Olson Kundig
Senior Payroll and Benefits Specialist
Finance & Operations - Seattle, WA - Full Time
Olson Kundig is a design practice founded on the ideas that buildings can serve as a bridge between nature, culture and people, and that inspiring surroundings have a positive effect on people’s lives. The firm’s work can be found across the globe, with projects as wide-ranging as huts to high rises, homes—often for art collectors—to academic, cultural and civic projects, museums and exhibition design, places of worship, creative production, urban design, and interior design.
Currently, we are seeking a Senior Payroll and Benefits Specialist who can help contribute to the overall excellence of work coming from Olson Kundig.
Position Summary
The Payroll and Benefits Specialist is responsible for processing all aspects of payroll, complying with payroll regulations, and reconciling and auditing employee benefits. This role serves as the subject matter expert for payroll operations and leads process improvements and audits. This role will collaborate with Finance and Human Resources to deliver exceptional results within specified deadlines.
Primary Responsibilities:
Timesheets:
As a firm, we are committed to pay practices that are fair, competitive, and reflect internal pay equity. At the time of posting this job, the hiring range for this position in Seattle is between $75,000 and $88,000 annually. Final salary decisions are made based upon the extent and relatedness of the candidate’s education and experience and considering internal equity and external market factors.
Currently, we are seeking a Senior Payroll and Benefits Specialist who can help contribute to the overall excellence of work coming from Olson Kundig.
Position Summary
The Payroll and Benefits Specialist is responsible for processing all aspects of payroll, complying with payroll regulations, and reconciling and auditing employee benefits. This role serves as the subject matter expert for payroll operations and leads process improvements and audits. This role will collaborate with Finance and Human Resources to deliver exceptional results within specified deadlines.
Primary Responsibilities:
Timesheets:
- Execute a high-volume timesheet auditing process, including the review and approval of all employee timesheets each week.
- Monitor, research, and resolve any timesheet coding issues with employees.
- Coordinate and prorate time and pay entries for employee changes due to new hires/terminations/leaves.
- Process and review biweekly, mid-month, and end-of-month payrolls for multiple entities and jurisdictions, including salaried and hourly employees.
- Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing, including calculation of wages, overtime, garnishments, bonuses, commissions, and deductions.
- Serve as the primary liaison with HR and Finance to ensure accurate benefit deductions, tax setups, and employee changes.
- Monitor, research, and resolve any pay issues regarding compensation, hours, deductions, 401K, and payroll taxes.
- Audit employee changes in the payroll system by reporting and reviewing changes during the payroll process to ensure the accuracy of employee pay.
- Respond to employee inquiries regarding payroll, timekeeping, and deductions with professionalism and confidentiality.
- Submit pre- and post-payroll reports to leadership for final approval.
- Coordinate funding of the biweekly, mid-month, and end-of-month payrolls with the Finance team.
- Produce payroll and labor reports requested by leadership.
- Maintain employee records and data in ERP.
- Work with our payroll system provider to ensure that all monthly, quarterly, and year-end payroll reports and taxes are executed according to State and Federal tax laws and deadlines.
- Reconcile monthly payroll reports and resolve discrepancies.
- Execute the month-end close process regarding timesheets/payroll/benefits and resolve issues.
- Review financial statements to ensure the accuracy of benefit entries.
- Reconcile monthly benefit invoices against internal enrollment and payroll records to ensure billing accuracy.
- Investigate and resolve discrepancies with carriers related to coverage changes, overcharges, and terminations in collaboration with the HR team.
- Reconciliation and coordination of payments to benefit providers with the AP team.
- Audit employee benefit enrollment changes (e.g., new hires, terminations, life events).
- Monitor and report benefit cost and enrollment variances, escalating issues and providing summaries to HR and Finance.
- Maintain organized documentation of reconciliations, corrections, and carrier communications for audits and reporting.
- Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent work experience).
- Minimum 7 years of payroll processing experience with multi-state experience
- Strong understanding and knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax laws and compliance requirements.
- Experience with multi-state payroll and working knowledge of payroll systems (e.g., Paylocity, ADP, UKG, Paycom, Workday, Ceridian).
- Proficient in Microsoft 365, particularly Microsoft Excel, and comfortable with data reporting tools.
- Proficient with third party payroll systems and digital file management systems.
- Must consent to a criminal background check.
- Familiarity with accounting systems and general ledger integration.
- Architecture, Engineering, Design, or Construction industry experience preferred.
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred.
- A creative work environment and colleagues who are collaborative, creative, and challenging
- Opportunity to grow professionally
- Check our culture page to learn about life at Olson Kundig
As a firm, we are committed to pay practices that are fair, competitive, and reflect internal pay equity. At the time of posting this job, the hiring range for this position in Seattle is between $75,000 and $88,000 annually. Final salary decisions are made based upon the extent and relatedness of the candidate’s education and experience and considering internal equity and external market factors.
All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship and must already possess long-term work authorization.
