Payroll Specialist

DeKalb Health; Merrillville (IN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

DeKalb Health is seeking a Payroll and Benefits Specialist to ensure accurate and on-time employee pay while administering benefit deductions. The role supports HR operations, conducts audits, and responds to employee pay/benefit questions. Candidates should have 2–5 years of payroll experience and strong knowledge of payroll laws.

The position reports to the CHRO and emphasizes accuracy, regulatory compliance, and customer service within a collaborative HR team.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal, team player.
• Hard worker, self-starter and proactive.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Detail oriented and precise.
• Knowledge of Federal and State payroll and labor laws.
• Experience in using HRIS systems.
• Strong MS Office skills (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Experience in general HR functions and responsibilities.
• Payroll experience: 2–5 years.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and update employee information in the HRIS for payroll accuracy.
• Review time sheets and wage computations to detect discrepancies.
• Verify attendance hours and post pay-related data.
• Compute and audit wages, benefit amounts, garnishments, and deductions.
• Process resignation/termination pay and retroactive pay per policy and law.
• Issue paychecks and statements of earnings and deductions.
• Audit holiday pay, leave time, and related pay for accuracy.
• Record adjustments for pay errors or retroactive increases.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Proactive self-starter

Verbal and written communication

Detail oriented

Federal & State payroll laws

HRIS experience

Microsoft Office (Word/Excel/Outlook)

General HR functions

Payroll experience 2–5 years

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

• Job Category Human Resources
• Employee Type Full Time

Description

UNDERSTANDING

The Payroll and Benefits Specialist is responsible for ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while maintaining the administration of company benefits deductions and other payroll related garnishments. This role requires strong attention to detail, as it involves processing payroll, maintaining compliance with federal and state regulations, and reconciling any discrepancies. The specialist also serves as a key point of contact for employees, answering questions related to pay, deductions, and benefits deductions such as health insurance and retirement plans. Additionally, the role supports HR operations by maintaining records, conducting audits, and contributing to process improvements to enhance accuracy and efficiency for payroll processing and benefit billing.

CORE VALUES

Our 5 Core Values are more than just words, they’re a way of life. We know that companies with a strong culture & a higher purpose perform better in the long run.

• Own It
• Hustle and Refuse to Settle
• Love People
• Act for the Greater Good
• Find a way

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor and update employee information in the HRIS for payroll accuracy.
• Review time sheets, work charts, wage computation, and other information to detect and reconcile payroll discrepancies.
• Verify attendance, hours worked, and pay adjustments, and post information onto designated records.
• Compute and audit wages, benefit amounts, garnishments, and deductions.
• Process employee resignation/termination pay and any retro pay in timely per policy timing and applicable laws.
• Process and issue employee paychecks and statements of earnings and deductions.
• Ensure accuracy in the system via multiple audits for employee holiday pay, leave time, such as vacation, personal, and sick leave and related pay.
• Issue and record adjustments to pay related previous errors or retroactive increases, auditing and correcting timesheet and attendance records when applicable.
• Provide information to employees and managers on payroll matters, benefit plans deductions, garnishments and collective agreement provisions.
• Keep informed about changes in tax and deduction laws that apply to the payroll process.
• Compile reports, statements, and summaries related to pay and benefits accounts, to assist the Benefits Administrator.
• Conduct and process verifications of employment, court ordered garnishments, and other payroll deductionsupon request.
• Assist with modified duty assignments and workers’ compensation return to work procedures.
• Compiles and maintains benefit records and documents for benefit payments while an employee is on a LOA.
• Compiles and maintains employee records with routine accuracy audits.
• Assists the Benefits Administrator in coordinating open enrollment annually.
• Assist with employee appreciation functions and luncheon events.
• Report generation for all payroll, workers compensation, and benefit requests.
• Reconcile invoices for all insurance companies with Benefits Administrator.
• Review and maintain 401k reconciliation to ensure accurate processing.
• Act as notary on behalf of ACG and keep commission current.
• And other duties as assigned.

WORKING RELATIONSHIP

• Reports to the CHRO.
• Communicates regularly and has a strong relationship with team members in multiple departments.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Excellent interpersonal skills – team player
• Hard worker who is a self-starter and proactive
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be detailed oriented
• Knowledge of Federal and State Payroll and Labor Laws
• Previous experience working in an HRIS
• Excellent Microsoft Office Suite skills (Primarily Word, Excel, and Outlook)
• Experience in general Human Resource functions and responsibilities
• 2 to 5 years of payroll experience required