Payroll and Benefits Administrator

Location: Remote (U.S.)

Employment Type: Full-time

Department: HR

Reports to: Head of People

Position Summary

Cardiff, Inc. is seeking a detail-oriented Payroll & Benefits Administrator to own end-to-end payroll operations across our US and Mexico workforce, serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits, and ensure compliance across all states in which we operate. This role is critical to keeping our people paid accurately and on time, supported through their benefits journey, and confident that Cardiff meets its regulatory obligations everywhere we do business. This person will work closely with our benefits provider, King Benefits, and our Mexico payroll and compliance agency, so they won't be navigating carrier issues or Mexico regulatory complexity alone.

Key Responsibilities

• Process and administer bi-weekly/semi-monthly payroll for US-based employees, ensuring accuracy in wages, deductions, taxes, and garnishments
• Coordinate Mexico payroll processing in partnership with our Mexico payroll agency, ensuring accurate and timely data flow and compliance with local labor and tax requirements
• Lead new hire benefits onboarding and orientation sessions, walking employees through plan options, enrollment deadlines, and key terms
• Serve as the primary internal point of contact for employee benefits questions (medical, dental, vision, retirement, leave programs), partnering with King Benefits to resolve carrier-level issues
• Administer employee medical leave requests, including tracking eligibility and documentation for FMLA, state-specific paid/unpaid leave laws, and short-term disability, and coordinating with payroll to ensure accurate pay and benefits continuation during leave
• Serve as a point of contact for employees navigating medical leave, guiding them through the process and required paperwork
• Liaise with our Mexico agency to support, questions, and administration for Mexico-based staff
• Monitor and maintain compliance with payroll and employment tax requirements across all US states where Cardiff has employees, including multi-state withholding and foreign qualification obligations
• Stay current on federal, state, and Mexico regulatory changes affecting payroll and benefits, and update internal processes accordingly
• Partner with HR, Finance, and external brokers/vendors on open enrollment, audits, and benefits renewals
• Maintain accurate payroll and benefits records and generate reports as needed for leadership and compliance purposes

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll and benefits administration experience, ideally including multi-state and international (Mexico) payroll
• Strong knowledge of US payroll tax regulations and multi-state compliance requirements
• Familiarity with FMLA, ADA, and state leave law requirements
• Willingness to learn Mexico payroll processing and labor law in partnership with our Mexico payroll agency is a plus
• Excellent communication skills, with comfort presenting to and supporting employees directly
• Experience with payroll platforms (e.g., Rippling or similar) and benefits administration systems
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with external vendors and agencies
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary from $70,000 with room above it for the right person
• Performance bonus of up to 10% of base, tied to delivery and business outcomes
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) plan
• Flexible PTO and observed holidays
• Remote-first, with support for your home-office setup
• Direct access to leadership and to the problems that matter

Cardiff, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.