Payroll & Benefits Manager

Seattle Sounders FC & Seattle Reign FC • Renton, WA

7d • $100,000 - $130,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Payroll & Benefits Manager owns payroll, benefits administration, and leave programs for Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Reign FC, and Tacoma Defiance. This role ensures more than 400 employees across multiple entities and payroll cycles are paid accurately and on time and receive the benefits they depend on. The position oversees payroll processing, benefits administration, leave programs, HRIS payroll transactions, and required regulatory reporting. In addition to administering these programs, the Payroll & Benefits Manager monitors benefits participation, utilization, and cost trends and uses data and analysis to identify insights, inform decisions, and recommend improvements to program performance over time. This role operates with a high degree of ownership and accountability for outcomes across payroll and benefits operations. The Payroll & Benefits Manager maintains strong processes, clear controls, and reliable workforce data while continually evaluating opportunities to improve systems, streamline workflows, and strengthen the employee experience. Success in this role requires both attention to detail and a proactive, analytical mindset—someone who not only executes programs effectively but seeks to understand how they can operate better. Payroll and benefits operations are foundational to employee trust and organizational stability. By ensuring accuracy, compliance, and operational consistency, this role helps create confidence in the programs employees rely on and supports the continued growth of the organization. The Payroll & Benefits Manager is part of the People & Culture team, which is responsible for building the systems, programs, and workplace that allow our people to perform at their best. Our success is measured by strong employee trust, operational excellence, and our ability to support the performance of our clubs. In this role, the manager serves as a trusted operational partner within the team—bringing curiosity, accountability, and continuous improvement to the way payroll and benefits programs evolve over time.

Requirements

• Progressive experience and expertise in payroll administration or Total Rewards operations, including ownership of end-to-end payroll processing.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate processes, strengthen controls, and proactively improve payroll and benefits operations over time.
• Strong experience managing payroll in a complex or multi-entity environment.
• Experience administering employee benefits programs and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Experience tracking benefits participation, utilization, and cost trends and preparing reporting that supports program oversight and decision-making.
• Advanced proficiency in HRIS systems; ADP Workforce Now experience preferred.
• Advanced Excel proficiency with the ability to analyze payroll and workforce data, reconcile complex datasets, and support reporting and workforce analytics.
• Strong working knowledge of federal and state wage and hour laws, payroll tax regulations, and benefits compliance requirements.
• Experience improving operational processes, documentation, and workflows.
• Highly curious with a desire to learn and a growth-oriented mindset with a focus on identifying opportunities to improve systems, processes, and operational efficiency.
• High attention to detail with strong analytical thinking and sound judgment when managing complex payroll matters.
• Curiosity and interest in emerging technologies - including AI applications in HR or payroll.
• Alignment with the organization’s values, and mission to create moments, enrich lives and unify and uplift through soccer, and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

Responsibilities

• Manage payroll across multiple payroll cycles and entities, ensuring accurate and on time payroll delivery.
• Process payroll in ADP Workforce Now, including salaries, hourly wages, bonuses, benefits deductions, tax withholdings, garnishments, and other payroll transactions.
• Review payroll data before each run to ensure accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain payroll procedures, documentation, and internal controls.
• Ensure payroll tax filings and remittances are accurate and submitted on time.
• Reconcile payroll reports and investigate variances to ensure payroll aligns with financial reporting.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll workflows and reduce manual errors.
• Serve as primary resource for payroll and HRIS transactions, ensuring accurate and timely processing of workforce changes including hires, terminations, compensation changes, benefits deductions, and payroll adjustments.
• Create workflows and process improvements to increase efficiency
• Maintain accurate workforce data across HRIS and related systems
• Build payroll and workforce reports to track headcount, labor costs, overtime, and PTO usage to support timely decision-making and planning.
• Partner with Finance and People & Culture leaders to support workforce planning and reporting.
• Improve payroll system workflows increase efficiency and strengthen data accuracy.
• Manage administration of employee benefit programs including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, FSA/HSA, and wellness programs.
• Administer benefits enrollment processes including new hires, open enrollment, qualifying life events, and terminations.
• Ensure benefits programs comply with applicable federal and state regulations including ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, and related requirements.
• Use benefits data to identify trends and provide recommendations that improve program effectiveness, employee understanding, and cost management
• Support administration of the organization’s self-funded medical plan by monitoring claims reporting, reviewing plan performance, and coordinating with vendors and advisors.
• Maintain strong relationships with benefit brokers, carriers, and administrators to ensure programs run smoothly and issues are resolved quickly.
• Manage leave administration processes across federal and state programs including FMLA and Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave.
• Provide guidance to employees and managers regarding benefits programs, eligibility, and leave processes.
• Maintain payroll, benefits, and personnel records in accordance with regulatory requirements and organizational policies.
• Ensure completion, maintenance, and audit readiness of Form I-9 documentation in compliance with federal employment verification requirements.
• Prepare and submit required government and regulatory filings including ACA reporting, workers’ compensation reporting, OSHA filings, and other required reports.
• Administer the workers’ compensation program, including submitting Employer Reports of Accident, coordinating wage replacement payments, and partnering with managers and insurance carriers to support timely and compliant claims management.
• Manage year-end payroll activities including reconciliation and distribution of W-2 and 1095 forms.
• Monitor changes in payroll, tax, benefits, and employment regulations and support implementation of required compliance updates.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage : We offer 100% employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision premiums for you and your dependents. For employees enrolled in our HSA healthcare plan, we provide employer contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA) — $1,000 per year for employee-only coverage and $2,000 per year for spouse or family coverage.
• Generous Paid Time Off & Leave : We offer unlimited paid vacation, paid company holidays, and paid sick leave in compliance with Seattle’s Paid Sick and Safe Time ordinance. We also provide paid bereavement leave and paid jury duty leave to support you during life’s critical moments.
• Retirement Planning Support : 401(k) retirement plan matching, helping you secure your financial future with ease.
• Fertility & Family-Building Support : We provide a $10,000 lifetime maximum fertility benefit through our healthcare plan to support employees in their family-building journeys. This benefit includes coverage for infertility treatment, IVF, IUI, embryo transfer, fertility preservation, and related medications.
• Inclusive Parental Leave : Our gender-neutral parental leave program provides 12–16 weeks of paid leave, inclusive of Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML), giving new parents the time and support they need during this important life stage.
• Peace of Mind Coverage : Employer-paid long-term disability coverage, as well as basic life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, providing financial protection and peace of mind for you and your family.
• Exclusive Perks : Enjoy complimentary tickets to matches and employer-funded ORCA cards for public transit, making it easier for you to experience the excitement firsthand.
• Continuous Growth Opportunities : We invest in your learning and development through various programs and resources.
• Community Engagement : We provide a variety of volunteer opportunities that align with our social impact goals and RAVE Foundation initiatives, empowering you to make a meaningful difference in the Seattle community.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed