Payroll & Benefits Specialist

LER TechForce · Columbus, United States

Payroll & Benefits Specialist

LER TechForce is a workforce solutions provider serving Fortune 500 automotive companies. We're approximately $100M in revenue and growing - and every person we add is someone who needs to be paid right, on time, every time. The position is mostly remote with infrequent trips to our office in Columbus, IN. (Requires someone within a 2-hour radius of our office.)

The Role

We're looking for a Payroll & Benefits Specialist who owns the outcome of every pay cycle, not just the process. You'll run payroll end to end, administer our benefits programs, and be the person employees trust when something about their paycheck doesn't look right.

Our workforce is spread across multiple states and pay groups, with international team members supported through Deel. That means no two payroll runs look exactly alike - and the right person enjoys that puzzle.

This isn't a role where you hit "submit" and hope for the best. We want someone who validates before funds move, catches the variance before anyone else does, and fixes root causes instead of patching the same error every cycle.

Things are moving fast and there's real work to do. The right person sees that as an opportunity, not a red flag.

What You'll Own

Payroll Processing & Payments

• Run the full payroll cycle from start to finish - time collection, deductions, validation, approval, and payment
• Process multi-state payroll across multiple pay groups in Workday, and support international payroll through Deel
• Manage ACH and direct deposit payments, verifying accuracy before funds are released
• Resolve payment exceptions and failed payments quickly, so employees aren't left waiting
• Hold the line on timecard deadlines while helping employees where needed

Benefits Administration

• Administer employee benefits programs, including elections, life events, and employee changes
• Lead open enrollment from planning through execution - smooth for employees, compliant for us
• Partner with benefits vendors and providers to keep data, deductions, and billing in sync
• Make sure benefits deductions flow correctly between systems every cycle

Accuracy, Compliance & Risk

• Validate every payroll before final submission and investigate variances before they become problems
• Perform payroll reconciliations and trace discrepancies back to their root cause
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws - tax withholding, overtime, garnishments, and deductions
• Stay current on tax and regulatory changes and translate them into how we operate
• Protect confidential payroll and employee information like it's your own

Reporting, Audits & Year-End

• Build and maintain payroll reports, and export and analyze payroll data when leadership has questions
• Support internal and external audits with clean, well-documented records
• Own year-end processing, including W-2s, 1099s, and year-end reconciliations

Systems & Process Improvement

• Use Workday and our integrated HR and finance systems to remove manual steps and reduce errors
• Support payroll and benefits integrations with HR and financial applications
• Document SOPs and implement process improvements that make each cycle cleaner than the last

Employee Support

• Be the go-to resource for payroll and benefits questions, explaining complex topics in plain language
• Handle sensitive pay issues with discretion, empathy, and urgency

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years of hands-on payroll experience, including multi-state payroll and multiple pay groups
• Benefits administration experience, including running open enrollment
• Hands-on Workday experience strongly preferred; Deel or other international payroll platforms a plus
• Working knowledge of payroll compliance - tax withholding, overtime, garnishments, deductions, and year-end reporting
• Experience with ACH, direct deposit, and payroll reconciliations
• Comfort exporting, analyzing, and reporting on payroll data in Excel
• Detail-obsessed - an accurate paycheck is non-negotiable for you
• A problem-solver who doesn't just spot that something looks wrong; you figure out why
• A strong communicator who can explain payroll and benefits to non-finance employees with patience and clarity
• Highly organized under deadline pressure, with the judgment to prioritize when everything feels urgent
• Background in staffing, professional services, or high-volume hourly payroll a plus

What Will Make You Successful

You'll do well here if you're equally comfortable asking:

"Does this payroll register tie out?" and "Why does this keep happening, and how do we stop it for good?"

We need someone who cares deeply about getting every paycheck right but doesn't stop there. When an employee says they were underpaid, you start fixing it that day. When a variance shows up before processing, you chase it down before anything is released.

You should be calm under deadlines, discreet with sensitive information, and willing to roll up your sleeves. We're a growing company, so processes aren't always perfect - and you'll have the opportunity to make them better.

Why This Role

This isn't a maintenance position. You'll have real ownership over payroll and benefits at a growing ~$100M company, work directly with Finance and HR leadership, and have the tools and buy-in to build something better.

Every employee depends on getting paid correctly and on time - and you'll be the one who makes sure it happens. If you want a role where accuracy matters, your judgment is trusted, and your improvements actually stick, this is the opportunity!