Total Rewards Specialist

About the Role

Golden Hippo seeks a Total Rewards Specialist to own the full employee experience around rewards. This role guides people through complex benefits and payroll processes while protecting data integrity and policy compliance. You will serve as the trusted expert for benefits questions, collaborating with vendors and internal teams to ensure accuracy and consistency. You bring order to both routine and unusual situations, using sound judgment to handle sensitive information and support smooth operations. The ideal candidate is organized, comfortable with multiple systems, and able to exercise discretion on matters of significance.

Location and Compensation

This position is based in Woodland Hills, California. It is a full-time role with an annual compensation of seventy thousand dollars.

Key Responsibilities

You will coordinate incoming HR inquiries and route details to the appropriate specialists. Design and test new workflows for benefits and leave programs prior to broader implementation. Guide the interpretation of company policies when life events impact pay or time off. Champion accurate timekeeping by resolving payroll issues before pay runs finalize. Own the processing of benefits invoices and deduction checks with vendors.

You will oversee leave balances and intermittent schedules to meet legal and company requirements. Maintain employee files and HRIS records to ensure data remains current and audit ready. Partner with HR on wellness events, open enrollment, and special projects that affect staff. Verify employment details and handle mail while protecting confidential information. Support audits, compliance checks, and documentation for state and federal claims.

Benefits Administration Specifics

You will administer COBRA and other benefit transactions that require manual processing outside of automated system workflows. Review and approve new hire and life event benefits enrollments. Manage employee-facing benefits communications throughout the enrollment lifecycle. Support administration, auditing, and funding processes for Health Savings Accounts, retirement, and other benefit-related accounts. Perform invoice and payroll deduction reconciliations for benefits vendors.

Leave of Absence Administration Specifics

You will effectively interpret FMLA and ADA implications as they relate to leaves of absence and disabilities. Track and administer intermittent, continuous, and other leave types in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations. Complete state unemployment insurance, disability, and other leave-related claim documentation. Coordinate payroll for all paid and unpaid leaves, including HRIS Pay Classification Management, Individual Claim Management, Compliance, and Return to Work procedures. Act as the point of contact for questions or concerns from employees and leadership. Interpret and apply company leave policies to individual employee circumstances, exercising discretion and independent judgment in resolving non-routine situations.

Workers' Compensation Specifics

You will monitor, coordinate, and process Workers' Compensation claims. Monitor and record appropriate leave usage relative to Workers' Compensation benefits and notify payroll and other appropriate personnel regarding adjustments.

Payroll Support Specifics

Process and review timecards each pay cycle, resolving discrepancies to ensure accurate, on-time submission. Manage payroll checklist updates, including bonuses, wage garnishments, terminations, and other pay-cycle adjustments. Complete Verifications of Employment and handle payroll-related mail. Maintain payroll documentation and checklists in accordance with recordkeeping practices.

General HR Operations Specifics

Handle incoming and outgoing HR-related mail. Partner with the HR team on employee wellness events. Support special projects, process improvements, and open enrollment planning, testing, and execution. Support the interpretation, administration, and consistent application of HR policies, exercising discretion and independent judgment in matters of significance to the business. Contribute to general business operations by identifying and recommending improvements to HR processes.

Requirements

You must have at least three years of experience in benefits or payroll operations. You can read FMLA and ADA rules to determine correct leave outcomes. You are comfortable managing Health Savings Accounts, retirement, and payroll deduction programs. You can reconcile vendor invoices and payroll deductions without constant guidance. You handle state unemployment, disability, and related claim forms independently. You exercise independent judgment on sensitive employee matters and policy exceptions. You manage multiple computer systems while keeping data consistent and organized. You communicate clearly with employees, managers, and vendors to solve problems.

Nice to Have

There are no specific preferred qualifications outlined for this role at this time.

Skills and Tools

No specialized skill or tool list is provided for this role.