Senior Payroll Accountant

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.

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 Master Mind) 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.

• 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 Master Mind (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.

• 4+ years of overall payroll and accounting experience in a medium‑large organization.
• Experience with in 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.

• Minimal Travel (