Sr. Payroll and Benefits Specialist (48971)

Job DetailsJob Location: CIS Houston Corporate - Houston, TX 77024Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: 4 Year DegreeJob Shift: Day 

Sr. Payroll and Benefits Specialist_________________________________________________________________________

Position Summary

The Payroll & Benefits Analyst is responsible for the full ownership and administration of multi-state payroll and benefits for an imaging organization with approximately 800–1,000 employees across multiple locations. This exempt position ensures payroll accuracy, regulatory compliance across jurisdictions, and seamless administration of employee benefit programs. Analyze payroll data, prepare reports and identify process improvements. Must have exceptional Excel skills and be analytical minded.

This role serves as the organization’s subject matter expert for payroll and benefits, working within HR, and partnering closely with Finance, leadership, requiring strong detail, math, and problem-solving skills.




Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Multi-State Payroll Administration (Primary Responsibility)


Own and manage the end-to-end, semi-monthly payroll process for 800–1,000 employees across multiple states and jurisdictions
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws, including overtime, paid leave, and state-specific requirements
Manage multi-state payroll tax setup, filings, reconciliations, and audits
Maintain accurate state and local tax registrations, unemployment accounts, and jurisdictional reporting
Review, audit, and approve payroll data including wages, bonuses, commissions, differentials, PTO, garnishments, and deductions
Serve as the primary administrator and internal expert for payroll systems and vendors
Ensure timely and accurate payroll tax filings, W-2s, and year-end processing across all applicable states
Develop, document, and maintain payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls to support compliance and audit readiness
Respond to and resolve employee payroll inquiries and discrepancies with professionalism and confidentiality
Commitment to sense of urgency and responsibility as the payroll processor.


Benefits Administration


Administer benefit programs for a geographically distributed workforce, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, HSA, and retirement plans
Oversee the administration of the company’s 401(k) plan to ensure compliance with ERISA, IRS and Department of Labor regulations
Manage required nondiscrimination testing, Form 5500 filings, audits, and timely remittance of employee and employer contributions
Manage benefits enrollments, qualifying life events, terminations, and annual open enrollment
Ensure benefit deductions are correctly reflected in payroll across multiple states
Support compliance with ACA, COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, and applicable state benefits regulations
Serve as a trusted resource for employee benefit questions and escalated concerns


Compliance, Reporting & Continuous Improvement


Monitor changes in multi-state payroll, tax, and benefits regulations and recommend process or policy updates
Prepare payroll and benefits reports for HR, Finance, audits, and leadership
Support internal and external audits related to payroll, payroll taxes, and benefits
Identify opportunities to improve payroll efficiency, accuracy, and employee experience





Required Qualifications


Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience)
5+ years of payroll administration experience, including ownership of multi-state payroll
Demonstrated experience supporting payroll for 800+ employees preferred
Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax laws and employment regulations
Proven ability to manage confidential information and work independently with minimal supervision





Certifications


Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) – strongly preferred
Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) – acceptable alternative
SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP or PHR/SPHR – a plus





Technical Skills


Experience with payroll and HRIS systems, Paycom experience a big plus.
Strong Excel and reporting skills are a MUST.
Experience working with benefits administration platforms and third-party vendors.





Key Competencies


Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Ability to manage competing deadlines in a multi-state, deadline-driven environment
Clear and professional communication skills at all levels of the organization
Exceptional time-management skills for daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual tasks and deadlines.
High level of integrity and discretion





 

 
Qualifications