Payroll and Benefits Coordinator

JOB/POSITION SUMMARY: Coordinate and oversee the accurate and timely administration of district payroll and employee benefits, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and district procedures. Maintain accurate payroll and benefits records, provide support and guidance to employees regarding payroll and benefits, and ensure the efficient processing, reporting, and reconciliation of payroll and benefits-related information.
REPORTS TO: Chief Financial Officer
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of two (2) years experience in bookkeeping, accounting or payroll processing involving advanced record keeping is required.
• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Experience with Missouri School Districts in full-cycle payroll and benefits is preferred
• College degree and payroll processing experience is preferred 

JOB CLASSIFICATION: Classified 
SHIFT TYPE: Full-time 
HOURS PER DAY/WEEK: 8 hours daily for 260 days
SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday
SALARY: Competitive annual salary commensurate with experience 
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
BENEFITS ELIGIBILITY: Yes
Brentwood School District offers its eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, basic life, accident, voluntary life, voluntary long-term disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, and retirement plans.  Base plans for employee medical, dental, vision, and life insurance are available at NO cost to the employee. 
Additionally, the children of nonresident teachers and eligible employees may enroll in the district without paying tuition when the resident district is not otherwise liable for tuition. 
 ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate and oversee the district's semi-monthly payroll process, ensuring payroll is accurate, timely, compliant, and consistent with contracts, collective bargaining agreements, board policies, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Serve as a primary resource and subject matter expert for district payroll and employee benefits, providing guidance and resolving complex questions or concerns from employees, administrators, and district departments.
• Maintain and ensure the accuracy and integrity of personnel, payroll, retirement, time and attendance, benefits, and related employee databases and records.
• Review and approve payroll-related information, including timesheets, supplemental pay, stipends, deductions, contract changes, leave usage, and other compensation adjustments, identifying and resolving discrepancies prior to payroll processing.
• Calculate and verify compensation for new hires, mid-year hires, terminations, transfers, contract modifications, supplemental assignments, and other changes in employment status or compensation.
• Administer payroll deductions and adjustments, including federal, state, and local taxes, retirement contributions, insurance premiums, flexible spending accounts, garnishments, and other authorized deductions.
• Prepare, review, reconcile, and submit required federal, state, and local payroll tax filings and payments, including quarterly and annual reports and W-2 forms, ensuring compliance with applicable deadlines and regulations.
• Coordinate state retirement reporting and ensure accurate enrollment, deductions, reporting, and reconciliation with the applicable retirement system in accordance with state law and district requirements.
• Reconcile payroll, retirement, tax, benefit, and financial records to identify discrepancies and ensure the accuracy and integrity of district financial information, including information necessary for GASB-68 reporting.
• Coordinate the administration of employee benefits, including health, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA, and other district-sponsored benefit programs.
• Coordinate and support annual benefits open enrollment, including employee communications, enrollment changes, eligibility verification, and coordination with benefit providers and third-party administrators.
• Monitor employee benefit eligibility and ensure timely and accurate enrollment, changes, cancellations, and terminations in accordance with plan documents and applicable regulations.
• Administer COBRA processes and ensure required notices, documentation, and deadlines are completed accurately and timely.
• Provide payroll and benefits guidance related to leaves of absence, including FMLA, and accurately determine the impact of leave on employee pay, deductions, benefits, and eligibility.
• Review and maintain employee payroll and benefits records, including W-4s, direct deposit authorizations, benefit elections, employment changes, and other required documentation.
• Coordinate required new-hire reporting and other employee reporting requirements to the State of Missouri and other applicable agencies.
• Maintain accurate payroll and benefits information within the district's financial and student information systems and utilize Excel and other technology to prepare reports, reconciliations, calculations, and analyses.
• Develop and maintain payroll and benefits procedures, internal controls, calendars, checklists, and other resources to ensure consistent and efficient operations.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll and benefits processes, systems, communication, and workflow while maintaining accuracy, compliance, confidentiality, and quality customer service.
• Monitor changes in federal and state laws, regulations, retirement requirements, tax requirements, benefit plan provisions, and district policies that may affect payroll or employee benefits and communicate relevant changes to appropriate district personnel.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and other district administrators regarding employee compensation, benefits, leave, payroll matters, and related personnel processes.
• Assist with the onboarding and intake process for new employees, ensuring required payroll, tax, retirement, and benefits documentation is completed accurately and timely.
• Assist with audits, financial reviews, retirement reporting, benefits administration, and other compliance activities by preparing documentation, reports, reconciliations, and supporting materials as needed.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of employee payroll, benefits, personnel, and other sensitive information and exercise sound judgment when handling confidential matters.
• Provide professional, responsive, and high-quality customer service to employees, administrators, benefit providers, governmental agencies, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Establish priorities and independently manage multiple responsibilities, projects, deadlines, and recurring payroll and benefits requirements with a high degree of accuracy.
• Demonstrate strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure and meet established deadlines.
• Exercise sound judgment and initiative in identifying issues, researching solutions, and resolving payroll and benefits matters within established policies and procedures.
• Maintain professional knowledge and skills through ongoing training and professional development related to payroll, benefits, retirement, tax compliance, employment law, and applicable regulations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities Required
The requirements described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical procedures.
• Ability to write general correspondence using correct grammar.
• Ability, both orally and in writing, to present information effectively and respond appropriately to questions and concerns from all stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with district personnel and outside agencies through oral and written communication.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• A high degree of competence in computational skills.

REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to define problems, collect and analyze data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form and to understand abstract and concrete variables.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Application of advanced skills in use of Excel database
• Experience with report generation from various data sources.
• The ability to manage, maintain and generate reports from various databases.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to perform duties with awareness of organization requirements and state/federal laws.
• Excellent organization and time management skills in order to meet deadlines.
• Possess keen awareness of details in order to monitor payroll and time/attendance reporting systems and correct errors as needed. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Requires prolonged sitting or standing.
• Requires physical exertion to manually move, lift, carry, pull or push objects or materials up to 50lbs.
• Requires prolonged keyboarding activities.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to read small print.
• The employee must frequently bend, reach above the head, as well as forward, and use fine motor skills.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

• The employee must often meet deadlines and must have the ability to work independently.
• The work environment includes small office spaces and minimal noise.
• The employee must be able to manage stressful, time-sensitive requirements. 

All Candidates must attach the following documents to their application: Letter of interest, resume, copy of current certification, and the contact information for at least 4 references (including your current supervisor)
EOE. Brentwood School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, mental or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by statute in its programs and activities. If you have special needs addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or for assistance with any phase of the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (314) 962-4507 x. 6016 or RelayMO711 or 1-800-735-2966.