About Us: 

Climate Pledge Arena is the complete redevelopment of an historic landmark, originally built for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair.  Sitting at the base of the Space Needle on the Seattle Center campus, the arena is home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, PWHL Seattle Torrent, WNBA's Seattle Storm, and the world's biggest performers of live music and events. Since opening in October 2021, we have hosted over 400 public events and welcomed over 4 million guests. The arena has been awarded Sports Business Journal’s Sports Facility of the Year and Pollstar’s best new concert venue and is consistently ranked within Pollstar’s top 10 for top grossing arenas worldwide.

Seattle Arena Company, a division of Oak View Group (OVG), privately developed and now operates Climate Pledge Arena. OVG based in Denver, Colorado is a global leader in facility development, management, hospitality, and sales. Climate Pledge Arena is named after The Climate Pledge, an initiative founded by Amazon and Global Optimism asking global corporations to become net zero carbon by 2040.  We have one of the most progressive sustainability programs of any arena our size, including being the first and only arena in the world to achieve the International Future Living Institute’s first Zero Carbon Certification.

Position Summary:

The Senior Payroll Accountant supports the Payroll Director in the accurate and timely processing of payroll and related accounting activities. This role is responsible for processing and reviewing payrolls and ensuring data integrity across the timekeeping system (ABI MasterMind) and payroll system (UKG). The position also supports the accounting team by preparing payroll-related journal entries for actuals and accruals, as well as reconciling payroll-related general ledger accounts.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Prepare, review, and process bi-weekly payroll for hourly employees, including off-cycle, retroactive, and corrections.
• Ensure accurate calculation, processing, and remittance of payroll taxes, benefits, garnishments, union dues, and other deductions, including union payroll reporting and contract compliance.
• Act as Subject Matter Expert for ABI MasterMind (ESS) and ensure data accuracy and consistency between ABI and UKG systems
• Record payroll journal entries, prepare accruals, and ensure payroll expenses and liabilities are recorded in accordance with GAAP. Assist with reconciling stale-dated payroll checks and escheat to the State of Washington.
• Reconcile payroll registers to the general ledger and payroll-related balance sheet accounts; analyze and resolve variances.
• Support month-end close process, including preparation of payroll-related reconciliations and documentation.
• Partner with the Payroll Director on payroll delivery, process documentation, cross-training, and special projects

Required/Preferred Experience & Qualifications:

• 4+ years of overall payroll and accounting experience in a medium-large organization.
• Experience within a unionized environment, dealing with labor relations and Collective Bargaining Agreements.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business or Finance, preferred or equivalent experience required.
• Experience with ABI Mastermind and UKG strongly preferred, however not mandatory
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with multiple stakeholder teams, such as HR, Operations, Legal and Technology.
• Advanced knowledge of HR/Payroll processes and systems that help administer or control pay programs, person records, and scheduling.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Demonstrated attention to detail.
• Ability to learn quickly, open to change and enjoy the challenge of unfamiliar tasks.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and ambiguous environment; handle multiple tasks with the ability to re-prioritize and shift priorities quickly.
• Written/Oral communications - ability to speak and write clearly and concisely, get messages across that have the desired effect.

Working Conditions:

• Minimal Travel (<10% travel): May be required to travel. Trips may require air travel and/or overnight stay away from home for one or more nights.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule inclusive of weekends, nights and holidays required

Compensation:

• In accordance with the Washington State Equal Pay and Opportunity Act, the expected base pay range for this position is $85,000 - $110,000 annually. Actual base pay will depend on employee’s experience and other job-related factors permitted by law.
• This is a full-time, exempt role

Benefits & Perks: 

• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, including premiums for eligible dependents enrolled in the plans 
• Company-paid life insurance and short- & long-term disability insurance 
• 401k (pre-tax and Roth) with Company match up to 4% 
• Kraken ticket stipend and employee only pre-sale opportunities to non-Kraken events 
• Annual wellness stipend for mental & physical health 
• 15 vacation days, 10 personal holidays, and accrued sick time 
• Minimum 10 paid holidays per year 
• Paid parental leave 
• Company-paid Orca, local transit card 
• Corporate office located at Climate Pledge Arena; complimentary Arena garage parking offered 
• Employee meal perks when working events
• Company-paid employee assistance program and Headspace subscription 
• Company-wide recognition platform 
• Flexible spending accounts and voluntary accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance available 
• Discounts at the Kraken Team Stores, Kraken Community Iceplex, 32 Bar & Grill, and other partners 

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Hiring:

Climate Pledge Arena aspires to write a new playbook in sports and entertainment that includes everyone. In alignment with this vision, if you don’t meet every job requirement listed—or if you haven’t worked in the industry or are still learning about the industry—we still encourage you to apply. We understand you may bring other relevant experiences and expertise to help us become the highest performance organization we can be. One of our core values is ‘Make Us Better’ and we recognize diversity, equity and inclusion as a critical business strategy.

If you’d like to request an accommodation in the application or interview process, please let us know by emailing: [email protected].

Seattle Hockey Partners, LLC and Seattle Arena Company, LLC are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We do not discriminate on basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.