Manager, Total Rewards

About This Role

Managing the company's employee benefits, compensation, and payroll functions is the core of this role, encompassing both strategic oversight and day-to-day operations. This position is responsible for administering employee programs that enhance the overall employee experience, including compensation philosophy, recognition, wellness, and benefits. The Manager partners with HR, Finance, Accounting, and HRIS, and is a hands-on leader in a high-growth, multi-state environment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain strong knowledge of evolving benefits and payroll legislation, regulations, and industry practices, and proactively recommend changes as needed
• Partner as a member of a high-performing HR Operations team, working closely with HR, HRIS, Finance, Accounting, and Talent Acquisition
• Ensure benefit and payroll accruals and expenses are properly established, reviewed for accuracy, and aligned with Accounting
• Oversee benefits and payroll tracking, reporting, audits, and metrics to support compliance, operational decision-making, and senior management needs
• Lead the annual 401(k) audit and coordinate Form 5500 filing and other retirement plan compliance activities with the TPA and applicable partners
• Recommend, evaluate, and modify benefits policies and programs to ensure offerings are competitive, cost-effective, aligned with Company objectives, and compliant with legal requirements
• Manage benefit plan administration, including eligibility, enrollment, deductions, billing, audits, reconciliations, and issue resolution
• Oversee benefits vendor management and build strong relationships with brokers, carriers, third-party administrators, and other external partners
• Develop communication strategies related to benefits offerings, payroll programs, and employee education
• Manage annual compensation and benefit processes including annual market pricing exercises, salary increase cycles, bonus plan administration, and benefits open enrollment
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve compensation, payroll, and benefits processes, automation, controls, efficiency, and the employee experience
• Partner with HRIS and vendors to maintain compensation, payroll, and benefits system configuration, integrations, interfaces, file feeds, deductions, and data accuracy
• Manage payroll and benefit related employee inquiries and escalations, ensuring timely, accurate, and service-oriented resolution
• Oversee payroll tax administration and year-end activities, including W-2 processing, corrections, reconciliations, and coordination with payroll vendors
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local wage and hour, payroll tax, withholding, garnishment, and recordkeeping requirements
• Partner with Finance and Accounting on payroll funding, general ledger reconciliations, accruals, payroll reporting, and resolution of discrepancies