Payroll and Benefits Assistant
New York, NY
Finance – Admin /
Full-Time /
Hybrid
The Company:
American Ballet Theatre is one of the most revered dance companies in the world. The organization is based in New York, with tours that reach 45 countries and 300K people in the United States annually, and with community programs that serve over 40K people annually.
The Mission
The mission of American Ballet Theatre is to create, to present, to preserve, and to extend the great repertoire of classical dancing, through exciting performances and educational programming of the highest quality, presented to the widest possible audience.
The Role:
The Payroll and Benefits Assistant is responsible for supporting the accurate and efficient processing of payroll for both union and non-union employees, as well as administering employee benefits programs. The two primary focuses of this role are to ensure timely and precise payroll processing and to provide comprehensive support in benefits administration. This position requires meticulous attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and a solid understanding of payroll procedures and benefits-related tasks.
Specific Responsibilities
- Assist with preparing payroll for all employees (union and non-union) and collaborate with the Director of Payroll and Benefits to ensure accuracy and timely payments.
- Assist with maintaining accurate payroll records, including tracking new hires, terminations, salary changes, retroactive pay, and deductions.
- Assist with the preparation and distribution of annual employee tax statements (e.g., W-2s).
- Assist with running weekly 403(b) and Dancers’ Pension reports and uploading them to Empower.
- Assist with downloading weekly deferral and loan deduction change reports and updating the payroll system (ADP).
- Assist with generating and sending required employee reports to union representatives.
- Assist with processing and archiving employee leave requests; maintain accurate leave records in ADP.
- Assist with responding to employee inquiries related to benefits and paychecks.
- Assist with handling employment verification requests in a timely and professional manner.
- Assist with opening workers’ compensation claims and responding to New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) requests (C-240, C-11, C-107 forms).
- Assist with responding to and processing audit requests, including workers’ compensation audits (e.g., NJ and NY).
- Assist with generating various reports from ADP as needed (e.g., for Finance or audits).
- Assist with calculating AGMA vacation payouts at the end of the contract year.
- Assist with preparing AGMA Exit Pay Notices in accordance with contract year-end requirements.
- Assist with tracking and recording massage usage on a monthly basis.
- Assist with collaborating with HR to manage the Open Enrollment process.
- Assist the Director of Payroll and Benefits in processing and reconciling payroll-related reports, including monthly payroll summaries, tax filings, and benefits contributions.
- Assist with supporting the Finance team in preparing and submitting statutory reports and filings related to payroll and employee benefits.
- Assist with mailing employee checks within 24 hours of receipt.
- Assist with the implementation and integration of payroll and benefits systems or software solutions.
- Assist with collaborating with external vendors (e.g., benefits providers and payroll service providers) to resolve issues and ensure smooth operations.
- Assist with ensuring adherence to data protection and confidentiality policies when handling sensitive employee information.
- Assist with staying informed about industry best practices and emerging trends in payroll and benefits administration.
- Assist with coordinating with the HR team to maintain accurate employee data and provide general administrative support as needed.
- Assist with the ocmpletion of the Payroll Task Sheet
- Attending meetings as required.
- Performing other duties as assigned.
Essential Skills and Qualifications
- Union payroll processing experience required.
- Workforce ADP Now Experience required.
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, accounting, finance, or a related field.
- Proven experience in payroll and benefits area, or similar role.
- In-depth knowledge of payroll processes, tax regulations, and compliance requirements.
- Proficiency in using payroll software or systems for end-to-end payroll processing.
- Familiarity with Benefits management principles and employee benefits programs.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy in processing payroll and administering Benefits.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills to handle multiple payroll cycles and deadlines.
- Knowledge of relevant employment laws, regulations, and data protection requirements.
- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
- Proficient in using MS Office applications, particularly Excel, for data analysis and reporting.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and resolve payroll-related issues.
- Continuous learning mindset to stay updated with changes in payroll and Benefits management practices.
Benefits
- 10 days’ vacation, 2 personal days, 1 floating holiday; 20 sick days
- ABT also takes a “Hiatus Week” in August, and we close between Christmas and New Year; we also observe the standard annual Company Holidays including Juneteenth.
- 403(b) with no company match; eligible to participate after 6 months.
- Group health insurance where company pays 100% of the single premium rate for all plans; $1,500 annually if you chose not to participate in the plan (Medical, Dental, Vision)
- Short-Term Disability Insurance, etc. provided by the company.
$70,000 - $90,000 a year
The salary for this position is full-time is $70,000 - 90,000 DOE and comes with ABT Benefits.
