Acuity Politics: Payroll Associate

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Acuity Politics was founded by Josie Olsen, John Roberson, and Shayne Thoman after the 2024 election. Our mission is to provide our clients peace of mind by guiding them through the intricate world of campaign compliance with precision, clarity, and purpose.

Acuity is a national political compliance firm that combines industry expertise and leading technical solutions to provide unparalleled client support. With a deep understanding of campaign finance laws and an unwavering commitment to excellence, we offer tailored solutions that navigate the ever-evolving regulatory landscape with ease.

Position: Payroll Associate

Department: Payroll

Location: In-person, Washington, DC; Acuity Politics office

Reports to: Payroll Manager

Classification: Full-time, exempt employee

Term: Permanent

A successful Acuity Politics employee will:

• Have a growth mindset: All employees are expected to understand that political compliance and campaign finance is an ever-changing industry, where it takes a dedication to learning in order to be successful. All employees are expected to stay curious and be dedicated to continuous learning.

• Be a proactive and considerate communicator: Organizations thrive when all team members communicate thoroughly and thoughtfully. Acuity Politics is committed to ensuring that all employees understand their role in contributing to a highly communicative work environment.

• Understand the value of great compliance: At its core, compliance is about filing reports. Getting there includes comprehensive data management and an acute understanding of campaign finance laws. As compliance experts, we understand the entire life cycle of a campaign and the elasticity of committee operations as it scales up leading up to an election.

• Be a collaborative and thoughtful team player: From Partner to Intern, we are united in our approach. Everyone’s voice is valued. We share the same systems and work together. Anyone can seek advice or assistance from others, fostering a culture of collaboration and creativity to support our clients and each other.

Payroll Associate Overview:

The Payroll Associate will work alongside other Payroll Staff and is responsible for supporting the payroll operations for Acuity clients. The Payroll Associate is expected to strictly adhere to Acuity’s payroll systems and best practices, ensuring that client employees are paid on time, accurately, and in compliance with government regulations. The Payroll Associate is a client-facing support role on a growing team. The Payroll Associate will also collaborate with the Reports & Processing, Training & Consistency, and Operations Departments to build and revise company-wide systems as they relate to the client experience.

Payroll Associate Responsibilities:

• Supporting client payroll (80%)

• Create systems for ensuring that multiple concurrent pay schedules, including salaried, hourly, and/or program-based employees, are paid in a timely and thoughtful manner.

• Correctly issuing payroll for clients with multiple funding sources.

• Provide services for the entire life cycle of the committee or payroll program, in collaboration with the Acuity compliance department and client management staff (including tasks and projects like onboarding/offboarding employees, SUI/SIT registrations and workers compensation, generating payroll estimates for budget planning, and more).

• Thoughtful consideration of payroll in the context of collective bargaining agreements.

• Determining payroll guidelines and best practices for Acuity clients with employees in multiple states.

• Supporting the Payroll Manager and Client Managers with fast-paced, large-scale buildouts during peak election seasons.

• Other duties as assigned and special projects (20%)

• Perform other assigned duties related to payroll, such as transitioning a client to their preferred payroll platform, state agency communication, and audits.

• Support the Payroll Manager with other special projects as assigned.

Payroll Associate Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required. The ideal candidate has 2 or more years of work experience and is proficient in navigating Google Suite.

• Previous experience with payroll is a BIG plus. 1-2 years of payroll, HR, or people operations experience is a big plus - but not required.

• Keen attention to detail. The ideal candidate thrives in environments where precision matters. Comfortable working with many clients and projects over the course of one day.

• Ability to take directions is a must. This role will support the Payroll Manager and a team of client managers, and will work with the Partners as well. Similarly, flexibility and ability to juggle a number of relationships and tasks are important in this role.

• Experience with a variety of people ops software. Familiarity with Gusto, Guideline, and/or Airtable is a plus.

• Discretion is paramount. Maintaining best practices for client and employee confidentiality is non-negotiable. A track record with confidential information is a plus.

• Interest in progressive politics. The ideal candidate has a passion for political campaigns. Prior understanding of campaign finance laws is a plus, but not required for this role.

Payroll Associate Compensation

• Salary: $55,000 - $65,000 annually

• 100% employer-sponsored healthcare, including platinum or gold health, dental, and vision options. Supplementary plans include life and disability insurance.

• Additional benefits include a monthly cell phone stipend, transportation stipend, and regular opportunities for professional development and on-going learning.

• Opportunity for annual performance-based bonuses.

• Clear growth and development opportunities within the organization.

• Paid time off policies, such as vacation (3 weeks), sick (2 weeks), bereavement, and voting leave, all with religious accommodations. Including family and medical leave.

• Excellent work-life balance, with a highly supportive and communicative team.

_We value diversity, equity, and inclusion. Acuity Politics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of our community. _

Please submit your application through the Gusto link provided. Only applications received through Gusto will be considered.