Total Rewards Specialist

GHJ; Rapid City (SD); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

GHJ, a national independent advisory, tax and accounting firm, seeks a Total Rewards Specialist to support benefits administration, retirement programs, and vendor relations within the People department. You will coordinate with Dayforce, Puzzle HR, and external vendors to ensure enrollment accuracy and timely communications.

The role covers annual Open Enrollment, retirement program oversight, and regulatory reporting, requiring 3+ years in benefits administration, Dayforce familiarity, and

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ experience in benefits administration; a Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Experience working with benefits vendors and communicating with internal and external parties
• Experience with HRIS; Dayforce experience preferred; knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and FMLA

Responsibilities

• Administer core and ancillary benefit programs.
• Maintain employee records regarding pay and benefits.
• Coordinate annual benefits renewal and Open Enrollment with external vendors.
• Oversee Medicare eligibility administration and required notifications.
• Coordinate the leave of absence process with vendors and stakeholders.
• Audit benefits carrier invoices against enrollments and resolve discrepancies.
• Educate employees on benefits programs and key deadlines.

Skills

Benefits admin

Dayforce

Vendor management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Dayforce (HRIS)

Job description

GHJ is looking for a Total Rewards Specialist

Why we get up in the morning

At GHJ, we foster a flexible, entrepreneurial environment so our people achieve their personal and professional goals. Our success is driven by retaining the best, diverse talent. We invest in our people and technology to deepen firm expertise and fuel sustainable growth. And we partner with our clients locally and globally to deliver innovative solutions.

What We Believe

GHJ works side by side with business leaders and nonprofit organizations to deliver responsive, high-impact advisory, tax and accounting solutions that drive real results. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Buffalo, Denver, Orange County and San Jose and backed by our own dispersed workforce, GHJ meets clients where they are to help leaders achieve their strategic goals.

Thriving On Our Own Terms

We are deeply committed to our core values of Bright Minds, Brave Hearts and Bold Actions and incorporate them into every aspect of our business. By living these values, GHJ measures success by the strength of our relationships, the quality of our impact and the integrity of our actions. The Firm’s independence allows us to make strategic choices to innovate, invest and evolve with purpose. Ultimately, GHJ values operational excellence, financial discipline and the courage to prioritize sustainability over size.

Summary of Role

The Total Rewards Specialist will provide support in benefits administration, retirement programs, and vendor relationships. They will be under the People department and report to the Manager, People Operations and Total Rewards. GHJ partners with their HRIS vendor, Dayforce and their managed payroll provider, Puzzle HR in the administration of benefits and payroll. The Total Rewards Specialist will act as liaison between GHJ, Dayforce and Puzzle HR to help build vendor/client relationships and resolve issues/concerns as they arise. This role will also work closely with our broker and other vendors for benefits and leave of absence administration. Projects primarily focus on annual Open Enrollment, general benefits administration, retirement plan administration and compliance.

You will be responsible for:

Benefits and Leave Administration

• Administer core and ancillary benefit programs, including health and welfare plans, charitable giving programs, EPA, and other employee perks.
• Maintaining employee records regarding pay and benefits (enrollments, deductions, direct deposit enrollments, pay file changes)
• Partner with People Director for annual benefits renewal and Open Enrollment processes, in partnership with external vendors.
• Oversee Medicare eligibility administration and required employee notifications.
• Notify and educate employees on benefit programs, changes, and key deadlines.
• Coordinate the leave of absence process and policies, coordinating with external vendors and internal stakeholders to ensure consistent and compliant execution.
• Audit benefits carrier invoices against current enrollments, research discrepancies, and coordinate corrections with vendors.
• Maintain accurate employee benefits records, including enrollments, changes, and related documentation.
• Educate employees on benefit programs, plan changes, eligibility, and key deadlines, and respond to questions with clear, accurate information.

Retirement Programs

• 401k administration (verifying change files, 401k audit, non-discrimination testing, etc.)
• Profit Sharing Plan oversight and administration, including annual testing and contributions
• Support the annual 401(k) and profit participation audits as needed, in coordination with the Senior Specialist, Payroll and other internal or external partners.

Vendor and Compliance Oversight

• Coordinate with Puzzle HR to ensure invoices from benefits carriers are being audited against current enrollments
• Maintaining regulatory reporting and compliance (form 5500, Section 125, HIPAA, SOC 1, Medicare Part D reports, annual worker compensation audit, etc.)
• Partner with the People team and Finance to reconcile benefit-related data and resolve discrepancies.

What we need from you

• A passion for serving others and a steady focus on the needs of the employees
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Highly organized and self-driven
• Proactive thinking & ability to present solutions to issue and problems that arise
• Fearless when approaching unknown territory – willing to get hands dirty and ask all the questions
• Attention to detail and ability to self-review work before handing off to others
• Able to think on your feet, change course quickly and do multiple things at once – manage priorities
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential employee, benefits, and compensation information.
• Comfort working with vendors and collaborating across the People team, Finance, and other internal stakeholders.

What skills & experience you’ll bring to us

• 3+ years’ experience in benefits administration (Bachelor’s degree preferred)
• Experience working with benefits vendors and communicating effectively with associated internal and external parties
• Experience with HRIS (Dayforce experience preferred)
• Knowledge of applicable laws (ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, COBRA, PFL, etc.)
• Experience developing and scaling processes and working in a rapid-paced, high-growth environment
• Strong analytical skills
• Great organizational skills, high attention to detail, and strong sense of urgency
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Seven decades, one enduring focus: our people and our clients

GHJ is a national independent advisory, tax and accounting firm that partners with businesses and nonprofit organizations to deliver clarity and confidence. Since 1953, GHJ has combined deep industry expertise with an entrepreneurial spirit to help leaders achieve their strategic goals.

GHJ is headquartered in Los Angeles and serves clients nationwide, backed by its own dispersed workforce. With nearly 300 professionals and 25+ partners, the Firm provides senior-level expertise with deep industry capabilities in food and beverage, media and advertising, entertainment and nonprofit.

GHJ is a top-ranking firm in the U.S. and member of HLB International. Through this global network, GHJ offers seamless access to resources in over 150 countries while remaining fiercely focused on client success.

GHJ complies with all local/state regulations in regards to displaying salary ranges. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. Any offered salary is determined based on internal equity, internal salary ranges, market data, ranges, applicant's skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications (e.g. JD, technology), for example. At GHJ, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: $65,000-85,000.

Equal Employment Opportunity

GHJ is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, we prohibit discrimination against any applicant or employee based on any legally-recognized basis, including, but not limited to: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed service member status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including Department Heads and co-workers.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.