The HR Services/Payroll and Benefits Manager is responsible for overseeing the execution, administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of benefits and payroll operations while ensuring the highest level of confidentiality and care of personal data. This role is responsible for ensuring high-quality service delivery, optimal employee experience, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, driving innovation and maximizing outsourcing opportunities.

L&G Resources US will be the hiring entity for this role. This is a new legal entity which is in the process of being established and which will house a newly set up HR Group Function in the US. The US HR Group Function will provide HR services to both the Asset Management (Chicago) and Institutional Retirement (Stamford) businesses in the US, with strong connections to our home office in the UK. In the interim we will be hiring this role into L&G - Asset Management, America but there is an expectation that the role will move across to L&G Resources US once that entity has been fully established.

Responsibilities

Employee Benefits

Manage and optimize benefit offerings and oversee administration working through the benefits broker, outsource partners and L&G Group HR operations where possible. Manage day-to-day vendor relationships.
Establish and maintain relationships with external providers and ensure all benefit programs adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and established procedures.
Manage retirement plan(s) and assure proper alignment with record keepers/related vendors.
Remedy issues timely, effectively and in accordance with relative requirements.
Oversee the regulatory, reporting and recordkeeping function and audits relating to employment and salary actions, benefit deduction/taxability/tax withholding/ reporting and manage processes such as, but not limited to:
- Open enrollment and employee communications
- Employee education and document distribution
- Annual required employee notifications
- ACA, W-2, and other compliance reporting and documentation
- Timely 5500s and related plan audits
Identify and implement process improvements across payroll, benefits, and compensation workflows to increase efficiency and accuracy.
Manage mid-to-high complexity benefits escalations and inquiries, ensuring timely resolution and employee satisfaction. Collaborate with HR staff to manage flow of employee benefit inquiries, ensuring adherence to benefit provisions and established timelines. Clearly communicate the results of inquiries, outline necessary actions, and manage expectations to effectively resolve disputes.
Keep an external focus on industry best practices, regulatory requirements and legal changes. Integrate regulatory changes to ensure smooth, compliant benefit offerings.
Conduct benchmarking and analysis to support plan offerings. Make data-driven recommendations for program improvements.
Design and implement comprehensive wellbeing programs that cater to the diverse needs of the workforce while partnering with HR and other internal stakeholders. Embed a robust employee program that is mutually beneficial to benefit strategies.
Partner with corporate insurance broker to manage all workers’ compensation claims, ensuring prompt handling, state compliance, and proper documentation.
Ensure benefit compliance with federal, state, and local benefits regulations, including ERISA, ACA, FLSA, COBRA, pay transparency and other applicable laws.

Payroll

Manage the payroll outsource vendor and assure accurate full cycle bi-weekly payroll processing for employees across multiple states and jurisdictions, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations.
Resolve issues relating to inaccuracies, mistakes, process errors and escalated payroll and benefit issues working closely with various stakeholders until resolution.
Serve as payroll subject matter expert to ensure proper payroll delivery and function of payroll technology, especially relating, but not limited to upgrades, integrations, file feed, etc. Assure proper testing of new processes/configurations, implementations, customizations, custom reporting, taxability, timekeeping, benefit set up, EEO and other regulatory compliance and reporting.
Maintain extensive knowledge base on integrated Payroll/ HR systems. Document and update procedures as needed.
Assure alignment of interfaces between the payroll system and other systems in the organization such as general ledger, 401(k)/Pension Plan Administrators, Human Resources, etc.
Prepare payroll-related information to be used in the calculation of pension benefits.
Coordinate pay and benefits with other departments such as finance, tax and accounting teams to assure proper alignment of pay and benefits.

Other

Support mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures by integrating or transitioning benefits and payroll programs as needed.
Oversee delivery and/or development of recurring reports for internal users and conduct regular audits to ensure accuracy of information.
Develop and recommend policies and procedures to enhance the quality and efficiency of operations.
Assure top-notch documentation is maintained for new and existing processes/ procedures and manage team’s access to vendor sites.
Ensure all vendors, existing and new, meet or exceed vendor requirements as per the vendor management policies. Ensure due diligence has been conducted and appropriate documentation is on file.
Provide support to multiple projects simultaneously.
May perform other duties of a highly confidential nature requiring knowledge of organizational practices, policies, and procedures.

Qualifications

Education/Knowledge/Experience

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
7+ years of HR, employee benefits and payroll-related experience with a solid systems background, preferably with Dayforce, Oracle or similar system.
Hands-on, highly organized, and excellent at maintaining organization
Excellent at creating formal documentation and understanding technical solutions
Highly effective communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and work with internal and external customers
Innovative and resourceful in using technology to improve processes
Proficiency in related technology, plus Microsoft Office products
Well-developed organizational skills
May travel between corporate locations on occasion

Demonstrated Skills

Solid sense of confidentiality and utmost discretion
The ability to lead and deliver accurate results through other people and outsourced vendors
Outstanding numerical and problem-solving skills. Strong US federal, state and local taxing knowledge with an analytical background with attention to detail.
Effectively work in time-sensitive environments. Ability to meet regular, tight deadlines, prioritize workload, and be flexible to changing demands.
Ability to provide outstanding customer service and motivate others to do so as well.
Strong relationship building skills and demonstrated ability to influence all levels of the organization.
Assist in implementing processes from across different L&G organizations.
Ability to learn complex processes quickly and complete with precision.
Excellent listening, verbal, written and presentation communication skills.
Ability to see connections and discern where processes can best change to affect better
Resourceful problem-solver that can troubleshoot issues independently and drive impactful solutions
Ability to work independently or in teams; build and nurture relationships
Solutions-oriented problem solver with preference to work in a dynamic, fast-paced, hands-on environment
Must be self-assured, independent, self-directed and proactive

Salary Range

$145,000 - $165,000

The starting salary offer will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to the applicant’s education, job-related experience, skills, and abilities, geographic location, and market factors. This position is also eligible to participate in the company’s annual discretionary bonus plan. Full time employees may be eligible for health insurance with an optional HSA, short term disability, long term disability, dental insurance, vision care, life insurance, Healthcare, Dependent and Limited Care Flexible Spending Accounts, 401K, vacation, sick time, an employee assistance program, and commuter and transit programs. Additional voluntary programs include: supplemental health benefits including accidental injury, critical illness and hospital indemnity insurance and pet insurance.

EOE Statement

As an EOE employer, Legal & General Investment Management America will extend equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, military status, and/or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. (2024)