Position Summary

The Payroll, Benefits and Accounting Specialist plays a key role in supporting the school’s financial and human resources operations. This position is responsible for managing payroll processing, administering employee benefits, overseeing tuition billing, and completing related accounting reconciliations. The role ensures accurate and timely payroll for multiple employee groups, manages benefits enrollment and compliance, and supports employee onboarding and offboarding processes. The position also maintains tuition and auxiliary billing through Blackbaud.

This role requires strong attention to detail, discretion, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a school environment.

This position reports to the Controller, with a dotted-line relationship to the Human Resources Manager.

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys detailed work, managing processes, and supporting both the Business Office, including human resources, and the functions of a school.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Administration

• Process weekly, monthly, seasonal, and off-cycle payrolls.
• Reconcile payroll, taxes, and benefits; post to the General Ledger.
• Maintain salary updates and payroll system records.
• Process HSA and TIAA contributions, life insurance premiums, and year-end payroll adjustments.

Benefits Administration

• Administer medical, retirement, life, disability, FSA, and HSA programs.
• Manage open enrollment and monitor employee eligibility.
• Reconcile insurance invoices and retirement contributions.

Onboarding & Offboarding

• Coordinate onboarding for new and seasonal hires.
• Process terminations and ensure accurate final pay and benefits updates.

Tuition & Billing

• Manage tuition and auxiliary billing through Blackbaud.
• Reconcile tuition, transportation, lunch, financial aid, and related accounts.
• Bill families for programs, activities, and miscellaneous charges.
• Respond to family billing questions and follow up on delinquent balances.

Accounting & Compliance

• Perform monthly reconciliations of payroll, benefits, and billing accounts.
• Reconcile quarterly payroll tax filings.
• Support annual and seasonal payroll and benefits cycles.
• Assist with annual audits, including financial, 403(b), 5500, and Form 990.

Business Office Support

• Oversee purchasing for the school.
• Assist with vendor setup and tax-exempt documentation.
• Support other Business Office projects as needed.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field or equivalent bookkeeping/payroll experience.
  
• 3–5 years of payroll and benefits administration experience
  
• Demonstrated experience processing payroll
  
• Proficiency with accounting software and Microsoft Excel
  
• Strong reconciliation and accounting skills
  
• Experience with payroll and tuition management systems
  
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and accuracy
  

Preferred

• Experience in a school or nonprofit environment
  
• Familiarity with Blackbaud and Paylocity

Start Date: May 15, 2026 (flexible)

Compensation: $75,000-$90,000

About New Canaan Country School

New Canaan Country School is a co-ed, independent day school for students in Pre-K (ages 3 & 4) through Grade 9 living in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Located in New Canaan, CT, and serving 570 students, our mission is to guide students to reach their intellectual, creative, moral, and physical potential. A talented and devoted faculty engages our students in developmentally appropriate ways, delivering a challenging curriculum that builds intellectual skills and fosters creative and critical thinking. We lead by example and challenge students to fulfill their potential, find their path, and follow their passions whether in the classroom, on the playing fields, on the stage, or serving the community.

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