Payroll and Benefits Accountant

Overview

This role is for a Payroll and Benefits Accountant in Warrenville, IL. The position owns payroll, benefits administration, accounting operations, and related audits/compliance for the U.S. team.

Responsibilities

Payroll Administration

• Manage multi-state payroll compliance and semi-monthly payroll processing for all employees
• Audit payroll for accuracy prior to processing, ensuring proper compensation, deductions, taxes, stipends, expense reimbursements, and leave balances
• Process new hires, terminations, salary adjustments, and off-cycle payrolls
• Maintain payroll calendars and communicate timesheet deadlines
• Ensure payroll records remain accurate within the Human Resources Information System (HRIS), Paylocity
• Review year-end W-2 and 1095 forms
• Perform deduction review, PTO reconciliation, and expense report approval and processing

Benefits Administration

• Administer employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, COBRA, and 401K retirement plan
• Coordinate employee enrollments, qualifying life event changes, and benefit terminations
• Conduct benefits orientation for newly hired team members
• Coordinate and support the annual Open Enrollment process
• Initiate and terminate benefits, coordinating directly with the broker
• Serve as the primary liaison with insurance brokers, benefit vendors, retirement plan administrators, and third-party administrators
• Reconcile monthly benefit invoices and ensure accurate payroll deductions
• Monitor employee eligibility for benefit programs
• Assist employees with benefit questions while maintaining confidentiality

Accounting

• Handle banking, AP, and AR for the consulting business
• Maintain and review the general ledger, including job costing and financial reporting for leadership
• Review timesheets
• Prepare payroll journal entries
• Reconcile payroll-related general ledger accounts
• Reconcile benefit liabilities and employer contributions
• Assist with month-end, quarter-end, and year-end financial close
• Prepare payroll accruals and salary projections
• Support annual budgeting by preparing payroll and benefit cost analyses
• Support annual financial statement audits by providing payroll and benefit documentation

Audits & Compliance

• Support company insurance audits (workers' comp, business ownership)
• Support payroll and 401K audits, including benefits census at renewal
• Ensure compliance with IRS regulations, FLSA, ACA reporting requirements, retirement plan regulations, and applicable wage and hour laws
• Process payroll tax filings and year-end reporting, including W-2 preparation

Systems & Admin

• Support company and benefits insurance renewals and 401K administration and compliance
• Onboard new hires to internal tools (Timesheets, AI Expenses, Project Management Tool) and serve as the point of contact for related bugs, issues, and enhancement requests

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
• 5+ years of payroll and accounting experience, including hands-on multi-state payroll compliance (preferably using Paylocity)
• Strong hands-on experience with Office365, AR, AP, General Ledger, reconciliations, and financial reporting
• Experience using NetSuite
• Ability to learn new systems quickly
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• High level of discretion, accuracy, and follow-through

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base pay
• Vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay
• Employer sponsored Medical, Prescription, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Employer paid Basic Life Insurance and Long-term Disability Insurance
• Supplemental Life and Short-term Disability Insurance
• 401k retirement plan with match
• Monthly communications allowance
• Employee referral bonus program

Location

Warrenville, IL