Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Squatters Pubs is seeking an experienced Payroll & Benefits Specialist to work approximately 3040 hours per week through a flexible remote schedule.

Squatters Pubs operates six restaurant locations in the Salt Lake City area. This position is responsible for semi-monthly payroll, supporting benefits administration, and related administrative tasks for a multi-location, hourly workforce.

This position is eligible for a benefits package that includes:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Short-term disability insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Remote work schedule with incidental in-office attendance, if any
• Discretionary bonus eligibility

Coverage effective dates and other benefit terms are governed by the applicable plans and company policies.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Independently process and review semi-monthly payroll.
• Audit timekeeping data, earnings, tips, multiple pay rates, deductions, reimbursements, garnishments, direct deposits, and payroll adjustments.
• Research payroll discrepancies and coordinate accurate, timely corrections.
• Maintain complete and confidential payroll and employee records.
• Partner with Accounting on payroll reporting, journal-entry support, reconciliations, audits, and year-end activities.
• Administer benefit enrollments, changes, terminations, qualifying life events, eligibility records, and employee deductions.
• Reconcile benefit-carrier invoices against enrollment records and payroll deductions and resolve discrepancies.
• Monitor retirement-plan contributions and coordinate participant information, reporting, and distributions with the plan administrator.
• Process and reconcile wage garnishments and other legally required deductions.
• Coordinate the administrative processing of short-term and long-term disability claims.
• Support FMLA and other approved leaves through document tracking, deadline monitoring, benefit-premium coordination, and accurate payroll processing.
• Receive and track unemployment claims, gather approved wage and separation information, and submit timely responses.
• Respond to routine employee questions related to payroll, deductions, benefits, and claim status.
• Prepare payroll and benefits reports, maintain process documentation, and identify opportunities to improve accuracy and efficiency.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

How to apply

Please submit your rsum and briefly describe your payroll-system, independent payroll-processing, and other relevant experience.

Requirements

Required qualifications:

• Demonstrated payroll-system proficiency; direct Paylocity experience is strongly preferred.
• At least two years of directly related payroll and benefits experience.
• Experience independently processing and auditing payroll.
• Experience supporting an hourly workforce with variable earnings, multiple pay rates, deductions, or similar payroll complexity.
• Working knowledge of payroll taxes, wage-and-hour requirements, garnishments, benefits administration, and confidential recordkeeping.
• Strong reconciliation, organization, reporting, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently, research discrepancies, and consistently meet firm deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.

Preferred qualifications:

• Restaurant, hospitality, or multi-location payroll experience.
• Experience processing payroll for tipped employees.
• Familiarity with tip reporting, service charges, variable earnings, and multiple pay rates.
• Experience with Paylocity and Restaurant365.
• Experience supporting benefit-billing reconciliation, disability claims, leave administration, garnishment, and unemployment claims.
• Certified Payroll Professional or Fundamental Payroll Certification.

Applicants do not need to meet every preferred qualification to be considered.