Director of Payroll and Benefits

American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is one of the greatest dance companies in the world. Since its founding season in 1940, ABT’s mission has been to create, present, preserve, and extend the incredible repertoire of classical dancing for the widest possible audience. Headquartered in New York City, ABT is the only cultural institution of its size and stature to extensively tour, enchanting audiences for eight decades in 50 U.S. states, 45 countries, and over 480 cities worldwide. ABT’s repertoire includes full-length classics from the nineteenth century, the finest works from the early twentieth century, and acclaimed contemporary masterpieces.  In 2006, by an act of Congress, ABT was designated “America’s National Ballet Company®.”

The Role:  

The Director of Payroll and Benefits is responsible for administering employee Benefits programs. The primary focus will be on accurately and efficiently processing payroll (union and non-union), ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, and administering employee benefits programs. This role requires a meticulous attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and a thorough understanding of payroll processes and Benefits management. 

• Process end-to-end payroll for employees, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of payments. 
• Maintain payroll records, including new hires, terminations, salary changes, retro pay and deductions. 
• Calculate and process payroll-related taxes, benefits, and other deductions. 
• Prepare and distribute employee annual tax statements. 
• Run 403b and Dancers’ pension report and upload to Empower weekly .
• Download weekly deferral and if applicable, loan deduction changes report and update in ADP. 
• Run union check requests monthly then submit to Finance for processing.
• Send employee reports to unions. 
• Submit check requests for Child support weekly. 
• Submit check requests for NYSIF and AmTrust (pay online once approved) monthly. 
• Submit check requests for Guardian DL/PFL (quarterly) 
• Submit check requests for WageWorks, ADP, The Benefit Practice 
• Process benefits allocations monthly for Aetna, Anthem, First Reliance, Guardian, Unum 
• Process benefits enrollments including flex spending for new hires, or changes as needed 
• Process and store all leave request paperwork. 
• Respond to employees’ benefit-related and paycheck related questions  
• Respond to employee verification requests. 
• Open workers comp claims, respond to NYSIF requests (C240, C11, C107) 
• Respond to audit requests (as needed, so far NJ and NY Workers Comp) 
• Run reports from ADP (as needed, for Finance, Audit, etc).
• Calculate AGMA vacation payout at the end of Contract Year.  
• Prepare AGMA Exit Pay notices at the end of Contract Year. 
• Track massages (monthly) 
• Download GL report from ADP and upload to FE - weekly  
• Stay updated with payroll regulations, tax laws, and compliance requirements to ensure accurate payroll processing. 
• Communicate with employees regarding payroll-related inquiries, benefits enrollment, and changes. 
• Process and reconcile payroll-related reports, such as monthly payroll summaries, tax filings, and benefits contributions. 
• Assist the Finance Team with the preparation and submission of statutory reports and filings related to payroll and employee benefits. 
• Support the implementation and integration of Payroll and Benefits systems or software. 
• Collaborate with external vendors, such as benefits providers and payroll service providers, to resolve issues and ensure smooth operations. 
• Ensure compliance with data protection and confidentiality policies in handling sensitive employee information. 
• Stay updated with industry best practices and emerging trends in Payroll and Benefits management. 
• Collaborate with the HR team to ensure accurate employee data in payroll and benefits systems and provide general administrative support to the HR team as needed.  
• Attend all meetings as required. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

• Union payroll processing experience is highly desired
• Workforce ADP Now Experience highly desired. 
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, accounting, finance, or a related field is highly desired 
• Proven experience as a Payroll Administrator, Compensation & Benefits Administrator, 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. 

• 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.

American Ballet Theatre is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, and make all employment decisions without regard to any protected status.