Total Rewards and Payroll Specialist

Peregrine Search Solutions; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Peregrine Search Solutions is seeking a professional to assist in the design, administration, and continuous improvement of compensation, benefits, and payroll programs to support our total rewards strategy. The role emphasizes internal equity, market competitiveness, and payroll accuracy.

Responsibilities include market pricing, salary adjustments, benefits administration, open enrollment, LOA compliance, and payroll processing across multiple states.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of compensation, benefits and payroll processes.

Responsibilities

• Conduct market pricing and salary benchmarking using industry surveys.
• Administer salary adjustments and bonus programs per guidelines.
• Analyze pay equity and recommend gaps.
• Administer day-to-day benefit programs (medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, 401(k)).
• Serve as liaison with benefit vendors and third-party administrators.
• Manage benefit data, invoices, audits, and compliance.
• Support open enrollment planning and employee education.
• Manage multi-state LOA compliance under FMLA and ADA.
• Develop total rewards communications to explain value of the package.
• Process monthly and semi-monthly payrolls; handle new hires, terminations, status changes, garnishments, and deductions.
• Manage multi-state payroll tax compliance and year-end W-2 preparation.
• Liaise with payroll vendor/platform.

Job description

This position reports directly to the Head of Human Resources. The position is responsible for assisting in the design, administration, and continuous improvement of the firm's compensation, benefits, and payroll programs. This role ensures our total rewards strategy attracts, retains, and motivates top professional and support staff talent while maintaining internal equity, market competitiveness, and payroll accuracy and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Compensation

• Conduct periodic market pricing and salary benchmarking using industry compensation surveys (e.g., Mercer, Willis Towers Watson, and other relevant professional services benchmarks)
• Administer salary adjustments and bonus programs, ensuring accuracy and alignment with company guidelines under direction from the Head of Human Resources
• Analyze pay equity and make recommendations to address gaps

Benefits & Leave Administration

• Administer day-to-day benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, HSA, Flexible Spending Accounts, and 401(k) plans
• Serve as secondary contact for benefit vendors, brokers, and third-party administrators
• Manage benefit-related file feeds, invoice reconciliation, and audits to ensure data integrity and compliance
• Support open enrollment planning and execution, including communications and employee education
• Manage multi-state leave of absence (LOA) compliance under FMLA and ADA
• Develop clear, engaging total rewards communications that help employees understand the full value of their package

Payroll

• Process monthly and semi-monthly payrolls
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of new hires, terminations, status changes, garnishments, and deductions
• Manage multi-state payroll tax compliance, including registrations, filings, and year-end W-2 preparation
• Serve as primary liaison with the payroll vendor or platform