Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly analytical, detail-obsessed Payroll and Benefits Specialist to support our U.S. and Canada payroll and benefits operations. This role is ideal for someone with an accounting background who thrives in structured environments, enjoys reconciling complex data, and ensures every number ties out across systems. Working in close coordination with our U.S.-based Payroll & People Operations teams, you'll be responsible for executing recurring payroll and benefits tasks, performing detailed reconciliations, and proactively identifying discrepancies. You'll play a vital role in maintaining the accuracy and integrity of employee pay and benefits data, while ensuring our operational processes are compliant, consistent, and audit-ready.

Job Details

• Work from Home
• Monday to Friday | 1 PM to 10PM CST for 3 months (2:00 AM to 11:00 AM Manila Time) | client to discuss schedule moving forward
• Following US Holidays

Responsibilities:

• Payroll Accounting Support
  • Reconcile payroll data with timekeeping, compensation, and HRIS systems
  • Validate payroll input files (new hires, rate changes, terminations, bonus payments) for completeness and accuracy
  • Prepare detailed payroll tie-out documentation to support journal entries and approvals
  • Analyze payroll variances across cycles and flag discrepancies to the U.S. manager
  • Assist in preparing payroll reports for finance and support journal entry validation
  • Maintain structured documentation of each payroll cycle for audit readiness
  • Support off-cycle adjustments with proper documentation and approvals
  • Benefits Reconciliation Support
    • Match benefit enrollments against deduction records in payroll for medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) plans
    • Reconcile monthly vendor invoices to internal payroll deduction reports
    • Track and validate benefit lifecycle data (e.g., QLEs, new hire enrollments, terminations)
    • Escalate data inconsistencies or missed enrollments based on set thresholds
    • Assist with upload/download of benefit carrier files and related reporting
    • Data Management and Process Control
      • Follow structured SOPs and reconciliation checklists with precision
      • Identify data mismatches or anomalies using VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, and cross-system comparisons
      • Maintain logs, trackers, and shared documentation with version control and naming standards
      • Collaborate with the U.S. team via weekly syncs, documenting findings and resolutions
      • Participate in quality reviews and continuous process improvement cycles

Qualifications:

• 3–5 years of experience in payroll or GL/accounting reconciliation, ideally for U.S. or North American companies
• Proven experience with payroll operations and benefits data reconciliation
• Proficiency with Excel or Google Sheets (e.g., pivot tables, formulas, lookups)
• Strong analytical skills; able to spot trends, anomalies, or data mismatches quickly
• High attention to detail and accountability for data accuracy
• Familiarity with payroll and HR systems (e.g., ADP, Gusto, Workday, BambooHR)
• Ability to work independently and follow process rigor in a remote environment
• Strong written and verbal communication in English
• Comfort with working partial U.S. hours (at least 4–6 hours overlap with CST)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field
• Strong professional judgment and pattern recognition skills
• Humble, curious, and coachable mindset
• Experience supporting US/Canada payroll or benefits operations within a U.S.-based BPO/shared service model a plus
• Comfortable flagging when something looks "off" and collaborating to fix it
• Experience reconciling 401(k), insurance premiums, and other payroll-related benefits invoices