Payroll & Benefits Administrator (Hybrid in Syracuse, NY)

Role:
The Payroll & Benefits Administrator is a key member of the Human Resources/People team responsible for the accurate and timely administration of Empower Federal Credit Union’s bi-weekly payroll, team member benefit programs, and 401(k) retirement plan. This role processes payroll and benefit transactions, reviews data for accuracy, completes reconciliations, maintains required records, and helps ensure team members receive correct pay and benefit coverage.
Serving as a trusted resource for team members, the Payroll & Benefits Administrator responds to payroll, benefits, and retirement-plan questions with clarity, care, and appropriate discretion. The position works closely with HR Operations, Finance, leaders, insurance carriers, retirement-plan providers, brokers, and other external partners to resolve issues and support reliable day-to-day administration.
Because this position works with highly sensitive payroll, financial, health-benefit, and personal information, success requires exceptional accuracy, sound judgment, confidentiality, and a strong understanding of internal controls. The Payroll & Benefits Administrator also identifies opportunities to strengthen processes, improve data integrity, and create a more consistent team member experience.
This position is based in Syracuse, New York, and follows Empower FCU's hybrid work model, which requires a minimum of five days on-site per month at our Headquarters. This position reports directly to the VP, Compensation & Benefits.

The hourly pay range for this position is: $32.03-$48.05

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:
40% Employee Benefits & Retirement Plan Administration:

• Manages the administration of various team member benefits programs such as health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and related benefit offerings.
• Assists with team member benefit communications and educational materials.
• Assists with open enrollment preparation, team member communications, and enrollment activities.
• Processes benefit enrollments, life event changes, and benefit terminations accurately and timely.
• Serves as a resource for team members regarding benefit programs and escalates complex issues as appropriate.
• Assists with benefit reconciliations and preparation of required documentation.
• Supports implementation of system enhancements, new benefits, and benefit plan changes.
• Evaluates and updates enrollment packets, new hire orientation materials, open enrollment materials, and ongoing educational resources.
• Coordinates with insurance carriers, brokers, and third-party administrators to resolve enrollment and eligibility issues.

401k Retirement Plan Administration:

• Supports day-to-day administration of the 401(k) retirement plan.
• Assists team members with enrollment, contribution elections, beneficiary updates, and basic retirement plan inquiries.
• Coordinates retirement plan payroll deductions and contribution processing.
• Works with retirement plan vendors to resolve participant issues.
• Assists with retirement plan reconciliations, audits, compliance activities, and required documentation.

35% Payroll Processing:

• Processes bi-weekly payroll activities including employee maintenance transactions, compensation changes, payroll adjustments, incentive payments, deductions, garnishments, and termination pay.
• Reviews payroll data for accuracy prior to payroll submission.
• Performs payroll audits and research to identify discrepancies and ensure accuracy.
• Processes payroll-related corrections and adjustments as needed.
• Assists with payroll reconciliations and payroll review activities.
• Maintains employee payroll records and supporting documentation.
• Generates and distributes standard payroll reports.
• Assists with year-end payroll activities and related reporting requirements.
• Serves as a resource for team members regarding payroll questions and resolves routine payroll issues.

10% Compliance, Reporting & Data Integrity:

• Assists with payroll and benefit administration activities to support compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Maintains required records and documentation.
• Supports internal audits, benefit plan audits, retirement plan audits, and compliance reviews by gathering and providing requested information.
• Generates standard payroll and benefits reports as requested.
• Maintains confidentiality of payroll, benefits, retirement plan, and team member information.

10% Systems, Process Improvement & Operational Support:

• Maintains payroll, benefits, and retirement plan files and documentation.
• Assists with testing and validation activities related to system updates and process changes.
• Identifies opportunities to improve payroll and benefits processes and team member experience.
• Supports department projects and operational initiatives as assigned.
• Provides cross-functional support to HR Operations as needed.

5% Team Member Communication & Education:

• Assists with development and distribution of payroll, benefits, and retirement plan communications.
• Provides general education and guidance regarding payroll processes, benefit programs, enrollment deadlines, and available resources.
• Supports open enrollment, onboarding, and other team member education efforts related to payroll and benefits.
• Builds positive working relationships with team members, vendors, and internal partners while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
• And all other duties, as assigned.

Performance Measurements:
See Dayforce (HRIS) for Performance Goals upon hire and annually.

Knowledge and Skills:
Experience: Three years to five years of progressively responsible experience in payroll, employee benefits, retirement-plan administration, HR operations, or a related area.

Experience should include:

• Hands-on payroll processing and auditing
• Benefits enrollment and eligibility administration
• Reconciliation of payroll deductions, benefit invoices, or retirement-plan contribution
• Use of an HRIS, payroll, timekeeping, or benefits administration platform
• Handling confidential financial, health-benefit, and personal information
• Researching discrepancies and coordinating timely resolution
• Working with benefit carriers, brokers, payroll partners, retirement-plan providers, or third-party administrators

Experience in a financial institution, regulated organization, multi-location employer, or similar control-focused environment is preferred.

Education: An associate degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field is preferred.
Equivalent job-related experience, specialized training, or recognized payroll or benefits certifications may be considered in place of formal education.
Payroll or benefits credentials, such as Fundamental Payroll Certification, Certified Payroll Professional, Certified Employee Benefit Specialist coursework, or comparable training, are preferred but not required.

Interpersonal Skills: This role involves frequent contact with team members, leaders, internal partners, and external vendors regarding sensitive payroll, financial, and benefit matters. The successful candidate must be able to communicate technical information clearly, listen carefully, remain composed when resolving concerns, and provide responsive service without compromising confidentiality, accuracy, policy, or internal controls.
The position requires tact, patience, professional judgment, and the ability to build effective working relationships. The Payroll & Benefits Administrator must also be comfortable following up on missing or inconsistent information and escalating concerns when timely resolution is necessary.

Other Skills:

• Working knowledge of payroll processing, wage and hour requirements, payroll taxation, benefit administration, and retirement-plan operations.
• Experience with Dayforce or another HRIS/payroll platform such as UKG, Workday, SAP, or a comparable system.
• Strong Excel skills, including the ability to organize, compare, validate, and reconcile data.
• Ability to review detailed payroll and benefit information while recognizing unusual activity, discrepancies, or missing documentation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the judgment to distinguish routine corrections from issues requiring escalation.
• High degree of confidentiality, integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage recurring deadlines, time-sensitive transactions, and competing priorities.
• Ability to work independently while following established review, approval, and internal control processes.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to accurate documentation and consistent process execution.
• Ability to learn new systems, regulations, plan provisions, and administrative requirements.
• Service-oriented approach that balances responsiveness to team members with compliance, accuracy, and appropriate boundaries.
• Comfortable leveraging technology and automation tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and the team member experience..

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Regular use of hands and fingers to operate a computer, keyboard, telephone, and other office equipment.
• Near visual acuity required for reviewing detailed payroll, benefit, and electronic records.
• Occasional movement of office supplies or equipment weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to participate in meetings, benefit-information sessions, and other in-person activities as needed.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Work Environment:

• Hybrid work model based in Syracuse, New York, with in-office attendance in accordance with organizational expectations (a minimum of five days on-site per month).
• Standard office environment with moderate noise levels.
• Regular collaboration through Microsoft Teams, email, telephone, and in-person meetings.
• Work volume may increase during payroll deadlines, open enrollment, year-end processing, audits, system implementations, and benefit-plan changes.
• The position requires consistent access to secure systems and appropriate handling of confidential information in both on-site and remote-work settings.

This Job Description is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities comprising the position.