Description

The Office of Human Resources at the Pastoral Center is seeking a qualified HR Benefits & Operations Analyst. The HR Benefits & Operations Analyst is a dynamic, cross-functional role designed for an HR professional eager to build deep, practical experience across HR Benefits, Operations & Payroll analytics, HR systems, and parish-facing HR support. This position is primarily focused on HR benefits and payroll data integrity, auditing, and process improvement to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and compliance of employee data within the HRIS (UKG) across the Diocese.

In addition, the role may partner directly with diocesan locations around payroll/benefits support by serving as a HR resource to parish leadership when Business Manager or Bookkeeper positions are vacant, ensuring continuity of HR functions and adherence to diocesan policies and employment practices.

This position is ideal for a detail-oriented, proactive professional who enjoys the benefits and payroll fields, audit work, systems and process improvement, and meaningful service to parishes through hands-on HR guidance, while developing a strong understanding of the full employee lifecycle.

Payroll & Benefits Cross-Functional Support & Data Auditing  

Serve as a liaison among HR, Payroll, and Benefits to ensure accurate, timely processing and prevent downstream payroll and benefits errors.
Maintain data integrity across HRIS (UKG), payroll, and benefits systems through regular audits, reconciliations, and validation of HR actions and employee status changes.
Generate, review, and analyze payroll and benefits reports to verify deductions, benefit premiums, and retirement contributions on a biweekly payroll cycle.
Identify payroll and benefits impacts related to hires, job changes, leaves, terminations, and eligibility updates; perform timely corrections as needed.
Create, monitor, and resolve system alerts triggered by HR transactions to ensure accurate payroll and benefits processing.
Research and resolve complex payroll and benefits issues requiring detailed analysis, follow-through, and cross-functional coordination.
Support benefits administration accuracy by ensuring benefit elections and life events properly trigger eligibility and deductions in UKG.
Provide annual support for Open Enrollment, including auditing enrollment statuses, validating rate changes, and ensuring data accuracy.
Serve as backup support to the Benefits Manager for Leave Administration and Short-Term Disability calculations and related payroll entries.
Audit leave statuses to ensure alignment among timesheets, documentation, vendor records, and system status.
System Integrity, Controls & Compliance

Ensure payroll- and benefits-related data changes comply with diocesan policies, documentation standards, and applicable employment laws.
Assist with internal and external audits by preparing supporting documentation and responding to data requests.
Maintain strict confidentiality, accuracy, and data integrity in accordance with diocesan standards.
Process Improvement & Automation

Partner with Payroll and Benefits to identify manual, inconsistent, or error-prone processes and recommend improvements.
Support increased automation within UKG, including workflow enhancements, validation tools, approvals, reporting, and system efficiencies.
Develop and maintain audit tools, checklists, workflows, and process documentation to strengthen internal controls and consistency across locations.
 

Defined Benefit (Pension) Plan Support

Support administration of the frozen diocesan pension plans (lay employee and priest) under the direction of the Benefits Manager, assisting with compliance and progress toward final plan termination.
Coordinate retirement estimates, eligibility notifications, benefit calculations, and recalculations with external partners (USI, actuaries, Trust Officers).
Assist with retiree benefit administration, including COLA updates, lump-sum payments, death benefits, and related recordkeeping.
Maintain pension records and support audits, address changes, lost check notifications, and required reporting.
Prepare retirement communications and reports, including retirement estimates and annual service data, and respond to participant inquiries.
Provide data and research to support actuarial valuations, audits, and plan governance activities.
Field & Backup / Interim HR Support

Provide interim Payroll, Benefits, and HR support to parishes and schools during Business Manager vacancies to ensure continuity of operations.
Assist with hiring coordination, onboarding, employee changes, and HR compliance during transition periods.
Serve as an HR point of contact for parish leadership and support training and handoff to new Business Managers.
Maintain working knowledge of ParishSoft related to payroll imports and reporting.
Priest HR Support

Maintain priest data in UKG, including assignments, labor distributions, groups, and related HRIS updates.
Support priest timesheet processing for the Pastoral Center as needed.
Coordinate onboarding for international priests and seminarians in collaboration with the Office of the Vicar for Clergy and the Office of Vocations

Requirements

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in HR benefits, operations, payroll, HRIS, auditing, or HR generalist functions.
Strong analytical skills and problem-solving ability with exceptional attention to detail and ability to identify patterns and root causes.
Ability to understand full employee lifecycle and downstream impacts of data changes.
Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Experience with UKG or similar HRIS/payroll systems.
Collaborative, service-oriented communication style with pastoral sensitivity.
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
 

Preferred Skills

Ability to interpret complex data, perform root-cause analysis, and translate findings into actionable solutions
Proficiency in reporting, data auditing, data analysis, and reconciliation techniques
Experience with benefits administration systems, HRIS integrations, and plan configuration
Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, data validation).
HR certification (PHR, SHRM-CP, or equivalent).
Familiarity with parish or school operations and Church governance.
Catholic in Good Standing helpful but not required
Working Conditions:

This position is a Full-time position; 35 hours per week.  Normal working hours are 8:30AM – 4:30 PM but may vary based on workload, deadlines, and project needs.  May be higher during peak payroll, benefits or onboarding seasons.  It is primarily office-based with occasional overnight travel to parishes and schools.

Physical Demands:

Light physical effort required.   Regularly required to sit for extended periods, stand, walk, reach, bend, lift, listen, talk and perform computer keyboarding.   May need to transport items weighting up to 30 pounds. May be required to drive Diocesan vehicles to events.