Copy of Payroll & Benefits Manager

Sedron Technologies•Bellingham, WA

4d•$105,000 - $135,000

About The Position

The Payroll & Benefits Manager owns end-to-end payroll and benefits operations for Sedron Technologies’ shift-based manufacturing and operations workforce, as well as salaried employees. The role manages multi-state payroll compliance, the Employer of Record (EOR) relationship for Canadian employees, and administration of health, welfare, and retirement benefits, including annual open enrollment. The role serves as Sedron’s internal subject-matter resource for payroll administration and compliance, including payroll taxes, garnishments, wage deductions, and multi-state payroll requirements. It partners closely with the Director of People Operations, Accounting, and external advisors on wage and hour, benefits, and employment compliance matters. The position offers location flexibility, with preference for candidates near Sedron’s offices in Sedro-Woolley, Washington; Bellingham, Washington; or Chicago, Illinois. Remote employees should expect to travel to an office approximately once per quarter. Career progression is based on performance, certifications, and supervisor discretion. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents; employment visa sponsorship is unavailable.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
At least 5 years of progressive payroll and benefits administration experience, including multi-state, biweekly payroll for a hybrid hourly and salaried workforce.
Proficiency with Rippling or a similar payroll/HRIS platform, strong Microsoft Excel skills, and experience with multi-state payroll tax compliance tools.
Working knowledge of Washington State L&I requirements, garnishment and wage withholding administration, EOR/international payroll models, and multi-state wage and hour compliance.
High discretion when handling confidential data and sound judgment with employee and compensation information.
Strong analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and accuracy under deadline pressure.
Ability to communicate payroll and benefits information clearly and tactfully to employees, shift supervisors, and leadership.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage concurrent deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-shift environment.
Ability to learn and adapt quickly to new payroll/HRIS systems and process improvements.
Must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident; employment visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

Manufacturing or industrial operations experience.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).

Responsibilities

Own accurate and timely multi-state payroll processing for hourly, shift-based, and salaried employees, including regular pay, overtime, shift differentials, bonuses, and other earnings.
Review and audit timecards each pay cycle and resolve missed punches, PTO and sick time, approvals, job coding, department allocations, and other discrepancies with employees and managers.
Manage payroll corrections and adjustments, including retroactive pay, final paychecks, and off-cycle or manual payrolls, and ensure changes are documented and resolved accurately.
Establish and maintain payroll and benefits controls, audit processes, approval workflows, procedures, and documentation.
Monitor payroll and benefits requirements as the company expands into new states and jurisdictions, coordinating registrations, tax withholding, unemployment, paid leave, and other applicable requirements with People Operations, Accounting, and external resources.
Coordinate payroll and benefits administration for Canadian employees through the Employer of Record partner, including pay, benefits, statutory deductions, and employee changes.
Administer medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and 401(k) benefits, and lead the operational execution of annual open enrollment and other enrollment activities.
Partner with the Director of People Operations on benefit renewals, compliance requirements, employee communications and engagement, and improvements to benefit programs and employee experience.
Manage payroll, benefits, retirement, leave, EOR, and other third-party relationships as the primary operational contact and escalation point, driving issues to resolution.
Support employee leave administration, primarily coordinating payroll, benefit deductions, premium payments, and coverage impacts.
Administer wage garnishments, levies, child support orders, and other court-ordered deductions accurately and confidentially.
Manage payroll tax notices and agency correspondence by researching issues, providing supporting documentation, and tracking open matters through resolution.
Support employees and managers with payroll and benefit questions; investigate and resolve deduction discrepancies, underpayments, overpayments, repayment arrangements, and other escalated issues; and develop process guidance and training.
Reconcile payroll and benefits accounts, support payroll tax filings, and lead payroll year-end activities, including W-2s, 1095-Cs, and other required reporting.
Develop and maintain payroll and benefits reporting for HR, Finance, and leadership, including payroll trends, benefit costs and participation, labor allocations, reconciliations, and workforce analysis.
Own payroll-related HRIS configurations, coding structures, records, and system workflows, identifying opportunities to automate processes, strengthen controls, improve employee experience, and maximize system capabilities.
Handle payroll, benefits, and compensation information with discretion and confidentiality.