Payroll, Benefits & ACA Compliance Specialist

Sara Organ

630-***-**** • **************@*****.*** • Aurora, IL

Summary

Highly organized Benefits and Payroll Professional with over 11 years of experience optimizing people operations across healthcare, retail, and education sectors. Proven expert in benefits administration, payroll processing, and ACA compliance, with a track record of streamlining carrier invoice reconciliation and enhancing HRIS accuracy. Dedicated to driving efficiency in startup environments by leveraging data-driven strategies and robust leave management protocols. Work Experience

Payroll/Billing/Benefits Coordinator July 2024 – Present APEX PEDIATRIC THERAPY SERVICES, LISLE, IL, USA

●Administer comprehensive benefits administration and payroll cycles to ensure 100% accuracy in employee compensation.

●Source, screen, and interview candidates to assess their qualifications, skills, and fit for available positions.

●Manage the full recruitment lifecycle, from initial contact to offer negotiation and onboarding.

●Maintain accurate and up-to-date candidate records in our applicant tracking system.

●Reconcile payroll accounts and carrier invoices to eliminate discrepancies between benefit enrollments and payroll deductions.

●Coordinate employee benefits programs including Disability Insurance, health plans, and retirement accounts while managing complex Leave Management requests.

●Partner with leadership to ensure strict ACA Compliance and adherence to federal and state payroll regulations, mitigating organizational risk.

Retail Merchandising Specialist July 2023 – September 2025 CUSTOMER IMPACT, NAPERVILLE, IL, USA

●Analyzed market trends and consumer behavior to drive Startup Operations strategies that increased store profitability and product visibility.

●Partnered with cross-functional teams to reconcile inventory management with promotional initiatives, ensuring seamless supply chain execution.

●Managed vendor relationships and contract negotiations to secure competitive pricing for high-volume product assortments.

●Coordinated strategic planning for product presentations, optimizing customer experiences through efficient visual merchandising.

Senior HR/Fiscal Specialist December 2019 – July 2023 CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL, JOLIET, IL, USA

●Streamlined people operations and fiscal strategies to enhance departmental efficiency and reduce overhead costs.

●Administered labor law compliance and internal policies, specifically focusing on COBRA Administration and insurance eligibility requirements.

●Leveraged HRIS systems to automate benefits administration workflows, significantly reducing manual tracking errors.

●Partnered with cross-functional leadership to execute large-scale projects centered on employee development and retention & engagement Strategies.

HR/Payroll Administrator February 2018 – October 2019 MIKE HAGGERTY BUICK-GMC, OAK LAWN, IL, USA

●Managed full-cycle Payroll Processing and HRIS implementation to improve data accuracy and operational transparency.

●Utilized Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to streamline recruitment and onboarding, enhancing the overall candidate experience.

●Ensured compliance with employment laws and disability regulations, effectively acting as the primary point of contact for benefits inquiries.

●Developed and implemented HR policies that supported workplace productivity and integrated new payroll technologies.

Assistant Director August 2015 – May 2018

HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER, ORLAND PARK, IL, USA

●Coordinated strategic HR initiatives and University & Community Partnerships to build a robust talent pipeline for academic staff.

●Administered organizational policies that fostered a cohesive workplace culture while managing complex stakeholder relationships.

●Partnered with executive leadership to navigate change management and organizational transformations during periods of rapid growth.

●Analyzed operational workflows to implement process optimization, resulting in increased administrative efficiency across the center.

Education

Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management October 2021 – October 2022 Oregon State University

Bachelor of Science in Psychology August 2010 – May 2015 Governors State University

Additional Skills

Core Benefits & Payroll: Benefits Administration, Payroll Processing, ACA Compliance, COBRA Administration, Leave Management, Disability Insurance, Insurance Claims Management HR Technology & Systems: Rippling, HRIS Implementation, ATS Tools, System Integration, Data Analytics & Reporting, Payroll Software Integration

People Operations & Strategy: Startup Operations, Change Management, Retention & Engagement Strategies, Organization Risk Assessment, Process Optimization, Labor Relations Strategy, Stakeholder Management Compliance & Legal: Employment Law Compliance, Federal and State Payroll Regulations, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

(DEI) Hiring, Policy Development

Contact this candidate