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Jobs · Human Resources · Minnesota

Payroll And Benefits Specialist

Aston Carter · Minneapolis, MN · 4 days ago
On-siteHuman Resources$28.85–$33.65/hrContract

About the role

The Payroll and Benefits Specialist administers payroll and employee benefits, supports payroll specialists, and serves as a key resource for compensation and benefits programs. This role ensures employees are paid accurately and on time, maintains compliance with evolving laws and regulations, and enhances the overall employee experience through effective benefits administration, onboarding, and HR programs.

Responsibilities

  • Administer weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly payroll to ensure all employees are paid accurately and on time.
  • Support and serve as a resource for payroll specialists on compensation and benefit plans, including open enrollment.
  • Conduct checks and employee eligibility verifications in accordance with company policies and applicable regulations.
  • Maintain, update, and improve the Benefits Guide and Company Handbook, ensuring they reflect current policies and legal requirements.
  • Monitor changes in federal and state laws related to benefits and payroll and ensure ongoing compliance.
  • Work with leadership to analyze current benefit programs and recommend enhancements to improve competitiveness and employee satisfaction.
  • Partner with Learning & Development to arrange and conduct regular training sessions and workshops on benefits, payroll, and related HR topics.
  • Act as a liaison between employees and benefit carriers during the benefit claim process, including long-term disability, and resolve issues promptly.
  • Analyze changes to federal and state laws regarding benefits and payroll and propose improvements to the Director of Human Resources.
  • Contribute HR-related content and updates to the company intranet to keep employees informed of HR programs, opportunities, and changes.
  • Collaborate with Learning & Development to coordinate employee onboarding and organize training and development initiatives.
  • Promote HR programs that support an efficient, collaborative, and conflict-free workplace.
  • Enhance job satisfaction by resolving employee issues promptly, applying rewards and benefits effectively, and supporting team-building activities and retention efforts.
  • Own and manage all aspects of payroll, benefits, and onboarding processes, including coordination with branch locations and timecard collection.
  • Process payroll for multiple pay groups, including weekly union payroll, bi-weekly non-union payroll, and monthly commissions.
  • Cook up with branch contacts who collect timecards and timestamps, ensuring accurate and timely data for payroll processing.

Essential Skills

  • At least 3 years of payroll experience.
  • Proven experience administering payroll with a high degree of accuracy and timeliness.
  • Hands-on experience with payroll processing, including managing multiple pay cycles (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly).
  • Experience supporting or managing benefits administration, including open enrollment and ongoing benefits maintenance.
  • Experience with employee onboarding processes, including coordinating new hire setup and related HR documentation.
  • Able to interpret and apply federal and state laws related to payroll and benefits, or demonstrated aptitude to learn and research these regulations.
  • Strong attention to detail and accuracy in handling payroll and benefits data.
  • Able to act as a liaison between employees and benefit carriers and resolve issues professionally.
  • Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain payroll and benefits information clearly to employees.
  • Proactive mindset with a desire to take ownership of payroll, benefits, and onboarding responsibilities.
  • Eagerness to grow, take on new responsibilities, and expand beyond core payroll and benefits tasks.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

  • Experience with Paycom HRIS is a strong plus.
  • Experience with multi-state payroll (e.g., WI, MN, ND, SD, NE) is a plus, though not required.
  • Experience working with union payrolls is helpful; the company will provide training for a straightforward union environment.
  • Experience contributing HR content to internal communication platforms or intranet sites is beneficial.
  • Experience coordinating training, workshops, or Learning & Development initiatives is advantageous.
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate with HR leadership and Learning & Development teams.
  • Comfort working in a growing HR department and helping build processes and programs.
  • Interest in long-term career growth within a stable, family-owned organization.

Work Environment

This role is based at the company’s corporate headquarters in Minneapolis, within a growing, family-owned wholesale distribution business that serves contractors in areas such as plumbing and HVAC. The organization has approximately 500 employees across multiple branches in WI, MN, ND, SD, and NE, with about 150 employees located at the Minneapolis headquarters. The company has experienced steady growth of roughly 10–15% in recent years and has a long history of employee longevity, with many team members building decades-long careers. The HR team for this role consists of an HR Manager, an HR Associate, and this Payroll and Benefits Specialist position, reflecting a department that has been expanding from a very small base. The environment emphasizes a family feel, collaboration, and support for professional growth, with leadership focused on helping employees succeed and enjoy their work. This is a fully on-site position, working five days per week in the office. The company offers flexible scheduling within core hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., allowing employees to select an eight-hour workday that fits within this window. The organization uses Paycom as its HRIS; Paycom issues checks while all other payroll processing is handled in-house. Branch locations have designated staff who collect timecards and timestamps and send them to the corporate payroll function for processing. The payroll environment includes one union (for Twin Cities locations) with weekly payroll, non-union payroll on a bi-weekly schedule, and monthly commissions. The company provides training on union and multi-state payroll requirements and supports ongoing learning in payroll and benefits compliance.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Minneapolis, MN.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.85 - $33.65/hr.

Requirements

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Minneapolis,MN.

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