Payroll and Benefits Manager

Company/Role Overview:CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) Search has been retained by Health Services Consultants to identify a Payroll & Benefits Manager to serve their team. This position is responsible for managing and administering payroll and benefits processes to ensure accurate, timely, compliant, and employee-focused service. This is a hands-on process leadership role with no direct reports, primarily focused on collecting, validating, and submitting payroll; reviewing payroll results for accuracy; administering employee benefits; coordinating with vendors; maintaining documentation; and improving processes. The role operates under the direction of the Chief Human Resources Officer, who retains authority for benefits strategy, plan design, and other high-level benefits decisions.To learn more, click here: You’ll Do: Manage and administer the biweekly payroll preparation and processing cycle, including the payroll calendar; collection of time and attendance data; review and validation of time records, exceptions, employee and pay changes, deductions, and supporting approvals; and submission to the payroll provider.Review payroll registers and key reports for accuracy, investigate discrepancies, and coordinate corrections prior to finalizationPartner with the HR team on payroll and benefits administration and coordinate with Accounting to ensure a complete and accurate handoff of finalized payroll records and supporting documentation for general ledger posting, payroll accruals, reconciliations, journal entries, and financial close.Maintain accurate payroll and benefits records, procedures, calendars, and process documentation in accordance with company requirements and record-retention standards; design, maintain, and consistently apply documentation, approvals, validations, and internal controls within the role’s responsibilities to support consistent and accurate processing.Coordinate year-end payroll activities, including employee data validation, W-2 review support, corrections, and related employee assistanceManage the relationship with the payroll provider and coordinate payroll system updates, issue resolution, testing, and transitions; serve as a key payroll and benefits subject-matter contributor to system selections, implementations, and transitions, including process requirements, testing, documentation, communication, data validation, and implementation support.Monitor payroll compliance requirements and ensure payroll and benefits processes comply with federal, state (including Illinois), carrier, plan, and company requirements.Processes employment verificationsManage and complete day-to-day benefits administration for enrollments, changes, terminations, qualifying life events, and related payroll deductions; align benefit deduction changes with payroll processing to ensure accurate and timely deductions.Ensure signed employee authorization per applicable law for deductions/reimbursementsManage invoice review and reconcile employee deductions, employer costs, and billingCoordinate with the Chief Human Resources Officer, carriers, payroll vendors, and internal partners to resolve enrollment, eligibility, billing, and deduction issuesImplement benefits-related decisions and process changes and escalate plan design, strategy, policy, or other high-level decisions for directionConduct benefits open enrollment and employee benefits educationAdminister Employer Shared Responsibility/ACA reportingRespond to employee questions related to pay, deductions, direct deposit, taxes, benefit eligibility, enrollment, and benefitsDistribute required notices and plan documentsMonitor process performance, identify root causes of recurring issues, and implement improvements that strengthen accuracy, efficiency, compliance, and employee serviceWhat You’ll Need:Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred; equivalent payroll and benefits experience may be considered5+ years of progressively responsible, hands-on payroll experience, including ownership or coordination of payroll preparation and processingDemonstrated ability to lead workflows, manage deadlines and controls, coordinate decisions and approvals, and drive cross-functional accountability without direct supervisory authorityHands-on experience processing payroll, validating payroll data, and resolving complex issuesStrong understanding of: Payroll data collection and validation, payroll processing, payroll taxes, deductions, wage rules, and payroll compliance; Payroll review controls, supporting documentation, and coordination with Accounting for GL posting, accruals, reconciliations, journal entries, and close; Benefits administration, deductions, carrier billing, and related reconciliationsExperience supporting year-end payroll processing, audits, and payroll or benefits reportsProficiency with Excel and common payroll, benefits, and HR information systemsRegular and reliable attendance is requiredExperience managing benefits administration, open enrollment, benefit deduction reconciliation, or carrier invoice reconciliation preferredExperience supporting payroll or benefits process improvements, system implementations, or vendor transitions as a key operational or subject-matter contributor preferredExperience with HR information systems and payroll and timekeeping platforms such as Paychex Flex or similar systems preferred