Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Lead is a fintech building banking infrastructure for embedded financial products and services. We operate an FDIC-insured bank headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Additionally, we have offices in San Francisco, Sunnyvale, and New York City, where our technical, product, design, and legal teams operate.

We are built for a constantly evolving financial landscape, where new ventures and technological advancements emerge daily. Guided by a team of entrepreneurs and technologists with decades of experience navigating intricate banking and payments regulations, Lead blends regulatory and technological expertise to help our fintech partners scale their operations with compliance and creativity.

Simply put, Lead offers the essential attributes that every fintech seeks in a partner bank. First, unparalleled technical expertise from a distinguished team of developers with an extensive understanding of the banking and payments systems. Second, oversight expertise, automated compliance systems, and bespoke program management to navigate the ever-shifting regulatory landscape. Finally, a commitment to transparency and operational rigor to ensure everyone’s money does what it’s supposed to do.

As a Community Bank, we provide personalized banking services and solutions to support the businesses, individuals, and charitable organizations of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, both in branch and online. We are committed to fostering strong relationships, supporting local economic growth, and we believe in the power of being an integral part of the community we serve.

Role Description:

The Payroll & Benefits Specialist provides administrative and operational support to the People team across payroll, benefits, and employee data processes. This role assists with biweekly payroll preparation, benefit enrollments and qualifying events, supports benefits billing, prepares recurring reports, maintains documentation, and helps ensure employee information is accurate and up to date. The Specialist works closely with the Payroll & Benefits Manager and People Generalist to keep day-to-day processes running smoothly and to support team members with routine questions and requests.

In this role you will:

• Assist with biweekly payroll preparation by reviewing data, entering updates for new hires, terminations, and compensation changes, and ensuring all supporting documentation is saved and organized.

• Prepare scheduled and ad hoc reports related to payroll, benefits, and team member data, along with additional reporting support for other teams as needed.

• Enter benefit enrollments, qualifying life events, and other updates into the HRIS and vendor systems, ensuring accuracy and timely processing.

• Support monthly benefits billing by reviewing invoices, comparing them to system records, and flagging discrepancies for follow-up.

• Review 401(k) change files and loan repayment reports from the recordkeeper and enter all required updates into the HRIS accurately and timely.

• Draft and post internal communications to promote benefit engagement and awareness.

• Process incoming People Operations mail, including garnishment orders, tax notices, and benefits correspondence, and route items appropriately.

• Process garnishment orders by entering all required information into the HRIS and maintaining accurate documentation.

• Track unemployment insurance tax rate notices and enter updates into relevant systems.

• Maintain accurate and complete employee records, including benefit changes, payroll backups, offer letters, and compensation documentation.

• Support compliance and audit requests by pulling documentation, running reports, and organizing files as needed.

• Perform all other duties as needed

Qualifications:

• 2–4 years of payroll or benefits experience, preferably in a multi-state environment.

• Working knowledge of payroll practices, federal/state/local tax requirements, and benefit plan concepts.

• Experience with HRIS and payroll systems (BambooHR or similar).

• High attention to detail with strong organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple deadlines with accuracy and urgency.

• Strong communication skills and comfort supporting employees directly.

• Client obsessed mentality

• Self starter, engaged, proactive and ready to roll up your sleeves

What we offer:

At Lead, we design our benefits to support company culture and principles, to foster an efficient and inspiring work environment, and to create the conditions for our team to give their best in both work and life

• Competitive compensation, including opportunities for equity grants and cash bonus, based on experience, geographic location, and role

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, 401k Matching, and other wellness benefits, including FSA, HSA and HRA

• Paid parental leave

• Flexible vacation policy, including PTO and paid holidays

• A fun and challenging team environment in a dynamic industry with ample opportunities for career growth

*Lead Bank is proud to have an inclusive culture committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.