Payroll and Benefits Accountant

Lazarus Naturals is on a mission to make quality hemp-based CBD accessible to everyone. It’s why we own our manufacturing process from start to finish—from our hemp farms in Central Oregon, to our extraction, formulation, and packaging—it’s all designed to deliver safe, effective CBD at an affordable price for all. This enables us to provide a 60% discount to veterans, low income and disabled individuals, so they can access the benefits of CBD too. We are proud of our products, our processes, and our people, and we’re absolutely passionate about doing the right thing well.
Position Overview
We are looking for an experienced Payroll and Benefits Accountant to join our Finance and HR teams at our headquarters in Seattle (Ballard). The Payroll & Benefits Accountant will own the payroll process for 150 employees companywide, handle our benefits administration from enrollment to termination, and perform all financial and reporting functions in support of payroll and benefits. Accounting and administrative tasks include internal and external reporting, account reconciliations, GL postings, vendor communications and invoice processing, and audit schedule preparation. The Payroll and Benefits Accountant will also support our HR team on matters related to our Seattle employees and work with our Finance team on general accounting, reporting and special projects, as assigned.
Payroll

• Process payroll for hourly, salaried, and temporary employees, including reviewing and importing hours from time and attendance system, entering tax and direct deposit information, administering regulatory requirements.
• Compute wages, deductions, commissions, incentives, benefits, garnishments and additional payments as necessary.
• Analyze, audit and resolve payroll and timekeeping issues to ensure compliance with company policy. Monitors overtime and PTO utilization and accruals.
• Maintain employee records in payroll/HRIS systems, including the timely update of payroll information for promotions, transfers, terminations and new hires.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and relevant industry regulations including tax and deduction laws for multiple states.
• Review quarterly and annual tax filings – 941s, 940s, W-2s, L&I filings, state unemployment and withholding reporting and all other federal, state and local jurisdictional reporting required.
• Implement and maintain payroll best practices to improve efficiency and consult with human resources team to improve payroll and HRIS processes.
• Evaluate and implement payroll/HRIS systems upgrades and changes.
• Prepare quarterly tax credit reports and submit to third party vendor.
• Monitors and keeps abreast of developing and changing payroll, tax and benefit legislation.

Benefits

• Administer all employee benefit programs including enrollments and terminations. These employee benefits include health, life, dental, vision, disability and accident insurance; 401(k) plan; flexible spending accounts, business expense reimbursements; and transportation expense accounts. Responds to employee inquiries regarding the various benefits plans offered.
• Fulfills all governmental regulatory mandates and ensures filings are performed as required.
• In conjunction with the HR team, helps to plan and administer annual open enrollment process and period. This includes preparation (or revision) and distribution of materials, conducting meetings to communicate changes to employees, arranging for on-site representation by providers, and processing changes within deadlines.
• Plans, conducts and reports results of audits to ensure all enrollments are accurate and that dependent information is correct for each employee and works closely with accounting for quarterly and year end audits (payroll, Workers Comp, 401k, etc.).
• Calculates and reconciles amounts due to the respective benefit vendors and coordinates with Accounts Payable for payment of amounts due.

Accounting and Finance

• Prepare detailed compensation, tax and benefit reports for management – operating departments, direct and indirect manufacturing labor, fulfillment cost reporting, G&A, farm and other reporting as assigned.
• Prepare, record, balance and reconcile compensation, tax and benefit expenses, accruals, deductions, and vendor payable accounts.
• Facilitate audits by providing records and documentation to auditors.
• Assist with the preparation of the annual payroll budgets.
• Work with members of the Finance Team on special projects and analysis, as assigned.
• Work with the HR, Finance and IT teams to source and implement a new HRIS/payroll/timekeeping solution in 2023.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of full-cycle payroll experience required. Must have a solid understanding of the full accounting process including reconciling general ledger and vendor accounts, calculation of accruals and prepayments, and preparing journal entries to record payroll transactions.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration or similar preferred
• Proficient with payroll and accounting software; QuickBooks and/or Zenefits experience preferred
• Knowledge of U.S. GAAP, accounting procedures and internal controls.
• Good interpersonal skills. Effective communicator – verbally and written form.
• Outstanding technology and software aptitude. Knowledge of MS Office and Google Suite products. Strong Excel skills required.
• Self-starter – ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality is essential.
• Intellectual curiosity – the desire to learn, grow and improve.
• Collaborator. Always willing to help others and assist when and where needed.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits (medical, vision, and dental insurance)
• Employee discount program
• Fully stocked kitchen
• 401K plan
• FSA & commuter benefits

This is a full-time role in our Seattle (Ballard) office. We are currently allowing remote work one day each week (Friday). Interested parties are encouraged to include a cover letter detailing why you think you could be a great fit, along with an updated resume. Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Veterans strongly encouraged to apply.
Lazarus Naturals is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Job Type: Full-time