Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Payroll & Benefits Specialist
Location: Southfield, MI
Department: Payroll & Benefits

SEE is a fashion-forward optical retailer with 40 retail locations across the United States, along with a corporate Home Base located in Southfield, Michigan. We pride ourselves on delivering a unique customer experience through exclusive eyewear collections, strong relationships, and a fast-paced retail environment that values individuality, collaboration, and innovation.

At SEE, we’re not your typical optical retailer—and this isn’t your typical Payroll & Benefits role. We’re looking for someone who can confidently own payroll and benefits end-to-end while supporting employees across a multi-state retail and corporate organization.

This role is perfect for someone who thrives in the details, values accuracy, and handles confidential information with the highest level of discretion.

What You’ll Do

• Own and process payroll using ADP Workforce Now
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll across multiple states
• Maintain and audit payroll, benefits, and employee data
• Handle confidential compensation and employee information with discretion
• Manage benefits administration, including employee support, vendor communication, and issue resolution
• Lead and execute open enrollment processes
• Administer and track leaves of absence, including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), state-specific leave laws, and other applicable leave programs
• Coordinate workers’ compensation and unemployment claims
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws, including wage and hour laws
• Perform reconciliations and coordinate as needed with flexible spending account administrator
• Assist with 401(k) administration and vendor coordination in connection with IRS non-discrimination testing and 5500 filing coordination with third parties
• Maintain accurate paper and electronic employee records and documentation
• Manage onboarding and termination paperwork, including new hire documentation and offboarding processes
• Support employee updates and changes within HRIS systems
• Support annual compliance reporting and policy updates
• Process garnishments, deductions, and benefit reconciliations
• Assist with 401(k) administration and vendor coordination
• Partner with HR, Finance, and leadership on reporting and issue resolution
• Respond to employee questions related to payroll, benefits, and leave administration
• Manage employment verifications and respond to external requests in a timely, accurate, and professional manner
• Continuously look for ways to improve processes and accuracy
• Internal investigations
• Coordinate annual performance review process
• Maintain and update PTO/Sick policies
• Coordinate Multi-state Handbook updates

What You Bring

• Payroll experience in a multi-state environment
• Broad understanding of compliance aspects impacting payroll, including wage and hour, employee classifications (exempt vs. non-exempt), and pay equity and transparency laws
• Basic understanding of general ledger payroll mapping maintenance and updates
• Able to articulate business requirements to maintain or add new integrations between ADP and third-party benefits carriers or systems, as well as other in-house systems
• Experience in reconciliations and audits within ADP with ability to build and analyze standard and custom ADP reports
• Experience managing benefits and open enrollment
• Familiarity with Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and leave administration
• Ability to operate independently and own a one-person function
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• High level of professionalism and confidentiality
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills

Where We Operate

This role supports employees across SEE locations in:

Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina, Illinois, Ohio, Colorado, Tennessee, Indiana, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon, Florida, Washington, and Washington, DC.