Payroll Manager

Rip City•Portland, OR

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Become a part of the team behind the team. As employees of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Quarter, we do more than basketball. We are blazing trails toward winning championships on and off the court. We are pioneers and innovators. We look for people who push boundaries, who dream, who are committed to inclusivity – who want to contribute to Rip City! As our Payroll Manager, you will lead and manage payroll operations across Portland Trail Blazers LLC and Rip City Management. You will drive process optimization and ensure accurate and timely payroll execution for both full-time and part-time employees across multiple pay cycles. You will also collaborate closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to align payroll strategies with organizational objectives. Our ideal candidate is a hands-on payroll leader who is excited by the opportunity to take ownership, create stability, and build for the future. You bring a strong foundation in payroll operations and compliance, along with experience managing high-volume payrolls across multiple employee groups and pay cycles. We're looking for someone who is comfortable rolling up their sleeves and working in the details to ensure accurate, timely payroll execution, while building strong partnerships across Finance, People & Culture, and teams across the organization. Experience with UKG, union labor environments, and high-volume hourly workforces will position you for success as you help create structure, hire and develop talent, and drive long-term operational excellence. If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you!

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Extensive knowledge of federal and multi-state payroll tax laws and regulations.
Experience with large, complex payroll operations, including high-volume, hourly payrolls.
Effective team leadership with the ability to build collaborative working relationships and support a specialized payroll function.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively at all levels of the organization.
Advanced proficiency in payroll systems and technologies (e.g., UKG, Ceridian).

Nice To Haves

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification
Experience using ABI MasterMind

Responsibilities

Develop and implement short- and long-term payroll strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
Collaborate with the Finance and Accounting Director on payroll-related decisions and their impact on overall financial strategy.
Partner on cross-functional initiatives related to payroll, finance, and people & culture.
Execute and manage reoccurring payroll activities, ensuring timely execution of bi-weekly, semi-monthly, quarterly, and annual processes across multiple organizations.
Establish, maintain and adhere to payroll calendars, process documentation and record retention policies.
Manage the processing and distribution of W-2s and other year-end reporting requirements.
Manage the processing and management of per-diem for team travel.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax laws and regulations, including preparation and filing of quarterly and annual tax returns.
Develop and maintain internal controls, and lead reoccurring payroll audits for workers compensation, 401K, and benefits compliance.
Manage and mentor a Senior Payroll Specialist, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
Partner with People & Culture, Finance, and IT departments to ensure integrated and efficient payroll processes.
Partner with P&C team to develop processes for data accuracy and maintain strong cross departmental collaboration.
Collaborate with legal counsel on complex payroll issues and compliance matters.
Drive operational optimization by understanding current process gaps and evaluating scalable solutions.
Manage vendor relationships with an emphasis on setting expectations around needs for a strong service model.
Develop and manage the payroll department's budget.
Prepare and analyze payroll-related financial reports for senior management.
Assist finance team with the reconciliation of payroll accounts.
Manage special compensation projects, including employee taxable tickets schedules and contract payment tracking.
Lead payroll-related aspects of organizational changes or new initiatives as needed.