automatiq - Payroll & Benefits Specialist
Requirements
• 3–5 years of experience in payroll, benefits, or HR operations — ideally with exposure to at least two of the four functional areas above • Hands-on experience with payroll software • Working knowledge of federal and multi-state payroll tax law and leave regulations (FMLA, state PFL, etc.) • Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, with experience analyzing datasets • Experience administering benefits programs including open enrollment coordination • Strong attention to detail — payroll and equity errors have real consequences for real people • Ability to handle sensitive employee data with discretion and professionalism • Clear, empathetic communicator — employees should feel informed and supported, not confused • Experience with equity administration platforms (Carta, Pulley, or similar) • Exposure to equity plan mechanics: option types, vesting schedules, 409A, and related tax concepts • Experience in a high-growth startup or scale-up environment where programs are built, not just maintained • HR certification (PHR, SHRM-CP, CPP, or similar) • Familiarity with HRIS platforms (Rippling, Deel, Workday, BambooHR, or similar)
Responsibilities
• Payroll Administration • Own end-to-end payroll processing for US employees (and contractors, as applicable) on a bi-weekly or semi-monthly cycle • Ensure payroll accuracy including salary changes, bonuses, garnishments, tax withholding, and retroactive adjustments • Partner with Finance to reconcile payroll data and maintain clean records for audits and reporting • Stay current on federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements; flag compliance risks proactively • Serve as the primary point of contact for employee payroll questions and resolve discrepancies quickly • Support year-end processing including W-2s, ACA reporting, and any required tax filings • Manage and fulfill employment and income verification requests in a timely and accurate manner. • Serve as a point of contact for employees regarding pay discrepancies, tax questions, benefit inquires. • Equity Administration • Administer the company's equity program (stock options, RSUs, or similar) in partnership with Finance • Manage the cap table platform (e.g., Carta, Pulley) — process grants, exercises, cancellations, and terminations accurately and on schedule • Communicate equity details to employees clearly: grant notices, vesting schedules, exercise windows, and tax implications in plain language • Coordinate with Legal on 409A valuations, board approvals, and equity plan compliance • Maintain audit-ready equity records and ensure data integrity across systems • Leave Administration • Administer all leave programs including FMLA, state-specific leaves, parental leave, medical leave, and any company-specific policies • Serve as the primary contact for employees navigating leave — provide clear, empathetic guidance on eligibility, process, and pay continuity • Partner with managers and HR Business Partners to coordinate leave logistics, coverage planning, and return-to-work transitions • Track leave usage and maintain accurate records in the HRIS • Monitor regulatory changes across leave laws in states where we have employees; update policies and processes accordingly
Benefits
• Automatiq is looking for a detail-oriented and employee-focused Payroll & Benefits Specialist to own the operational backbone of our People function. This role is responsible for running accurate, compliant payroll; administering our equity program; managing leave processes; and ensuring employees have a seamless benefits experience from day one through their tenure. • You'll work closely with both the finance and HR team leadership to keep our programs running smoothly. In this high-ownership, high-trust individual contributor role, you will be a key member of our lean, agile HR team. • Own day-to-day benefits administration including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, life insurance, and ancillary programs • Manage open enrollment end-to-end: system configuration, employee communications, carrier coordination, and deadline tracking • Process qualifying life events promptly and ensure employees understand their options • Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits questions and escalate carrier issues on their behalf • Reconcile monthly benefits invoices and resolve billing discrepancies with carriers • Support benefits benchmarking and renewal analysis in partnership with the broker and HR leadership • Manage annual 401(k) compliance testing and coordinate with plan auditors to ensure timely filings and accuracy. • Unemployment Claims and State Taxes • Manage unemployment insurance claims, including coordinating with state agencies and responding to claims inquiries. • Oversee state and local tax compliance, including monitoring registration requirements, handling tax notices, and ensuring accurate tax withholding. • Assist the Director of HR in maintaining pay bands and compensation structures, including updating salary ranges, maintaining compensation spreadsheets, and ensuring data accuracy across the HRIS platform • Pull and organize compensation data to assist in periodic pay reviews and market benchmarking analyses
Apply in one click
Upload My Resume
Drop here or click to browse · Tap to choose · PDF, DOCX, DOC, RTF, TXT