Payroll Manager

Blue Wave is a leading national political consulting firm that delivers compliance, fundraising, and digital services to clients throughout the country. Founded in 2014, the firm represents political committees at every level of government from presidential and congressional races to state and local candidates, as well as political action committees and state parties.

Position Overview

The Blue Wave payroll team ensures committees comply with federal, state, and local laws when setting up payroll for clients across the country. Through registering with the appropriate governing entities, onboarding new staff, and administering a range of benefit programs, we provide full-service payroll operations customized to each campaign’s requirements and needs through the lens of political professionals.

You will be the point person for campaign payroll functions. Your responsibilities will include preparation of multi-state payroll including registration for all proper taxes and voluntary withholdings, reconciliation of accounts, and year-end processing. In coordination with Blue Wave Compliance Managers, you will ensure timely onboarding of new staff and payment to campaign employees. You will communicate regularly with both internal and external parties on payroll issues. Your ability to maintain strict confidentiality regarding sensitive employee and wage information is central to your success in this role.

Responsibilities

• Setup and maintain payroll accounts for clients in Gusto as needed.
• Setup tax accounts with state agencies, monitor third party vendor quarterly filings to ensure timely reporting, and close accounts for terminated committees.
• Setup workers compensation accounts, ensure timely payments are made, furnish data for routing audits, and close accounts for terminated committees.
• Setup and manage benefits (i.e. health insurance, 401k, stipends, reimbursements, etc) and close applicable accounts.
• Process client payroll in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner.
• Process regularly scheduled payroll.
• Process off-cycle payrolls to accommodate payout and/or corrections.
• Process reimbursement requests.
• Generate a payroll journal for review and approval.
• Ensure accuracy of payroll information and maintain proper documentation.
• Track changes to payroll items using Blue Wave’s tracking system.
• Assist clients in tracking and approving hours for hourly employees
• Review and manage sensitive data and records with a high degree of accuracy.
• Promptly respond to and manage a diverse array of requests, communicating effectively with colleagues and clients.
• Oversee Payroll Associate and/or Intern

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or equivalent experience
• 3 years of payroll experience that includes processing and reconciling payroll
• Recent experience with ADP, Gusto, Paychex or another third party payroll vendor
• Strong detail-orientation

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of payroll tax laws and filing requirements
• Comfort and familiarity with QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel
• Strong analytic and quantitative skills
• Excellent customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills (verbal and written)
• Ability to take the initiative on tasks, prioritize multiple competing assignments and effectively manage deadlines
• Experience working independently while contributing to the success of the team
• Exceedingly organized with excellent attention to detail
• Discretion and professional approach to sensitive information
• Proficiency with Airtable and Google Drive
• Ability to learn general campaign finance regulations for various types of committees