Payroll, Benefits, & Retirement Plans Specialist

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Manager, HR Operations, the Payroll, Benefits & Retirement Plans Specialist serves as the subject matter expert responsible for end-to-end payroll processing, benefits administration, and retirement plan management for Abacus Group’s US operations. This critical role ensures accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery of all payroll and benefits functions for approximately 800-900 US employees across multiple states.

This position requires deep technical expertise in multi-state payroll processing within Workday, comprehensive knowledge of federal and state tax regulations, and proven ability to manage complex benefits and 401(k) administration. The successful candidate will serve as the primary point of contact for payroll vendors, act as the Workday payroll power user, and ensure full compliance with FLSA, tax law, SOC 2 audit requirements, and DOL regulations.

This role has been created in response to critical operational needs, system configuration challenges during Workday implementation, and gaps in benefits and retirement plan administration. The ideal candidate will bring immediate expertise to stabilize operations, implement robust compliance controls, and support the Senior Manager, HR Operations in establishing best-in-class payroll and benefits delivery.

This role reports to the Frisco, TX or Alpharetta, GA office on a hybrid basis. If applying from a location outside of these metro areas, remote accomodation may be provided.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Including, but not limited to):

Payroll Processing & Compliance (60%)

Own end-to-end payroll processing in Workday for 800-900 US employees across multiple states

Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations including wage-hour laws, garnishments, and multi-state requirements

Configure and maintain Workday payroll rules, deductions, and earnings codes with precision and accuracy

Process off-cycle payrolls including bonuses, commissions, severance payments, and corrections

Reconcile payroll accounts and resolve discrepancies proactively to prevent errors

Manage payroll tax filings and year-end W-2 processing

Serve as primary point of contact for payroll vendor, managing relationships and escalations

Identify and resolve payroll errors before they impact employees, acting as compliance safety net

Support SOC 2 and DOL audit requirements related to payroll controls and documentation

Benefits Administration (25%)

Administer health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plans

Support open enrollment and new hire benefits onboarding processes

Manage benefits vendor relationships and resolve escalations

Ensure accurate benefits deductions and reconciliations in Workday

Support leave of absence administration including STD, LTD, and FMLA coordination

Maintain compliance with ACA reporting and other benefits regulatory requirements

Retirement Plan Administration (15%)

Administer 401(k) plan including eligibility, enrollments, and contributions

Coordinate annual compliance testing including ADP, ACP, and Top-Heavy testing

Manage 401(k) vendor relationship with Fidelity or other provider

Process loan and distribution requests in compliance with plan documents

Support plan audits and Form 5500 filing preparation

Ensure accurate 401(k) deductions and employer contributions in payroll system

System Administration & Process Improvement

Serve as Workday payroll power user, troubleshooting system errors and optimizing workflows

Configure and maintain Workday payroll rules, deductions, and system parameters

Identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and compliance controls

Develop and maintain payroll and benefits procedures documentation

Train HR Operations team members on payroll and benefits processes as needed

Generate and analyze payroll reports and metrics for leadership review

SKILLS:

Technical Expertise - Payroll

Expert knowledge of multi-state payroll processing, tax regulations, and wage-hour compliance

Deep understanding of FLSA, tax withholding, garnishments, and payroll compliance requirements

Advanced Workday Payroll proficiency including configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization

Proven ability to identify and prevent payroll before they occur

Strong understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliation, and financial controls

Experience with payroll vendor management and service delivery expectations

Technical Expertise - Benefits & Retirement

Comprehensive knowledge of benefits administration including health, dental, vision, life, and disability plans

Strong understanding of 401(k) plan administration, compliance testing (ADP, ACP, Top-Heavy), and DOL requirements

Experience with ACA reporting, COBRA administration, and benefits compliance

Knowledge of leave of absence administration including FMLA, STD, and LTD coordination

Ability to manage benefits and 401(k) vendor relationships effectively

Understanding of benefits enrollment systems and open enrollment processes

Compliance & Risk Management

Strong compliance orientation with deep understanding of SOC 2, DOL audit requirements, and IRS regulations

Ability to identify compliance risks and implement preventive controls

Experience with audit preparation, documentation, and response

Understanding of internal controls and segregation of duties principles

Proactive approach to catching errors before they impact employees or create compliance violations

System & Technical Skills

Advanced Excel skills including VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and complex formulas

Strong HRIS proficiency with ability to configure systems and troubleshoot issues independently

Ability to generate, analyze, and interpret payroll and benefits reports

Experience with payroll integrations, data feeds, and system interfaces

Comfortable learning new systems and adapting to technology changes

Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills

Strong analytical capabilities with attention to detail and accuracy

Independent problem-solver who can troubleshoot complex issues without extensive guidance

Ability to identify root causes of errors and implement sustainable solutions

Process improvement mindset with ability to streamline workflows and increase efficiency

Critical thinking skills to evaluate situations and make sound decisions

Communication & Collaboration

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to explain complex payroll and benefits concepts clearly

Strong customer service orientation with ability to respond professionally to employee inquiries

Collaborative approach with ability to work effectively with HR Operations team, finance, and external vendors

Ability to escalate issues appropriately and keep stakeholders informed

Professional demeanor with strong discretion handling confidential payroll and benefits information

Work Style & Attributes

Extreme attention to detail with zero tolerance for errors in payroll processing

Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities

Self-directed and able to work independently with minimal supervision

Calm under pressure with ability to handle time-sensitive payroll processing deadlines

Proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues before they escalate

Strong work ethic with commitment to accuracy and timeliness

ATTRIBUTES THAT WILL DRIVE SUCCESS:

COMPLIANCE EXPERT who understands tax law, wage-hour regulations, and audit requirements inherently

WORKDAY POWER USER who can configure systems, troubleshoot errors, and optimize workflows independently

INDEPENDENT OPERATOR who catches errors before they happen and solves problems without extensive guidance

DETAIL-OBSESSED with zero tolerance for payroll errors and commitment to accuracy

CRISIS STABILIZER who can step into urgent situations and fix problems immediately

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL with CPP/FPC credentials demonstrating mastery of payroll compliance

RISK MITIGATOR who serves as compliance safety net for SOC 2 audits and DOL requirements

PROCESS IMPROVER who identifies opportunities to increase efficiency and strengthen controls

BENEFITS ADMINISTRATOR who can manage vendor relationships and handle 401(k) compliance testing

TEAM PLAYER who supports Senior Manager HR Operations in building excellent service delivery

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Education

From an accredited college or university in the related field of:

Required/Preferred

Bachelors Degree

Bachelors degree in Business, Accounting, Human Resources, or related field

Preferred

High School Diploma

High school diploma or equivalent with relevant payroll experience

Required (minimum)

Experience

In the field of:

Required/Preferred

5+ Years

Multi-state payroll processing experience

Required

2+ Years

Workday Payroll experience required (hands-on configuration and processing)

Required

Experience

Benefits administration including health, dental, vision, life, and disability plans

Required

Experience

401(k) plan administration including compliance testing and vendor management

Required

Experience

Post-merger payroll integration or complex payroll system implementations

Preferred

Experience

SOC 2 or external audit support experience

Preferred

Experience

Professional services, healthcare, or PE-backed environment

Preferred

Licenses and Certifications

Professional Association

Required/Preferred

CPP or FPC

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC)

Required

CEBS

Certified Employee Benefits Specialist or similar benefits certification

Preferred

Workday Certification

Workday Payroll certification or comparable advanced Workday training

Preferred