Payroll Benefits Specialist

Payroll and Benefits Specialist AnalytiChem is a global company founded in 2021 that assists analytical testing laboratories in the industrial, environmental, and materials markets to collect actionable data to optimize their business. Our mission is to enable our customers' science by providing a solutions-oriented and integrated range of products that help them collect their best data. We are experiencing rapid growth, both organically and through acquisition, with eight companies worldwide and counting. Our brands include SCP Science, Chem Service, Bernd Kraft, OREAS, Chem-Lab, Northeast Laboratories and BioTRADING and we support customers in a wide range of industries from Industrial to environmental and animal health. Our team is expanding, and we are looking for a HR - Payroll & Benefits Specialist. The role will sit onsite at our brand-new facility located in Bedford, NH. If you are looking for a dynamic work environment in a fast-growing organization where you can make a difference, AnalytiChem might be the challenge you are seeking. The Role: As an HR - Payroll & Benefits Specialist , you will be the primary contact point for US payroll and benefits questions and will contribute to the smooth running of these core business processes for our three group companies with about one hundred employees in total. In this role, you will also provide operational and project support to US employees and HR and support global HR in various payroll and benefits topics. This role will report to the Director of Global Rewards, HR-Systems, and Payroll. What you will do: As the primary US payroll and benefits contact person, you will answer payroll and benefits inquiries from managers and employees related to paycheck concerns, plan provisions, benefits enrollments, insurance claims, deductions, status changes and other general inquiries. Enter, maintain, and/or process employee information, which may include hires and terminations, job changes, employees’ hourly rates or salaries, commissions, bonuses or other compensation, company holidays, garnishments, deductions and withholding, and address changes or other information, in the payroll systems in an accurate and timely manner. Determine benefits eligibility and process enrollments, changes, and terminations and provide documentation as required through payroll and insurance providers to ensure accurate record-keeping and proper deductions. Maintain employee benefits filing systems and ensure benefits changes are entered appropriately in payroll system for payroll deduction. Process biweekly payroll according to the company’s pay schedule, ensuring proper processing of payroll deductions for taxes, benefits, garnishments, and other deductions. Issue, or reissue, replacement checks or direct deposits, and/or conduct off-cycle payrolls due to payroll errors, lost checks, or employee terminations. Review and respond to unemployment claims with appropriate documentation. Review monthly unemployment statements for accuracy. Administer various employee benefits programs (i.e., COBRA, group health, flexible spending accounts, dental and vision, accident and disability, life insurance, 401(k) and other savings plans, and wellness benefits). Manage annual 401(k) catch-up contribution enrollment and nondiscrimination testing. Facilitate accurate and timely delivery of employer contributions and employee payroll deductions to carriers, plan administrators, or other appropriate service providers and reconcile monthly benefits statements for payment. Process and administer all leave-of-absence requests and disability paperwork: medical, disability, state leaves, and FMLA. Calculate missed benefit deductions for any employees on leave and develop repayment plans upon the employee’s return. Support the annual benefits renewal process by providing employee census and other demographic data required to collect accurate quotes from benefit providers. Provide creative benefits solutions and recommendations for plan changes to best support our employee population. Coordinate the annual open enrollment process, distribute all benefits enrollment materials, and set up meetings designed to help employees obtain information and understand company benefits and other related incentive programs. Conduct new hire benefits orientations. Complete Form I-9 Section II for new hires, verify I-9 documentation in eVerify, and maintain I-9 files. Prepare new employee files. Ensure distribution of required employee notices. Advise and inform employees of changes and developments related to benefits including eligibility, coverage, and provisions. Complete records, reporting, and other documentation as required to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour, and benefits laws (i.e., 1095-C, EEO-1, OSHA 300A data, etc.), and best practices. Conduct internal audits of payroll and benefits systems. Facilitate external audits by providing records and documentation to auditors. Work with the HR team to provide HR reporting and personnel statistics. Support future HR harmonization projects on a global platform. Other duties as assigned. Your Main Skills: Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent. Bachelor’s degree in accounting, human resources, or business administration preferred. Professional certification (i.e., PHR, SHRM-CP, CEBS, or CPP) strongly preferred. Professional experience : 3-5 years of hands-on experience in multi-state payroll and benefits administration. Experience with Canadian (Quebec) payroll and benefits is a plus. Strong communication skills: Fluent in English (spoken and written) required, French is a plus. Able to explain complex benefit and payroll “legalese” to employees in a way that is easy for them to understand. Software Knowledge: Confident with daily use of MS Office tools (i.e., Outlook, Word, PowerPoint). Advanced Excel knowledge (V-Lookup) strongly preferred. Experience with multiple automated payroll and HRIS platforms/providers and systems’ implementations is strongly preferred. Your Qualities: Accurate , independent, committed, flexible and open-minded. Strong problem-solving skills. Team player with a strong hands-on mentality. Willingness to travel: day trips for office or project meetings (approx. 25%) to our locations. What We Offer: Attractive employer benefits including best-in-class health, dental and vision plans. Work-life balance through virtual coffee meetings, generous vacation time, and occasional team meetings and events at our locations. Comprehensive development opportunities through real world challenges in the areas of operational HR/payroll, HR projects and transformation in a collaborative team environment as part of an international group. Ongoing development and training programs as part of individual qualification programs, language courses and training sessions.