Payroll and Benefits Specialist

PAYROLL & BENEFITS SPECIALIST

Location: Holland, MI 49423. This is an onsite role.
Shift: 1st Shift, Monday-Friday
Compensation: Will be discussed during the interview

We’re looking for a Payroll and Benefits Specialist to join the Hudsonville Ice Cream Team. In this sweet role, you’ll handle payroll processing and develop benefits programs that align with our unique company culture.
You’ll work with various teams to improve the team member experience. If you have strong numerical skills and a commitment to creating a supportive workplace, consider applying to help us make a positive impact
at Hudsonville Ice Cream.

Position Summary

Duties & Responsibilities

• Work alongside HR Business partners to support team member needs and benefit offerings.
• Provide training as needed for supervisors and other team members to ensure compliance and full utilization of tools.
• Address or respond to inquiries from managers and employees.
• Support manufacturing environment with 24/5 + some Saturdays, shift-based operations.
• Responsible for identifying potential improvements in benefits, payroll and control processes, ensuring that identified opportunities are implemented successfully.
• Escalation point to resolve complex pay and benefit issues.
• Design and execute checkpoints to ensure 100% accuracy in payroll processing.
• Ensure alignment between timekeeping rules and payroll calculations.
• Provide weekly/monthly/quarterly labor and benefit claims reporting including 401k funding reporting, overtime, headcount metrics, utilization and claims analysis.
• Maintain an updated presentation for New Team Member Orientation that may be shared via email and/or presented in person.

• Accurate end-to-end processing of weekly and bi-weekly payrolls for hourly, executive and salaried team members in UKG Pro WFM/Timekeeping, Core, and Payroll Applications.
• Ensure compliance with FLSA, wage & hour laws, tax regulations, and audit requirements, corrections and reconciliations.
• Manage off-cycle payrolls, incentives, and special compensation.
• Process court orders that impact pay and communicate liens/garnishments to team members.
• Ownership of time & attendance systems, system logic, timecard accuracy, and cutoff controls.
• Responsible for reviewing and calculating premium adjustments that affect payroll deductions, including determining refunds or retroactive payments resulting from status changes or new hire enrollments.
• Document and maintain comprehensive procedures for all payroll and timekeeping processes to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance.

Benefits

• Responsible for overall administration of all benefit programs including medical, dental, wellness, vision, FML, STD, LTD, Life Insurance, 401(k), etc.
• Lead and execute open enrollment strategy, communications, and execution.
• Manage tools for employees to be well informed of what benefits are offered and their current enrollment elections.
• Primary contact with benefits consultants and plan providers; ensure efficient administration of benefit plans.
• Ensure proper day-to-day administration of benefit changes and enrollments are processed correctly in systems.
• Recommend and implement new benefits offerings or modifications to annual plan to improve competitive position and drive the company’s long-term strategy.
• Oversee compliance with government regulations for all retirement and health & welfare plans, including ensuring the satisfaction of data protection and privacy requirements.
• Administer life insurance claims by collaborating with HR, family members, and the external life insurance vendor for payment.
• Responsible for reviewing and responding to court orders that may require new enrollment and communications to team members.
• Handle administrative items such as updates to annual benefit summaries, Health Savings Account employer contribution processing/audits, and similar activities.
• Participate in system testing, understanding how the enrollment system works, and working on day-to-day system improvements.
• Document and maintain comprehensive procedures for all benefit system processes to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• 5–7 years of progressive payroll and benefits experience
• Previous HRIS, reporting, and analytics experience
• Strong UKG Pro experience in Workforce Management, Core, Payroll and Performance (or similar payroll processing system)
• Extensive knowledge of employee benefit plans, health and wellness, FML/STD/LTD, Smart Dollar, Life Insurance, and 401k plan management

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
• Strong analytical skills with a focus on process optimization and problem-solving
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Motivated by serving team members in a manufacturing environment
• Strong computer skills required; Microsoft Office suite and advanced Excel skills
• Experience with HRIS systems
• Strong mathematical proficiency
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve and escalate when needed
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced environment
• Highly organized with ability to manage competing priorities
• Vendor management and customer service skills using diplomacy and sensitivity

Company Benefits

• 401(k) with matching
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance