PAYROLL & BENEFITS SPECIALIST

YMCA of Southeastern NC; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

YMCA of Southern North Carolina is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Specialist to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing and benefits administration for a diverse workforce.

As a member of the Finance team, you will maintain data integrity, perform reconciliations, and manage deadlines across full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff, upholding confidentiality and compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience processing semimonthly payroll.
• Experience with benefits enrollment and reconciliation.
• Strong analytical and data integrity focus.

Responsibilities

• Process semimonthly payroll accurately and on time, reviewing timecards, pay rates, earnings, deductions, reimbursements, adjustments, and other transactions before submission.
• Process payroll changes for new hires, terminations, transfers, compensation changes, and other employee transactions. Resolve discrepancies with supervisors and HR.
• Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation; prepare reports and perform routine audits for accuracy and data integrity.
• Reconcile payroll activity to the general ledger, research discrepancies, and ensure expenses are allocated to correct departments and accounts.
• Process garnishments and tax levies; assist with quarter- and year-end reconciliations and W-2 processing.
• Administer YMCA-sponsored medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, and other benefits, including timely enrollments and terminations.
• Verify payroll deductions match employee elections; reconcile carrier invoices with enrollment/deduction records.

Skills

Payroll processing

Benefits administration

Financial reporting

Data integrity

Reconciliations

Attention to detail

HRIS

Payroll software

Tools

HRIS

Payroll software

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of payroll and administration of employee benefits for the YMCA of Southern North Carolina. As a member of the Finance team, this position plays a critical role in maintaining payroll accuracy, financial controls, reconciliations, employee data integrity, and compliance.

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of payroll and administration of employee benefits for the YMCA of Southern North Carolina. As a member of the Finance team, this position plays a critical role in maintaining payroll accuracy, financial controls, reconciliations, employee data integrity, and compliance.

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist works closely with Finance, Human Resources, supervisors, and employees to ensure payroll and benefit transactions are accurately recorded and processed. This position requires exceptional attention to detail, strong analytical and organizational skills, confidentiality, and the ability to manage recurring deadlines within a workforce that includes full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees.

Essential Functions

Payroll Administration

• Process semimonthly payroll accurately and on time, reviewing timecards, pay rates, earnings, deductions, reimbursements, adjustments, and other transactions before submission.
• Process payroll changes for new hires, terminations, transfers, compensation changes, and other employee transactions. Work with supervisors and Human Resources to resolve timekeeping and pay discrepancies.
• Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation; prepare reports and perform routine audits for accuracy and data integrity.
• Reconcile payroll activity to the general ledger, research discrepancies, and ensure expenses are assigned to the correct departments, programs, locations, cost centers, and accounts.
• Process garnishments, tax levies, and other required deductions. Assist with quarterly and year-end reconciliations and W-2 processing.

Benefits Administration

• Administer YMCA-sponsored medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement, and other benefits, including timely enrollments, changes, and terminations.
• Verify that payroll deductions match employee elections; reconcile carrier invoices with enrollment and deduction records; and resolve discrepancies.
• Coordinate with Human Resources on eligibility and employment-status changes, and assist employees with enrollment, deductions, eligibility, and benefit resources.
• Support open enrollment through system updates, employee elections, deduction changes, and reconciliation. Work with carriers, brokers, retirement plan administrators, and other vendors.
• Maintain accurate benefit records.

Financial Reporting & Reconciliation

• Reconcile payroll-related balance sheet and general ledger accounts; prepare assigned journal entries and supporting documentation.
• Review payroll expenses and labor allocations, and research differences among payroll, HRIS, benefits, and accounting systems.
• Assist with month-end and year-end close, and prepare documentation for financial, retirement plan, workers’