Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Automatiq is looking for a detail-oriented and employee-focused Payroll & Benefits Specialist to own the operational backbone of our People function. This role is responsible for running accurate, compliant payroll; administering our equity program; managing leave processes; and ensuring employees have a seamless benefits experience from day one through their tenure.

You'll work closely with both the finance and HR team leadership to keep our programs running smoothly. In this high-ownership, high-trust individual contributor role, you will be a key member of our lean, agile HR team.

Responsibilities

Payroll Administration

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• Own end-to-end payroll processing for US employees (and contractors, as applicable) on a bi-weekly or semi-monthly cycle
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• Ensure payroll accuracy including salary changes, bonuses, garnishments, tax withholding, and retroactive adjustments
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• Partner with Finance to reconcile payroll data and maintain clean records for audits and reporting
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• Stay current on federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements; flag compliance risks proactively
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• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee payroll questions and resolve discrepancies quickly
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• Support year-end processing including W-2s, ACA reporting, and any required tax filings
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• Manage and fulfill employment and income verification requests in a timely and accurate manner.
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• Serve as a point of contact for employees regarding pay discrepancies, tax questions, benefit inquires.

Equity Administration

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• Administer the company's equity program (stock options, RSUs, or similar) in partnership with Finance
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• Manage the cap table platform (e.g., Carta, Pulley) — process grants, exercises, cancellations, and terminations accurately and on schedule
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• Communicate equity details to employees clearly: grant notices, vesting schedules, exercise windows, and tax implications in plain language
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• Coordinate with Legal on 409A valuations, board approvals, and equity plan compliance
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• Maintain audit-ready equity records and ensure data integrity across systems

Leave Administration

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• Administer all leave programs including FMLA, state-specific leaves, parental leave, medical leave, and any company-specific policies
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• Serve as the primary contact for employees navigating leave — provide clear, empathetic guidance on eligibility, process, and pay continuity
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• Partner with managers and HR Business Partners to coordinate leave logistics, coverage planning, and return-to-work transitions
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• Track leave usage and maintain accurate records in the HRIS
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• Monitor regulatory changes across leave laws in states where we have employees; update policies and processes accordingly

Benefits Administration & Compliance

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• Own day-to-day benefits administration including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, life insurance, and ancillary programs
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• Manage open enrollment end-to-end: system configuration, employee communications, carrier coordination, and deadline tracking
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• Process qualifying life events promptly and ensure employees understand their options
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• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits questions and escalate carrier issues on their behalf
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• Reconcile monthly benefits invoices and resolve billing discrepancies with carriers
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• Support benefits benchmarking and renewal analysis in partnership with the broker and HR leadership
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• Manage annual 401(k) compliance testing and coordinate with plan auditors to ensure timely filings and accuracy.

Unemployment Claims and State Taxes

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• Manage unemployment insurance claims, including coordinating with state agencies and responding to claims inquiries.
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• Oversee state and local tax compliance, including monitoring registration requirements, handling tax notices, and ensuring accurate tax withholding.

Other Support

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Assist the Director of HR in maintaining pay bands and compensation structures, including updating salary ranges, maintaining compensation spreadsheets, and ensuring data accuracy across the HRIS platform

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Pull and organize compensation data to assist in periodic pay reviews and market benchmarking analyses

Qualifications

Required

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• 3–5 years of experience in payroll, benefits, or HR operations — ideally with exposure to at least two of the four functional areas above
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• Hands-on experience with payroll software
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• Working knowledge of federal and multi-state payroll tax law and leave regulations (FMLA, state PFL, etc.)
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• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, with experience analyzing datasets
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• Experience administering benefits programs including open enrollment coordination
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• Strong attention to detail — payroll and equity errors have real consequences for real people
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• Ability to handle sensitive employee data with discretion and professionalism
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• Clear, empathetic communicator — employees should feel informed and supported, not confused

Nice to Have

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• Experience with equity administration platforms (Carta, Pulley, or similar)
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• Exposure to equity plan mechanics: option types, vesting schedules, 409A, and related tax concepts
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• Experience in a high-growth startup or scale-up environment where programs are built, not just maintained
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• HR certification (PHR, SHRM-CP, CPP, or similar)
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• Familiarity with HRIS platforms (Rippling, Deel, Workday, BambooHR, or similar)