, documentation, and controls.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Administration

• Independently administer Talon’s weekly and semi‑monthly payroll cycles for a multi‑state U.S. employee population.
• Process payroll changes including new hires, terminations, salary and hourly rate changes, bonuses, deductions, benefit elections, garnishments, tax changes, and other payroll adjustments.
• Review time and attendance information and work with employees and managers to resolve missing, incomplete, or inaccurate records before payroll processing.
• Conduct pre and post payroll reviews and reconciliations to ensure payroll accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure appropriate processing of regular earnings, overtime, incentive payments, benefit deductions, taxes, and other applicable earnings and deductions.
• Research and resolve employee payroll questions and discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Coordinate with payroll providers and internal stakeholders to resolve payroll processing or system issues.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and supporting documentation.
• Support year‑end payroll activities, including W‑2 review, taxable fringe benefits, payroll reconciliations, and required reporting.
• Monitor employee work locations and coordinate appropriate payroll tax withholding and administration for employees working in multiple states or jurisdictions.

Compensation Administration

• Conduct compensation reviews and analyses for new positions, existing positions, promotions, transfers, and other employee changes using available market information.
• Evaluate proposed compensation relative to established salary ranges, internal equity, relevant experience, position responsibilities, and other appropriate considerations.
• Prepare compensation analyses and recommendations for review by Human Resources leadership and management.
• Maintain compensation data and assist with periodic market benchmarking and internal equity reviews.
• Administer the annual merit increase process, including preparation and validation of employee data, calculation of increases, tracking of approvals, system updates, and implementation through payroll.
• Calculate quarterly incentive and bonus payments for exempt and non‑exempt employees in accordance with approved incentive plans.
• Prepare compensation information and analyses to support budgeting, workforce planning, and other HR and Finance initiatives.
• Support compensation‑related projects and analyses as requested by Human Resources leadership.

Benefits Administration

• Serve as the primary day‑to‑day administrator for Talon’s U.S. employee benefit programs.
• Administer new‑hire enrollments, qualifying life events, benefit changes, and employee terminations.
• Coordinate with benefit carriers, brokers, payroll providers, and other vendors to maintain accurate employee enrollment and deduction information.
• Review and reconcile benefit deductions and enrollment information between payroll, HR systems, and benefit providers.
• Respond to employee questions regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment, coverage, deductions, and available resources.
• Administer the annual open enrollment process, including employee communications, system preparation, enrollment support, data review, and implementation of approved plan‑year elections.
• Support Human Resources leadership during annual benefit renewals by preparing employee data, reports, and other requested information.
• Maintain accurate and confidential benefit records and documentation.
• Assist with required benefit notices, reporting, audits, and compliance activities.

Leaves of Absence Administration

• Administer employee leaves of absence in accordance with applicable Company policies and federal and state requirements.
• Serve as the primary administrative point of contact for employees throughout the leave process.
• Coordinate required documentation, eligibility information, payroll treatment, benefit continuation, and return‑to‑work activities.
• Maintain accurate leave records and track applicable leave dates, balances, certifications, and documentation.
• Coordinate with employees, managers, Human Resources leadership, benefit providers, and third‑party administrators as appropriate.
• Escalate complex leave, accommodation, or compliance matters to Human Resources leadership as appropriate.

Workers’ Compensation Administration

• Administer workers’ compensation claims and related documentation in coordination with employees, managers, Human Resources, Safety/HSE, insurance carriers, and third‑party administrators.
• Ensure workplace injuries and claims are reported to the appropriate carrier or administrator in a timely manner.
• Provide wage, payroll, employment, and other required information for claims administration.
• Track open claims and maintain appropriate claim records and documentation.
• Assist with return‑to‑work and transitional‑duty coordination as appropriate.
• Support workers’ compensation reporting, audits, renewals, and periodic claim reviews.
• Escalate complex or significant claims to Human Resources leadership as appropriate.

Reporting, Finance, & Data Administration

• Prepare recurring and ad hoc payroll reports for Finance, Human Resources, and management.
• Provide payroll and compensation information to support financial reconciliations, budgeting, forecasting, audits, and other strategic initiatives.
• Assist Finance with payroll‑related reconciliations and research payroll discrepancies as needed.
• Prepare workforce cost, compensation, benefits, overtime, incentive, and other employee‑related reports and analyses.
• Maintain accurate employee payroll, compensation, and benefits data within applicable HR, payroll, and benefit systems.
• Conduct routine audits of employee and payroll data to identify and correct discrepancies.
• Identify opportunities to improve administrative processes, reporting, documentation, and internal controls.

Employee Onboarding & Support

• Provide payroll and benefits onboarding for new employees, including information regarding payroll schedules, timekeeping requirements, benefit programs, enrollment deadlines, payroll deductions, and available employee resources.
• Ensure new‑hire payroll and benefit information is complete and entered into applicable systems by required deadlines.
• Serve as a knowledgeable and responsive resource for employee questions regarding payroll and benefits.
• Assist employees with understanding payroll statements, deductions, benefit elections, and related administrative processes.
• Develop and maintain employee communications, instructions, guides, and other resources related to assigned programs.

Compliance & Process Administration

• Maintain working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour, benefits, leave, and workers’ compensation requirements.
• Administer assigned programs in accordance with established Company policies, plans, procedures, and applicable requirements.
• Support payroll, benefits, compensation, workers’ compensation, and other HR‑related audits.
• Maintain the confidentiality and security of employee compensation, payroll, benefit, medical, and personally identifiable information.
• Develop and maintain payroll calendars, checklists, standard operating procedures, process documentation, and appropriate administrative controls.
• Recommend process improvements to Human Resources leadership based on administrative experience, employee feedback, system capabilities, or identified risks.
• Perform other duties and special projects consistent with the scope of a Payroll & Benefits Specialist.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience is preferred.
• 3-5 years of relevant payroll, benefits, compensation, or HR administration experience.
• Demonstrated experience independently processing payroll; multi‑state payroll experience strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of U.S. payroll practices, wage and hour requirements, payroll taxation, employee benefits, and leave administration.
• Experience using payroll, HRIS, timekeeping, and/or benefit administration systems.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, lookups, reconciliations, and working with employee and payroll data.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to independently organize work and consistently meet recurring payroll and benefit deadlines.
• Strong judgment and ability to appropriately handle confidential employee and compensation information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and a service-oriented approach to employee support.

Preferred

• Experience administering payroll across multiple U.S. states.
• Experience conducting compensation analyses and supporting salary benchmarking, merit planning, and incentive compensation calculations.
• Experience administering employee benefits, leaves of absence, and workers’ compensation.
• Experience preparing payroll reports and supporting Finance with payroll reconciliations, budgeting, or workforce cost analysis.
• Payroll or Human Resources certification such as CPP, FPC, SHRM‑CP, or PHR.
• Experience in a growing, multi‑location, industrial, mining, manufacturing, engineering, or project‑based organization.