Payroll & Benefits Manager

Founded in 1912 as an adoption agency, Canopy Children's Solutions is Mississippi’s most comprehensive nonprofit provider of children’s behavioral health, educational, and family support solutions. Canopy employs a diverse group of mission-driven individuals committed to honoring the voice of Mississippi children and families. Being an integral part of the Canopy team involves committing to the Core Values that drive our organization forward:

• The voice of our children and families always comes first
• Relationships matter and our differences make us stronger
• We take great joy in service to others
• Our families and our communities deserve our very best

Canopy has been recognized as a Great Place to Work® for the fifth consecutive year and is one of only nine companies in Mississippi to earn this certification for 2025–2026. At Canopy, employees are committed to fostering a healthy workplace culture built on trust and driven by a shared mission: helping children thrive and empowering families to overcome extraordinary challenges.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for all eligible full-time employees. Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Competitive Compensation
• 403b Retirement Plan with Match
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• PTO/Vacation
• Employee Wellness Program and Counseling Services

Payroll & Benefits Manager Overview:

• The Payroll & Benefits Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of the organization's payroll and employee benefits functions.
• This position ensures accurate and timely payroll processing, tax compliance, benefits administration, retirement plan coordination, and leave administration. Works in coordination with Director of Payroll & Benefits to ensure HRIS payroll system integrity.
• The Payroll & Benefits Manager provides leadership to payroll and benefits staff, ensures compliance with federal and state regulations. Responsible for oversight of payroll accounting functions, payroll related financial reconciliations, benefit accounting, and audit support.
• The Payroll & Benefits Manager promotes operational excellence through process improvement, data analysis, compliance oversight, and exceptional customer service to employees and stakeholders.

 Job Responsibilities:

Payroll Administration and Accounting

• Manage and oversee all bi-weekly payroll processing activities.
• Ensure accurate processing of employee wages, deductions, adjustments, garnishments, and supplemental payments.
• Review of new hire profiles ensuring accurate business structure, and wages correspond to accepted employment offer.
• Review related data points to identify inconsistencies and non-conforming data.
• Review and process employee status change forms.
• Review and monitor employee accrual policies, processing accrual resets as needed, and ensure policy compliance.
• Perform periodic audit of employee profiles, positions, time system assignments, and accrual profile assignments.
• Prepare and reconcile to general ledger monthly grant submission worksheets. Provide support to grants manager in submission of grant support documentation.
• Review payroll audits and reconciliations prior to payroll transmission.
• Monitor payroll tax withholdings, remittances, filings, and year-end reporting.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations.
• Responsible for payroll accounting activities ensuring accurate recording of payroll transactions and related liabilities within the general ledger.
• Review and approve payroll journal entries, labor allocation entries and benefit related accounting transactions prior to posting.
• Prepare, review and reconcile payroll related balance sheet and expense accounts, including payroll liabilities, payroll taxes, employee benefit deductions, retirement contributions, accrued leave balance and garnishment withholdings.
• Coordinate payroll-related month-end, quarter-end, and year-end activities and ensure timely completion of all reconciliations.
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies and complex payroll issues.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, controls, and documentation.
• Provide back-up to Lead Payroll Coordinator & Lead Benefits Coordinator

Benefits Administration

• Oversee employee benefit enrollment, eligibility, life event changes, and termination processing.
• Oversee and support annual open enrollment activities.
• Review and approve payment of benefit provider invoices and enrollment records ensuring billing accuracy.
•  Ensure timely completion of required regulatory filings and benefit reporting.
• Assist with benefit plan audits and compliance reviews. ·
• Coordinate administration of the organization's retirement plans.
• Ensure accurate employee and employer contribution processing and reconciliations.

HRIS and Systems Management

• Serve as functional administrator for payroll, timekeeping, and benefits systems. 
• Review for approval payroll-related configuration changes.
• Lead testing efforts for system upgrades, patches, and enhancements. 
• Maintain data integrity within payroll and HR systems.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes impacting payroll and benefits administration.
• Ensure compliance with all payroll tax, retirement, and employee benefit regulations.
• Support internal and external audits and respond to audit requests timely and accurately.
• Maintain compliance with organizational policies and confidentiality requirements.
• Responsible for demonstrating sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural/socioeconomic differences in the organization/program service population.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Must possess a strong knowledge of standard payroll accounting concepts, general ledger reconciliations, payroll tax accounting and benefit accounting and internal controls.
• Five (5) years of progressive payroll and benefits administration experience required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP), Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), SHRM-CP, PHR, or similar certification preferred.
• Experience with UKG Workforce Management and UKG Pro or comparable HRIS/payroll systems strongly preferred.
• Experience administering retirement plans, benefit programs, payroll taxation, and leave programs required.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, wage and hour laws, payroll taxation, and benefit administration.
• Must be willing to use personal vehicle for organizational travel when required