People Operations & Payroll Manager

WHO WE ARE
Avant Gardner is New York City's premier event space and producer. Its flagship venue, The Brooklyn Mirage, is the crown jewel of New York City entertainment and one of the most iconic venues in the world. Avant Gardner’s 80,000 square foot complex occupies an entire city block of East Williamsburg, highlighted by the space’s unrivaled audiovisual features including a 200 foot wide, 15k resolution video wall. Voted North America's 'Best Large Club' in 2022 and 2023 and ranked top ten globally by DJ Mag, Avant Gardner has welcomed sold out shows featuring today's top acts and emerging global stars including Drake, Skrillex, Turnstile, Four Tet, John Summit, Glass Animals, Carl Cox, Keinemusik, Christina Aguilera, David Guetta, Marshmello, Reneé Rapp, Rina Sawayama, Rüfüs Du Sol, SOFI TUKKER, Tiësto, and many more. Avant Gardner’s portfolio includes event brands such as The Cityfox Experience along with programming across New York City. For more information, visit Avant-Gardner.com. 

WHO YOU ARE 

• Someone who is highly organized 

• Someone who is able to juggle multiple projects at once and prioritize with a high degree of accuracy 

• Someone who is reliable and has a “no task too small” attitude 

• Someone who can keep calm under high pressure situations 

ABOUT THE ROLE 

The People Operations & Payroll Manager is a key leader in fostering an efficient and compliant HR environment while ensuring smooth payroll operations. This role prioritizes HR functions, including employee relations, benefits administration, compliance reporting, and integration of HR systems, alongside payroll management. You will collaborate closely with People and finance teams to maintain regulatory compliance and support organizational objectives. Responsibilities include overseeing payroll processing, addressing employee inquiries, and ensuring accurate recordkeeping. This role demands precision, regulatory adherence, and a strong understanding of HR and payroll systems. This is an in-person position, requiring regular on-site attendance.

ESSENTIAL ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reports to the Senior People Operations Manager 
• Employee Relations
• Serve as a trusted point of contact for employee inquiries and concerns.  
• Provide support for employee grievances and investigations as needed.  
• Uphold and update HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulations.  
• Stay informed about changes in employment laws and regulations, and implement necessary updates.  
•  Collaborate with management to remain up to date on compensation strategies.  
• Talent Acquisition and Development
• Support recruitment efforts by assisting with job postings, conducting interviews, and performing reference checks.  
• Aid in the performance review process by guiding managers and employees on providing feedback.  
• Benefits Administration
• Assist with open enrollment and the administration of employee benefits programs, including health insurance and retirement plans.  
• Complete compliance reporting for benefits programs (e.g., Quarterly PFL/DBL, ACA compliance).  
• Collaborate with the People Operations Generalist to audit payroll reports to verify benefits eligibility based on hours worked and manage ADP Health Compliance in accordance with ACA regulations.  
• Oversee and audit employee records in the HRIS to ensure the accuracy of benefits data, ensuring correct benefit deductions.  
• Payroll Management
• Oversee the  payroll process, ensuring accurate calculations, timely submissions, and error-free processing of salaries, wages, bonuses, and other compensations. 
• Maintain and manage the payroll system, including updates for tax rates, benefit deductions, and other withholdings. 
• Ensure payroll processing complies with wage and hour laws, including overtime, garnishments, and tax requirements. 
• Handle year-end payroll activities, including W-2 preparation, 1099 reporting, and tax filings. 
• Process weekly and semi-monthly payroll using Deputy/ADP, handling adjustments, reimbursements, and commissions as needed 
• Complete weekly payroll allocations and coordinate with finance representatives for accuracy 
• Audit and manage employee hours to ensure accurate payroll reporting 
• Stay updated on payroll laws and regulations, ensuring company compliance 
• Handle payroll reporting, including quarterly PFL/DBL, WC, reconciliations, and EEO-1 reporting are completed per federal and state regulations

DESIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS 

• 2+ years of experience managing payroll processes.  

• Expertise in payroll systems (e.g., ADP) and payroll tax regulations. 
• Familiarity with the scheduling system, Deputy, is preferred. 

• Proficiency in the Google Workspace suite and its applications is preferred. 

• Proficiency in Excel.

• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.  

• Ability to work independently, with a strong focus on compliance and accuracy. 

• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with attention to detail. 

• Skilled communicator who can partner with cross-functional teams. 

• Proactive in identifying compliance risks and ensuring the company stays audit-ready. 

• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion. 
  

BENEFITS & PERKS 

• When available, complimentary or discounted tickets for live events at our music venue, guests included. 

• Complimentary snacks and beverages available in office 

• PTO Days + Specified Holidays Off 

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance 

• 401K with employer match 

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that can be used for commuting expenses, dependent care and more! 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 

• Opportunities for professional development and advancement within the company 

COMPENSATION 

The yearly salary for this position will range from $90,000- $100,000