The Payroll & Benefits Manager owns end-to-end payroll and benefits operations for Sedron Technologies' workforce of shift-based manufacturing and operations, as well as salaried employees. This 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 Payroll & Benefits Manager serves as Sedron's internal subject-matter resource for payroll administration and compliance, including payroll taxes, garnishments, wage deductions, and multi-state payroll requirements. The role partners closely with the Director of People Operations, accounting, and external advisors on broader wage and hour, benefits, and employment compliance matters.
While this role offers location flexibility, preference will be given to candidates located near one of our existing offices in Sedro-Woolley, WA; Bellingham, WA; or Chicago, IL. Remote employees should expect to travel to an office location approximately once per quarter.Because we design, build, commission, and operate our technologies, this role must meet the following essential functions:
- 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, identifying and resolving missed punches, PTO and sick time, approvals, job coding, department allocations, and other discrepancies in partnership with employees and managers.
- Manage payroll corrections and adjustments, including retroactive pay, final paychecks, and off-cycle or manual payrolls, ensuring changes are accurately documented and resolved.
- Establish and maintain payroll and benefits controls, audit processes, approval workflows, procedures, and documentation to support accurate and consistent administration.
- Monitor payroll and benefits requirements as the Company expands into new states and jurisdictions, partnering with the Director of People Operations, Accounting, and external resources to coordinate registrations, tax withholding, unemployment, paid leave, and other applicable requirements.
- Coordinate payroll and benefits administration for Canadian employees through Sedron's Employer of Record (EOR) partner, including pay, benefits, statutory deductions, and employee changes.
- Administer employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and 401(k), and lead the operational execution of annual open enrollment and other benefit enrollment activities.
- Partner with the Director of People Operations on benefit renewals, compliance requirements, employee communications and engagement, and opportunities to improve Sedron's benefit programs and employee experience.
- Manage relationships with payroll, benefits, retirement, leave, EOR, and other third-party partners, serving as the primary operational contact and escalation point and driving issues through resolution.
- Support administration of employee leaves, with primary responsibility for 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, researching issues, providing supporting documentation, and tracking open matters through resolution.
- Support employees and managers with payroll and benefit questions, researching and resolving deduction discrepancies, underpayments, overpayments, repayment arrangements, and other escalated issues. Develop guidance and training to support understanding of payroll and benefits processes.
- 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 other workforce-related 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 a high level of discretion and confidentiality.
This position allows for growth and career progression to be determined by performance, certifications, and supervisor discretion.
BENEFITS- Multiple medical, dental, and vision insurance options to keep you feeling your best
- 401(k) with employer matching
- Generous paid time off and paid holidays (plus 2 floating holidays to use your way)
- Disability, Life, and AD&D Insurance
- FSA and HSA options with employer contributions
- Tuition reimbursement - we invest in your growth
- Casual work attire - no suits required (unless that's your thing)
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
- 5+ years of progressive payroll and benefits administration experience, including multi-state, biweekly payroll for a hybrid hourly/salaried workforce; manufacturing or industrial operations experience strongly preferred.
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred
- 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/wage withholding administration, EOR/international payroll models, and multi-state wage and hour compliance; high discretion with confidential data.
- Strong analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail and accuracy under deadline pressure.
- Ability to communicate payroll and benefits information clearly and tactfully to employees, shift supervisors, and leadership. Ability to manage highly confidential employee and compensation data with discretion and sound judgment.
- Strong organizational skills, able to manage multiple concurrent deadlines (timecard cycles, tax notices, garnishment orders) in a fast-paced, multi-shift environment.
- Ability to learn and adapt quickly to new payroll/HRIS systems and process improvements.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION- Compensation for this role is between $105,000 - $135,000 annually
- This role may qualify for a discretionary bonus, recognizing outstanding contributions to team and company success
- In compliance with state and local pay transparency laws, the expected compensation for this role is shared above. The range provided is Sedron's estimate of the base compensation for this role and the final offer will be based on job-related and non-discriminatory factors such as experience, skills, and geographic location. Compensation may be adjusted within this range to reflect regional cost-of-living differences in states where Sedron is hiring.
Must be a US Citizen or legal permanent resident for this position. We are unable to sponsor any employment visas. 
