Payroll Manager Sports & Entertainment
Vensure Employer Solutions • Burbank, California • Full Time
Posted on Thu, Jun 11, 2026
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About Us
Vensure Employer Solutions is the largest privately held organization in the HR technology and service sector, providing a comprehensive portfolio of solutions, including HR/HCM technology, managed services, and global business process outsourcing (BPO). The company and its service providers collectively serve over 95,000 businesses and process over $135B in annual payroll. As a "One Employer Solution” headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Vensure helps thousands of businesses streamline and grow their operations with custom strategies that benefit both employers and employees. Find out more by visiting www.vensure.com .
Position Summary
The Payroll Manager for Sports & Entertainment is responsible for managing the end-to-end payroll processes for multiple entertainment projects, including film, television, live events, and digital media. The role requires ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing while maintaining compliance with union agreements, tax laws, and other regulatory requirements. The Payroll Manager will lead a team of Paymasters and work closely with production management and finance teams.
Compensation Range:
$85,000 - $95,000
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Lead and mentor a team of payroll professionals, ensuring adherence to company policies and payroll best practices.
- Oversee staff development, performance reviews, and continuous training to improve payroll accuracy and compliance.
- Ensure compliance with complex payroll regulations related to entertainment labor laws, guild agreements (SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA, IATSE, etc., and state and federal tax laws.
- Manage payroll for multiple jurisdictions and locations.
- Oversee the accurate and timely processing of payroll for cast, crew, and production employees, including union and non-union workers.
- Ensure adherence to all applicable laws, including tax withholdings, deductions and benefits.
- Provide detailed payroll reports.
- Oversee union compliance reporting and respond to audits and inquiries from regulatory agencies.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of changes in labor laws, union contracts, and industry standards.
- Identify opportunities for process improvements, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency in payroll operations.
- Oversee the implementation of payroll systems and software updates, ensuring team is well trained in new tools and technologies.
- Collaborate with IT and development teams to enhance functionality and resolve system issues.
- Serve as an entertainment payroll SME for software development and payroll processes and procedures.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Minimum 5 years of experience in payroll within the entertainment industry.
- Strong knowledge of entertainment industry payroll practices, union agreements, and applicable labor laws.
- In-depth knowledge of guild and union rules (SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA, IATSE, etc.)
- Proficiency with payroll software (e.g., Entertainment Partners, Cast & Crew, Greenslate, etc.) and accounting systems.
- Excellent leadership and team management skills, with a proven track record of improving operational processes.
- Strong understanding of tax laws, wage and hour laws, and payroll best practices.
- Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with attention to detail and accuracy.
- Experience with process automation and payroll technology solutions.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to efficiently organize work activities to meet daily and weekly deadlines.
- Good communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment.
- Intermediate to strong skills in MS Office, including Excel and Outlook
Education & Experience
- 5 years of experience in the entertainment payroll industry
- 4+ years of management experience
Required Licenses and/or Certifications
- CPP is beneficial for this position
Physical, Mental, & Communication Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
- Frequently required to sit; occasionally required to stand and walk.
- Specific vision abilities required include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
- Frequently required to talk and hear. ·
- Moderate concentration/intensity, which includes prolonged mental effort..·
- Average memory, taking into consideration the amount and type of information.
- Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Environmental Conditions
Indoor, office environment. May occasionally have moderate noise level from printers, or co-workers.
Disclaimer
The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.
This position is eligible for the following benefits:
- Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Retirement Plan: 401(k) with company match
- Paid Time Off: PTO, Holidays, Parental leave and Sick Leave provided as required by applicable state law
- Other Benefits: Life insurance, short term disability, long term disability, employee assistance program (EAP), flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), Identity theft protection, critical illness, accident, cancer, hospital protection, legal and pet insurance.