Payroll and Benefits Specialist

Why should you join our team?

American AgCredit offers a unique opportunity to be a part of a national financial system supporting those who feed, clothe and fuel the world. We are a growing organization embracing collaboration and innovation while delivering transformative solutions. American AgCredit provides a cultivating environment where you truly make a difference for our customers and teams.

Benefits offered by American AgCredit:

• Commitment to agriculture and the communities we serve
• Family friendly work environment
• Investment in employee development
• Medical, Dental and Vision coverage
• Outstanding 401k - automatic 3% employer contribution, plus match up to 6%
• Generous Paid Time Off (Vacation accrued at 21 days annually, Sick Days accrued at 15 days annually, 12 paid holidays, plus 16 hours of volunteer time)
• Competitive Incentive Compensation Plan
• Disability & Life Insurance
• Employee mental, physical, and financial wellness programs
• The position is bonus eligible based on association and personal performance

Position will be posted until filled.

Basic Function:

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist is responsible for coordinating and supervising the day-to-day administration of American AgCredits' (AAC) Payroll, Benefits, and Wellness programs. They will work to ensure seamless operations, regulatory compliance, and employee satisfaction. This position will be primarily focused on ensure timekeeping, wage and hour compliance for all employees of the association, and for managing the Benefit and Wellness programs offered from Farm Credit Foundations (FCF) as well as those offered and managed in-house. This position will provide direction, feedback, and ongoing advising to FCF partners to ensure compliant programs and systems appropriate for the population of AAC. This position will require a person who is well versed in payroll compliance across the United States, and with a heavy understanding of California wage and hour requirements. This position will be responsible for partnering with our vendor to manage, research, develop and implement a compliant payroll, benefit, and wellness process. The ideal candidate for this position will be well-versed in multi-state payroll compliance and the technicalities of non-exempt timekeeping. They should have proven track record of successful payroll management/processing and benefit coordination in a complex multi-state organization.

Essential Duties:

• Oversee the accurate and timely processing of the association's payroll, including exempt and non-exempt populations, as well as regular wages, overtime, and bonus payments.
• Ensure all required payroll activities and audits are completed timely and discrepancies resolved.
• Advise Farm Credit Foundations (FCF) partners of state payroll legal and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare and analyze regular audit reports. Communicate directly with employees and their leaders on timekeeping issues and questions. Escalate concerns when applicable to FCF for further analysis. Review reporting for alignment and concerns with approved Board risk appetite for impacted areas of Risk.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities related to the association's payroll records and practices.
• Audit and analyze payroll data. Provide HR Business Partners and Leaders insights into workforce trends.
• Address payroll and benefit-related inquiries and provide guidance/ direction to the FCF partners.
• Build trust and transparency with association employees to support and promote the total rewards package.
• Provide feedback and partnership of the FCF Benefit offerings. Work directly with Marketing/ Communications to advertise and educate on the Benefit and Wellness Programs.
• Collaborate with the Total Rewards Analyst to ensure accurate payroll entries are integrating from Workday to Dayforce. Conduct regular audits between Workday and Dayforce to ensure system alignment and correct wage reflection.
• Partner with the HR Compliance Manager on any related programs and procedures.
• Stay current with market trends in the supplemental benefit space to propose additional benefits that align with the associations' culture. Research vendors, review proposals, outline process and benefits of the program, and manage the vendor relationship accordingly.
• Partner with FCF and in-house Finance teams on annual benefit budget figures. Coordinate assumptions to ensure proper holds in the annual budget. Work with FCF to research any major variances in budget to actuals to be able to speak to why changes occurred.
• Coordinate the Annual Enrollment process for American AgCredit.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for Payroll, Benefit and Wellness programs. Respond to AskHR inquiries for Payroll, Benefits and Wellness related topics.
• Coordinate with FCF on requested state taxes. Ensuring association eligibility via partnership with FCF and/or AAC legal counsel.
• Work closely with the Total Rewards team to ensure smooth delivery of programs. Provide back-up assistance/support as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Levels of Supervision Exercised & Received:

Provides guidance and training to HR staff. Makes independent decisions; works under general direction of the Head of Total Rewards & HR Operations. Manages the payroll, benefit and wellness programs for the association.

Typical Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree is required, preferably in Human Resources or Accounting. Candidates with ten (10) years previous payroll experience will be considered in lieu of degree.
• Five (5) years payroll processing experience is required. Previous experience supervising payroll is strongly preferred. Experience must include responsibility processing California payroll, including both Exempt and Non-Exempt populations. Experience with multi-state payroll is required.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) is strongly preferred.
• Two (2) years previous Benefit administration experience is preferred.
• Proven track record of success working both independently as well as on a team. Must be able to analyze information, apply laws and regulations, and determine appropriate process/outcome.
• Excellent knowledge of wage, hour, timekeeping and payroll administration is required. Specific in-depth understanding of California wage and hour regulations is required.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, problem-solving and organizational skills are required. Must have a proven track record of success analyzing processes and laws to determine appropriate actions.
• Must be comfortable in a fast-paced environment with complex regulatory requirements.
• Experience with Dayforce and Workday is strongly preferred.
• Strong Excel and reporting skills are required. V:lookup, pivot tables and summary techniques will be used daily for success in this position.
• Desire and ability to travel, as requested by the business, up to 10% domestic, is required.

Essential Job Requirements:

Must have the ability to perform basic office tasks and work in a typical office setting. Employee will be sitting for extended periods of time and accomplishing work at a desk and work at a computer for an extended period of time. Must have strong written and verbal communication skills to adequately convey ideas and work well with a team. Ability to talk and hear, sit and use their hands and fingers, and reach in all directions is essential in performance of the job. Some lifting and moving of items up to 25 pounds required. Work during established business hours and may require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

PAY RANGE:

All hiring is contingent on eligibility to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or transfer visas for applicants.

American AgCredit provides equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, alienage or citizenship status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, genetic information, medical condition, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, military service or veteran status, victims of domestic violence, or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. American AgCredit prohibits harassment of any individuals on any of the bases listed above.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at jobs@agloan.com.