Pay and Benefits Specialist

TITLE: Pay & Benefits Specialist
REPORTS TO: Director of Human Resources
ABOUT US : Blu Dot ( an award-winning designer and maker of modern home furnishings, is currently searching for a Pay & Benefits Specialist to join our dynamic and values-driven company.
Company Purpose
Inspire a more creative way of living through good design that's good to everyone.
Core Values
- Good design is good . Good design should be reflected in everything we do.
- Keep it simple. Strive for economy in all that you do.
- Everyone is invited to our party. Treat every individual with respect & dignity.
- Our glass is half full. Focus on the positive.
- Be humble. We take nothing for granted.
- Turn it up to 11. Determine what is expected and do a little more.
- Stay curious. Try, learn, improve, repeat.
The Human Resources team serves as Blu Dot's talent manager, cultural ambassador, and employee-support center. Our mission is to help align our people and culture with our core values and strategic goals. We accomplish this by establishing HR practices, processes and policies that support and promote inclusion, employee growth, a sense of community, wellness, and strong overall company performance.
About the Role : Blu Dot is looking for a Pay & Benefits Specialist to be responsible for managing the company's compensation and benefits programs, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing and administration of employee benefits. This involves working closely with the HR and accounting teams and maintaining compliance with legal regulations, company policies and best practices in pay and benefits management.
WHO YOU ARE:

• You are committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive culture.
• A relationship builder. You take pride in your emotional intelligence quotient and strive to foster meaningful professional connections.
• You have a high attention to detail and are capable of deftly managing many moving parts.
• You are self-driven with a strong work ethic and work well with minimum supervision.
• You take pride in doing things right while applying your administrative, functional and people skills.
• You have a strong sense of integrity and discretion.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

• Ensure timely and accurate bi-weekly payroll processing. Validate and update payroll data, including timesheets, earnings, deductions, bonuses and other compensation changes.
• Be the primary admin for our payroll platform/HRIS and liaise with external vendors as necessary.
• Administer employee benefits programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, disability, leave of absences, and other company-provided benefits.
• Coordinate benefits enrollment for new hires by explaining benefit options and assisting with the enrollment process.
• Monitor eligibility for benefits and coordinate changes (e.g. qualifying life events, status changes, annual open enrollment).
• Working with the accounting team, ensure timely payment of insurance premiums and assist in month- and year-end processes.
• Prepare and file required payroll tax forms and benefits-related reports.
• Administer Concur, our expense management platform, ensuring reports are submitted and approved by leaders in a timely manner. Apply employee reimbursements in payroll as needed.
• Partner with our auditors to provide audit evidence for our financial statement, work comp and 401(k) audits.
• Apply your problem-solving skills to ensure efficiency and accuracy through process improvements.
• Assist employees with payroll and benefits questions, providing clear communication about policies and procedures.
• Develop and update benefits-related documentation, policies, and procedures for distribution to employees.
• As a multi-state employer, stay updated on payroll laws, tax regulations and ensure compliance with local, state and federal requirements.
• Work with HR colleagues to ensure alignment between compensation practices and the overall employee engagement strategy.
• Many other opportunities and experiences to enhance your knowledge base by assisting the team as requested.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS*:

• 3+ years of payroll administration or relevant HR experience
• Preferred experience with multi-state payroll
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint)
• Experience with HRIS platforms
• Position is based out of Minneapolis, MN headquarters with a flexible working environment/schedule (no full-time remote work available)

*These are 'nice to have' credentials, but we always welcome candidates with unique and diverse backgrounds. We see the value in a wide range of experiences and always love connecting with people excited about opportunities to join Blu Dot.