Position Summary
The Payroll & HR Support Specialist's primary focus in this role is processing accurate, timely, and compliant payroll across our multi-state, multi-location restaurant operations. This position will also support the broader HR team with benefits administration and day-to-day HR tasks, serving as a secondary point of contact for employees and location managers on pay, benefits, and HR policy questions.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Process multi-state, multi-location payroll on a recurring cycle, ensuring accuracy of hours, rates, tips, deductions, and garnishments.
- Enter and audit new hires, terminations, transfers, promotions, and pay rate changes in accordance with approved documentation and required approvals.
- Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, including overpayments and underpayments, coordinating with location and HR leadership as needed.
- Maintain payroll records and generate standard and ad hoc payroll reports for HR, Finance, and Operations stakeholders.
- Stay current on federal and state wage-and-hour requirements across the company's multi-state footprint and flag compliance concerns to HR leadership.
- Support year-end payroll processes, including W-2 preparation, tip reporting, and audits.
- Assist employees with benefits enrollment, changes, and eligibility questions during open enrollment and qualifying life events.
- Process benefits deductions and reconcile deduction data between the benefits platform and payroll records.
- Support leave-of-absence administration (FMLA and non-FMLA), including tracking and coordination of required documentation.
- Serve as a liaison between employees, benefits carriers, and brokers to resolve claims, billing, or enrollment issues.
- Respond to employee and manager inquiries regarding pay, policies, and general HR procedures.
- Maintain accurate employee records in the HRIS, ensuring data integrity.
- Support onboarding, offboarding, and other HR administrative processes as needed.
- Assist with compiling data and documentation for HR compliance projects, audits, and reporting.
- Perform other HR-related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- 2+ years of payroll processing experience required; multi-state, multi-location payroll experience strongly preferred.
- Experience with a payroll/HRIS platform such as ADP or UKG (or similar) strongly preferred.
- Restaurant or hospitality payroll experience a plus, including familiarity with tip credit and tip pooling concepts.
- Working knowledge of FLSA and general wage-and-hour principles.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to manage confidential information with discretion.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; comfort working across HR systems and reporting tools.
- Excellent communication skills and a service-oriented approach to supporting employees and managers.
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
- PHR, FPC or CPP certification a plus, but not required.
Work Environment and Physical Demands
This position works primarily in a standard office environment onsite at the corporate office location. Payroll processing follows a recurring, deadline-driven cycle that may occasionally require extended hours around payroll close, year-end, and open enrollment. Occasional travel to restaurant locations may be required.
Benefits
- Medical plan with no copays, no deductibles, and no out-of-pocket maximum
- Dental and vision coverage
- Supplemental Insurance
- Company-paid life insurance, plus short-term and long-term disability
- PTO
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with mental health support
- Dining discounts
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
