Payroll, Benefits, & Retirement Plans Specialist

Job Summary Reporting to the Senior Manager, HR Operations, the Payroll, Benefits & Retirement Plans Specialist serves as the subject matter expert responsible for end-to-end payroll processing, benefits administration, and retirement plan management for Abacus Group’s US operations. This critical role ensures accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery of all payroll and benefits functions for approximately 800-900 US employees across multiple states. This position requires deep technical expertise in multi-state payroll processing within Workday, comprehensive knowledge of federal and state tax regulations, and proven ability to manage complex benefits and 401(k) administration. The successful candidate will serve as the primary point of contact for payroll vendors, act as the Workday payroll power user, and ensure full compliance with FLSA, tax law, SOC 2 audit requirements, and DOL regulations. This role has been created in response to critical operational needs, system configuration challenges during Workday implementation, and gaps in benefits and retirement plan administration. The ideal candidate will bring immediate expertise to stabilize operations, implement robust compliance controls, and support the Senior Manager, HR Operations in establishing best-in-class payroll and benefits delivery. This role reports to the Frisco, TX or Alpharetta, GA office on a hybrid basis. If applying from a location outside of these metro areas, remote accomodation may be provided. RESPONSIBILITIES (Including, but not limited to): Payroll Processing & Compliance (60%) Own end-to-end payroll processing in Workday for 800-900 US employees across multiple states Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations including wage-hour laws, garnishments, and multi-state requirements Configure and maintain Workday payroll rules, deductions, and earnings codes with precision and accuracy Process off-cycle payrolls including bonuses, commissions, severance payments, and corrections Reconcile payroll accounts and resolve discrepancies proactively to prevent errors Manage payroll tax filings and year-end W-2 processing Serve as primary point of contact for payroll vendor, managing relationships and escalations Identify and resolve payroll errors before they impact employees, acting as compliance safety net Support SOC 2 and DOL audit requirements related to payroll controls and documentation Benefits Administration (25%) Administer health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plans Support open enrollment and new hire benefits onboarding processes Manage benefits vendor relationships and resolve escalations Ensure accurate benefits deductions and reconciliations in Workday Support leave of absence administration including STD, LTD, and FMLA coordination Maintain compliance with ACA reporting and other benefits regulatory requirements Retirement Plan Administration (15%) Administer 401(k) plan including eligibility, enrollments, and contributions Coordinate annual compliance testing including ADP, ACP, and Top-Heavy testing Manage 401(k) vendor relationship with Fidelity or other provider Process loan and distribution requests in compliance with plan documents Support plan audits and Form 5500 filing preparation Ensure accurate 401(k) deductions and employer contributions in payroll system System Administration & Process Improvement Serve as Workday payroll power user, troubleshooting system errors and optimizing workflows Configure and maintain Workday payroll rules, deductions, and system parameters Identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and compliance controls Develop and maintain payroll and benefits procedures documentation Train HR Operations team members on payroll and benefits processes as needed Generate and analyze payroll reports and metrics for leadership review SKILLS: Technical Expertise - Payroll Expert knowledge of multi-state payroll processing, tax regulations, and wage-hour compliance Deep understanding of FLSA, tax withholding, garnishments, and payroll compliance requirements Advanced Workday Payroll proficiency including configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization Proven ability to identify and prevent payroll before they occur Strong understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliation, and financial controls Experience with payroll vendor management and service delivery expectations Technical Expertise - Benefits & Retirement Comprehensive knowledge of benefits administration including health, dental, vision, life, and disability plans Strong understanding of 401(k) plan administration, compliance testing (ADP, ACP, Top-Heavy), and DOL requirements Experience with ACA reporting, COBRA administration, and benefits compliance Knowledge of leave of absence administration including FMLA, STD, and LTD coordination Ability to manage benefits and 401(k) vendor relationships effectively Understanding of benefits enrollment systems and open enrollment processes Compliance & Risk Management Strong compliance orientation with deep understanding of SOC 2, DOL audit requirements, and IRS regulations Ability to identify compliance risks and implement preventive controls Experience with audit preparation, documentation, and response Understanding of internal controls and segregation of duties principles Proactive approach to catching errors before they impact employees or create compliance violations System & Technical Skills Advanced Excel skills including VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and complex formulas Strong HRIS proficiency with ability to configure systems and troubleshoot issues independently Ability to generate, analyze, and interpret payroll and benefits reports Experience with payroll integrations, data feeds, and system interfaces Comfortable learning new systems and adapting to technology changes Problem-So