Payroll and Benefits Manager

 Where People Thrive, Impact Follows: Be Our Next Payroll and Benefits Manager! 

About Dalberg Advisors

Dalberg Advisors is a strategic advisory firm combining the best of private sector strategy skills and rigorous analytical capabilities with deep knowledge and networks across emerging and frontier markets. We work collaboratively across the public, private and philanthropic sectors to fuel inclusive growth and help clients achieve their goals.

What You Will Do and How You Will Grow

The US Payroll & Benefits Manager is a key member of the US Finance and Operations team, reporting to the Americas Talent Director. This individual owns end-to-end payroll processing and benefits administration for approximately 100 US-based employees and provides critical operational support as Dalberg navigates its global restructuring. The role requires a detail-oriented, proactive professional who can operate with a high degree of autonomy in a lean, mission-driven environment. 

Salary: The annual compensation for this role is $105,000. Our salary structure is designed to align with that of non-profit and social impact organizations, reflecting our dedication to social impact work. This is distinct from management consultancies, which predominantly cater to commercial clients.

Payroll and Benefits Manager - Specific Responsibilities

Payroll Administration

·      Own and manage full-cycle, semi-monthly payroll for ~100 US employees using Rippling and Remote.com platforms 

·      Ensure payroll accuracy, timeliness, and compliance across all relevant federal, state, and local jurisdictions, including multi-state obligations 

·      Process salary changes, bonuses, terminations, garnishments, and other payroll adjustments in a timely manner 

·      Maintain payroll records in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and internal audit standards 

·      Serve as primary liaison with payroll vendors and external tax advisors on payroll tax filings, W-2s, and year-end reporting 

Benefits Administration 

·      Manage day-to-day administration of all US employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, FSA/HSA, commuter benefits, and 401(k) 

·      Lead annual open enrollment process, including vendor coordination, employee communications, and system configuration 

·      Serve as primary point of contact for employee benefits inquiries; resolve claims issues and escalate as needed 

·      Oversee COBRA administration and ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, and other applicable regulations 

·      Evaluate benefits offerings on a periodic basis and provide recommendations to leadership on plan design and cost management 

Compliance and Reporting

·      Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment and payroll regulations, including DOL, IRS, and EEOC requirements 

·      Prepare and submit required regulatory filings, including Form 5500, ACA reporting, EEO-1, and workers' compensation 

·      Support internal and external audits related to payroll, benefits, and HR data integrity 

·      Maintain updated knowledge of legislative and regulatory changes affecting compensation and benefits 

Systems and Process Improvement

·      Maintain and optimize HRIS/payroll systems; ensure data integrity across platforms 

·      Identify and implement process improvements to enhance payroll and benefits operations, particularly in the context of Dalberg's evolving global corporate structure 

·      Support the integration of US payroll and benefits operations into global HoldCo reporting structures as needed 

Employee Experience

·      Deliver a high-quality employee experience by responding to payroll and benefits inquiries promptly and with clarity 

·      Develop and maintain employee-facing communications and resources on compensation and benefits programs 

·      Partner with the Director of Finance and Operations and HR function on onboarding, offboarding, and total rewards strategy 

What We Offer:

• A collaborative and entrepreneurial organization that provides the platform to make an impact on day one
• A uniquely talented, highly diverse, passionate, and fun team
• Hands-on mentorship
• Robust knowledge base and client networks to explore and engage as you build your platform
• A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism in our culture, beliefs, systems, and processes
• Competitive benefits and career development opportunities

Join Our Team

Our current opportunity is in Washington DC.

You are expected to work in the office 2-3 days/week.

Employment in Dalberg’s Wahington DC office is contingent on the candidate having the requisite authorization to live and work in the US as well as possessing fluency in English.

Your application should be submitted hereand should include a resume and cover letter, both written in English.

Interview Process: Candidates selected will be invited to a mix of behavioral interviews and assessments, each conducted by a different interviewer.

Benefits: Additionally, our comprehensive benefits package encompasses medical coverage, mental health support benefits, parental leave, student loan repayment assistance, and paid time off.

Dalberg values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. Qualified and interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, religion, background, or ethnic affiliation are encouraged to apply for the vacancy.

We have also pledged to three commitments for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) across the firm:

• COMMITMENT 1: We commit to publishing internal Dalberg DEI reports annually, to hold ourselves accountable, report on progress and share lessons from our regional DEI plans.

• COMMITMENT 2: We commit to delivering regular training for all staff (including leadership) on how to engender inclusive workplaces and mitigate unconscious bias.

• COMMITMENT 3: We commit to addressing imbalances in how power and privilege are formally distributed and informally exercised across the firm.

Owing to the large number of applications we receive; unfortunately, only successful candidates will be contacted.

Typical qualifications for a Payroll and Benefits Manager:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or CEBS (Certified Employee Benefits Specialist) designation preferred
• 5+ years of progressive experience in payroll and benefits administration, with at least 2 years in a management or lead capacity.
• Demonstrated expertise with a major payroll platform (ADP Workforce Now, Paylocity, Rippling, or equivalent) 
• Strong working knowledge of US federal and state payroll tax laws and benefits compliance requirements 
• Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to explain complex compensation and benefits concepts to non-specialists 
• Experience in a professional services, consulting, or mission-driven organization 
• Familiarity with multi-currency payroll or international employment structures 
• Experience supporting a corporate restructuring, M&A integration, or ownership transition
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms (Workday, BambooHR, or equivalent) and advanced Excel skills