Payroll & Benefits Specialist

About Canal Insurance

Canal Insurance Company specializes in insurance for commercial trucking and specialty transportation operations. Canal was founded in 1939 and is located in Greenville, South Carolina. At Canal, we recognize that our success would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our employees. We know that happiness and productivity go hand in hand, and to that end, we consciously cultivate a culture that enables us to recruit and retain the very best talent in the business.

A Culture With YOU in Mind

• Located in beautiful downtown Greenville, SC
• Career growth & advancement opportunities
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Employee referral program
• Casual dress code
• Innovation-focused & customer-centric
• 80+ years of industry expertise
• Committed to giving back to our community
• Unquestioned integrity and commitment

Benefits at Canal

• Basic & Voluntary Life Insurance Plans
• Medical, Dental, & Vision
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• 401(k) plan with company match up to 6%
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Generous PTO Plan

Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Job Summary: The Payroll & Benefits Specialist is responsible for owning end-to-end payroll processing and supporting the administration of the organization’s employee benefits programs. This role serves as a key subject matter expert (SME) in payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency across multi-state payroll and benefits administration. The ideal candidate brings strong technical payroll expertise, advanced Excel capabilities, and experience working within HRIS platforms (UKG strongly preferred).

Key Responsibilities:

Payroll Administration

• Own and execute full-cycle payroll processing for multi-entity, multi-state operations with the highest levels of accuracy, compliance, and confidentiality
• Manage and audit time and attendance data within the HRIS system (UKG preferred)
• Process regular and off-cycle payrolls, including:
• Wage and salary payments
• Retroactive pay adjustments and benefit deductions
• Severance payments
• Garnishments and tax withholdings
• Perform pre- and post-payroll audits and reconciliations to ensure accuracy of earnings, deductions, taxes, and general ledger postings
• Prepare and post payroll-related journal entries and support Finance with payroll funding, reporting, and account reconciliations
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including multi-state tax requirements
• Manage year-end payroll processes including W-2 review, audit, and distribution
• Generate, analyze, and maintain payroll reports; leverage data to identify discrepancies and drive improvements
• Partner with internal stakeholders to resolve payroll issues and deliver excellent employee support

Benefits Administration

• Administer day-to-day operations of employee benefits programs including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), disability, life insurance, FSAs, HSAs, and dependent care accounts
• Conduct new hire benefits orientation and support enrollment processes
• Manage benefits offboarding, including COBRA administration, final deductions, and conversion processes
• Oversee administration of FMLA, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability programs in compliance with applicable laws
• Support and help execute annual open enrollment
• Serve as a point of contact for employee benefit inquiries, ensuring a high level of customer service
• Manage ACA compliance and 1095-C reporting/distribution
• Coordinate with vendors and brokers to ensure accurate and timely benefits administration
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the organization’s wellness initiatives, including planning and coordinating activities such as lunch-and-learn sessions, partnering with vendors, and collaborating with the onsite clinic to promote employee health and engagement
• Prepare and deliver monthly benefits reporting and reconciliations
• Support compliance with ERISA requirements and 401(k) audits/testing (as applicable)

Additional Responsibilities

• Process employment verification requests
• Identify and implement process improvements and system enhancements related to payroll and benefits
• Participate in HRIS updates, implementations, or optimization efforts
• Support internal and external audits as needed (payroll, benefits, 401k, financial)
• Maintain strict confidentiality of employee data
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned

Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business, or related field
• 3+ years of end-to-end payroll processing experience (multi-state strongly preferred)
• Proven experience administering employee benefits programs
• Strong working knowledge of payroll laws, tax regulations, and HR compliance
• Advanced Excel skills required (e.g., pivot tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, data reconciliation, complex formulas)
• Experience with HRIS/payroll systems

Preferred

• UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) experience strongly preferred
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation
• Experience with payroll audits, GL integration, and reconciliations
• Experience supporting ACA reporting and 401(k) administration

Key Competencies

• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a solution-oriented mindset
• Ability to manage tight deadlines in a cyclical payroll environment
• High level of discretion handling confidential compensation and personal data
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Effective communication and customer service orientation
• Ability to work independently and collaborate as part of a team

Work Environment & Additional Requirements

• Frequent use of computer and office equipment
• Prolonged periods of sitting, with occasional standing, walking, and light lifting (up to 25 lbs.)
• Occasional travel may be required
• Periodic work outside standard business hours (e.g., payroll processing deadlines, year-end activities)

Special Considerations:

Physical Requirements: Constant use of vision, hearing, and communication (oral and written in person and via telephone).  Frequent concentration, standing, walking, handling, reaching, and grasping.  Occasional bending, kneeling and lifting (up to 25 lbs.) Heavy use of computer and office equipment.

Travel/Hours of Service: Occasional travel may be required.  Periodic work outside of standard business hours or on weekends may be required.