Payroll and Benefits Manager

Job Description

Job Description

At Tend, how we pay and take care of our people is one of the most tangible ways we build trust. The Payroll & Benefits Manager owns the end-to-end payroll and benefits experience for a complex, multi-state healthcare workforce that includes clinical teams, corporate employees, and contractors. This role blends deep payroll and benefits expertise with operational excellence and cross-functional partnership to ensure every team member is paid accurately, covered correctly, and supported — while helping Tend scale responsibly as we grow.

This position is hybrid if Nashville-based (Tuesdays and Wednesday in office) or remote if based outside of Nashville. Candidates must be based in central or east coast time zones.

What You'll Do

Payroll Operations & Processing

• Own and execute bi-weekly payroll for a multi-state, multi-entity healthcare workforce across clinical studios and corporate teams.
• Ensure accurate processing for hourly, salaried, and contractor populations, including multiple pay cycles, rates, and premium structures.
• Manage complex pay components including shift differentials, clinical premiums, overtime, blended rates, state-specific rules, and retroactive adjustments.
• Oversee payroll inputs including time and attendance, PTO, leaves of absence, bonuses, commissions, and off-cycle payments.
• Process and reconcile 401(k) and other benefit-related payroll deductions, including employee contributions, employer matches, and loan repayments.

Benefits Administration

• Own day-to-day administration of Tend's health, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k) programs, and other supplemental insurance programs across a multi-state population.
• Lead annual open enrollment: plan setup, employee communications, systems configuration, and vendor coordination.
• Manage employee life events (new hire enrollment, qualifying life events, terminations, COBRA) and serve as the escalation point for complex benefits questions.
• Own carrier and broker relationships, including invoice reconciliation, eligibility file accuracy, and issue resolution.
• Ensure benefits compliance with ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, and state-specific mandates, including required filings and notices.
• Support benefits budgeting, renewal strategy, and plan design recommendations.

Compliance, Tax & Regulatory Management

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage-and-hour laws, with particular attention to healthcare and state-specific requirements.
• Manage payroll tax setup, filings, deposits, reconciliations, and agency notices in partnership with payroll vendors.
• Own year-end processes including W-2s, 1099s, and all required state and federal reporting.

Audits, Controls & Financial Integrity

• Conduct payroll and benefits audits, reconciliations, and internal controls to ensure accuracy, compliance, and financial integrity.
• Partner with Finance on payroll accruals, benefits accruals, general ledger alignment, and labor reporting for clinical and corporate teams.

Systems, Tools & Process Improvement

• Serve as system owner for payroll, timekeeping, and benefits administration platforms, ensuring pay rules, premiums, eligibility rules, and state requirements are correctly configured.
• Lead continuous improvement of payroll and benefits processes, documentation, and controls to support scale and a strong team member experience.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Support

• Act as a trusted partner to People, Finance, Legal, and Studio leaders on complex payroll, benefits, and pay practice questions.

Who You Are

Tend Values

• Tend to Others: You deliver accurate, timely payroll and benefits outcomes that build trust with every team member and protect Tend's financial integrity.
• Embrace Our Differences: You respect the needs of a diverse, multi-state workforce and adapt payroll and benefits solutions to meet different roles, markets, and situations.
• Be Brave Enough to Lead: You raise risks, address errors, and push for better systems and controls — even when it's uncomfortable or complex.
• Savor the Ride: You bring calm, clarity, and positive energy to high-volume payroll cycles and open enrollment, helping others feel supported through change.
• Rooted in Growth: You seek feedback, learn from mistakes, and continuously improve how you operate and lead.

Role-Based Competencies

• Make It Right Every Time: You own payroll and benefits outcomes end-to-end and hold yourself and partners accountable for accuracy, compliance, and follow-through.
• Build Smart Systems: You design, document, and improve payroll and benefits processes that scale with Tend while reducing risk and manual effort.
• Make It Make Sense: You explain complex payroll, benefits, and compliance topics in a clear, empathetic way that builds confidence and trust across the organization.

What You Have

• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including ownership of multi-state, multi-unit payroll in healthcare or similarly complex environments.
• 3+ years of hands-on benefits administration experience, including open enrollment, life events, and carrier/vendor management.
• Deep experience supporting hourly, salaried, and contractor populations, including clinical teams with shift-based scheduling and premium pay.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll tax compliance, wage-and-hour laws, and healthcare-specific pay practices.
• Working knowledge of ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, and COBRA compliance requirements.
• Hands-on experience managing payroll and benefits audits, tax notices, garnishments, and regulatory inquiries.
• Experience administering 401(k) and other benefit-related payroll deductions in partnership with Total Rewards and Finance.
• Advanced experience with payroll, timekeeping, and benefits administration systems (UKG preferred; ADP, Workday, or similar platforms).
• Strong Excel and reporting skills for audits, reconciliations, and leadership reporting.
• A high bar for accuracy, strong organization, and the ability to operate calmly and effectively in fast-paced, high-volume environments.
• A collaborative, service-oriented mindset with the ability to build trust and influence across People, Finance, Legal, and Studio teams.

What We Offer:

We believe taking care of people starts with taking care of our own. Here's how we've got you covered at Tend:

• Health Comes First - We offer medical, dental, and vision insurance — plus a Dental Wellness Program to keep your smile as sharp as your skills.
• Plan for the Future - 401(k) plan, because your nest egg matters.
• Support, When You Need It - Life & AD&D insurance, health advocacy, legal support, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) — all designed to have your back when life gets real.
• ️ Smart Spending Options - We've got Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and pre-tax transit/parking benefits to make your dollars go further.
• Time to Recharge - Enjoy generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and company holidays — because rest is productive.
• Bonus Eligible - Annual bonus based on company and individual performance

#-LIremote

Pay Range

$100,000—$130,000 USD

Tend is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We're committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported. Tend does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, and termination.

Legal and Compliance Notice: Tend complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination, equal employment opportunity, pay transparency, and other employment-related requirements. Where specific state disclosures or postings are required by law, we provide this information as part of our hiring process or upon request.

Agency and recruiter notice: Tend does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from staffing agencies or third-party recruiters. Any candidate submitted to Tend without a signed search agreement in place will not be considered a referred candidate, and Tend will not pay a fee for any resulting hire. If you're interested in partnering with our Talent team, please reach out to View email address on ziprecruiter.com before submitting candidates.

Your privacy matters. To learn more about how we collect, use, and protect your information, please review our privacy policy here.