Job Summary

The King County Housing Authority is seeking a Payroll Manager (Accounting Manager) to perform complex administrative and supervisory work, with primary responsibility for overseeing and managing payroll operations. This position ensures the accurate and timely processing of payroll for a diverse workforce, including wages, deductions, and benefits, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The Payroll Manager oversees payroll administration, supports accounting coordination, and ensures compliance with public sector requirements, HUD regulations, and collective bargaining agreements. This role is responsible for maintaining payroll systems, implementing internal controls, and supporting financial reporting, audits, and labor cost analysis.

Working in close partnership with Finance, People & Culture, and program staff, the Payroll Manager supervises payroll personnel, resolves complex payroll issues, and ensures payroll processes are carried out with accuracy, consistency, and confidentiality.

King County Housing Authority (KCHA) is the largest provider of affordable housing in the Pacific Northwest and a nationally recognized leader in affordable housing. To learn more about KCHA and our Mission visit this link .

We transform lives through housing.

Please note this position is open until filled; however, to ensure consideration applications should be received by July 2, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.

Essential Functions

Payroll Operations & Administration

Oversee and manage the end-to-end payroll process for all Authority employees.
Ensure accurate and timely processing of wages, overtime, retro pay, and adjustments.
Review and approve payroll transactions, registers, and reports.
Maintain payroll systems and ensure proper setup for employee data, pay codes, and deductions.
Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, overpayments, or employee inquiries.

Program Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, including FLSA, IRS regulations, and garnishment.
Administer payroll-related reporting, including W-2s,W-3, and quarterly reports including Form 941.
Maintain adherence to HUD regulations, public-sector requirements, and internal policies.
Support payroll functions tied to grant-funded programs and cost allocations.
Ensure proper tracking of labor costs across housing programs (e.g., public housing, Section 8).
Assist with compliance related to funding sources and reporting requirements.

Accounting, Reconciliation & Auditing

Coordinate payroll activities with Finance to ensure accurate general ledger postings and reconciliations.
Prepare and review payroll reconciliations, accruals, and audit schedules.
Implement and monitor internal controls to safeguard payroll accuracy and prevent errors or fraud.
Assist with annual audits and respond to auditor inquiries.

Benefits & Deductions

Oversee payroll-related deductions including health benefits, retirement (e.g., PERS), deferred compensation, and union dues.
Ensure proper calculation and remittance of employer and employee contributions.
Coordinate with HR on employee status changes and benefits enrollment.

Compensation Administration

Administer payroll guidelines of collective bargaining agreements and non-represented compensation programs.
Process COLAs and other pay adjustments for union and non-represented employees; calculate and process retroactive pay adjustments and benefits deductions and payments;
Implement payroll system updates related to negotiated wage, benefit, and deduction changes.

Reporting, Analysis and Strategic Support

Generate and analyze payroll reports for management, budgeting, and compliance purposes.
Support labor cost analysis and workforce planning.
Prepare reports for leadership, board presentations, HUD submissions, and other stakeholders.

Systems & Process Improvement

Maintain and optimize payroll systems.
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and automation in payroll processes.
Participate in system upgrades, testing, and implementations.

Leadership & Oversight

Supervise payroll staff, including assigning work, training, and performance management.
Develop, document, and enforce standard operating procedures for payroll processes and internal controls.
Provide guidance and support on complex payroll issues.

Qualifications And Competencies

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in accounting, economics, finance, or closely related field AND
Extensive experience in governmental accounting operations, management or work including supervisory experience OR
An equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
Certified Payroll Profession (CPP) desired.

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Understands technical aspects of the position and continuously builds knowledge, keeping up to date on the substantive and procedural aspects of the position including:
- Policies, procedures and practices of public and/or business administration; payroll laws and regulations (e.g., FLSA, IRS requirements, garnishments, wage and hour laws).
- Accounting principles related to payroll, including general ledger posting, accruals, and reconciliations; and internal controls and audit procedures to ensure payroll accuracy, compliance, and fraud prevention.
- Payroll and HRIS systems such as Dayforce, ADP, and/or Workday.
- Benefits and retirement systems, such as PERS, deferred compensation plans, and health benefit deductions; and collective bargaining agreements.
Experience supervising staff including coaching and mentoring to support employees in achieving Authority and individual goals; demonstrated ability to provide strong leadership in a dynamic, highly regulated work environment.
- Proven success in building productive and engaged work teams with a focus on mentoring and nurturing staff development.
Clearly and effectively communicates both verbally and in writing by actively listening and sharing relevant information.
- Ability to compose and prepare correspondence; demonstrates strong proofreading and editing skills;
- Ability to understand, interpret and explain difficult materials with complicated information that may contain excerpts from regulatory and/or legal documents to all levels of the organization.
Effective interpersonal relations skills with the ability to work collaboratively to garner trust, respect, and confidence from others; can be relied upon to achieve excellent results; ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
A collaborative team member with well-developed organizational and time management skills; ability to develop effective working relationships; works cooperatively, exchanges ideas, and addresses issues in a constructive manner.
Skilled in effective self-management practices and ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.
Values open-mindedness, inclusion, and diverse perspectives, recognizing multiple ways of knowing, thinking, and being; fosters a work environment that embraces and appreciates diversity, treats others with respect, and promotes cooperation.
Strong critical-thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to evaluate information, to make timely and nuanced decisions, and to apply business and operational priorities in weighing outcomes.
Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, SharePoint) as well as the ability to master new database software quickly and easily; ability to utilize automated accounting systems.

Special Requirements

Final candidates may be required to complete a criminal background check and credit check in accordance with applicable law.
Position requires occasional off-site travel within the State of Washington for KCHA business needs. Driving is not an essential function of the position, and a valid driver’s license is not required.

Position Information and Application Process

To Be Considered For This Opportunity

Complete the online application profile in its entirety.
Upload a cover letter that addresses how your experience and education qualify you to perform the essential functions listed in the job announcement. (Cover Letter)
Upload a detailed résumé of all educational and professional experiences. (Résumé)

Salary & Benefits

Salary range is $120,699.00 to $168,978.43 with a midpoint of $144,838.65. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint; however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market. Salary is negotiable . Performance based merit increase opportunities and Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) are reviewed on an annual basis. A comprehensive health care benefits package for you and your dependents includes medical, dental and vision insurance, life and long-term disability insurance plans, vacation, sick and personal leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits are also available. For more details regarding KCHA comprehensive benefits, please visit our benefits page .

Work Environment

After initial onboarding, this role will have the opportunity to work remotely in accordance with the KCHA's flexible work arrangements; however, remote work conditions will be reviewed on a regular basis based on business and program need. Employees must reside in Washington State and having the ability to report to the Central Office in Tukwila will be required. Some local travel may be required to support KCHA business needs.

Physical Requirements

Incumbent(s) must be able to meet the physical requirements of the classification and have mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing and dexterity levels appropriate to the functions performed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals

With Disabilities To Perform The Essential Functions.

This work requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions, frequently requires reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and pushing or pulling; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Equal Opportunity

King County Housing Authority is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

King County Housing Authority

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