Megan Hightower Email & Phone Number

Washington, United States

Bellevue, Washington, United States

•Using Paylocity, I administered a monthly/weekly, multi-state payroll process from onboarding to submission for 450+ employees across 35 states. To support growth, I helped hire and train an additional Payroll Analyst.•Partnered with HR on compliance and tax matters, creating procedures & company-wide communications as needed.•Registered new states and monitored federal, state, and local taxes, Social Security contributions, employee benefit contributions, garnishments, and other deductions to ensure pay accuracy. Performed monthly/quarterly GL account reconciliation and analysis to complete payroll related journal entries using established policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Woodinville, Washington

•Reported to the CFO to manage all functions of multi-state payroll and benefits for approximately 200 employees, across 15 states including exempt, non-exempt and commission-only roles (Namely for Payroll)•Managed open enrollment, benefit administration and provider relationships, leaves of absence and worker’s compensation •In partnership with HR Management, and independently during leadership transitions, I supported and drove key areas of employee relations (before and during the COVID pandemic) such as annual employee performance and compensation review programs, hiring, complex offboarding and immigration matters with our external legal resource

Greater Seattle Area

•Reported to both the CFO & Controller and supervised the Senior Payroll Specialist•Oversaw and executed a multi-national, bi-weekly payroll & timekeeping process for 350+ employees, including Global Payroll in China (ADP Workforce Now until Q3 2019)•Managed a multiple employer 401(k) retirement plan•Formed a bridge between Finance and HR; including oversight of payroll accounting, internal controls, compensation reporting, forecasting analysis and month-end/year-end close Key Achievements•With the HR and Technology Services teams, launched a new HRIS in Q3 2019 (moved from ADP WFN to Ceridian Dayforce)•Ensured the successful integration of approximately 90 new employees as part of two significant acquisitions in 2019 and 2018•In October 2016, helped the Non-Profit SightLife launch a new For-Profit subsidiary called SightLife Surgical (re-branded to CorneaGen in 2018) to help accelerate their shared mission to “Eliminate Corneal Blindness Worldwide by 2040”•Managed a company-wide transition from a 403(b) to a 401(k)-retirement plan, including annual benefit audits, Form 5500 filings, business relationships with 3rd party retirement plan administration team, an investment advisor team and ERISA counsel, as well as annual employee retirement education•Engaged a Global PEO Service to resolve a complex payroll transition in China•Created and maintained Payroll & Retirement employee resource pages for the launch of a new company intranet (Confluence)•Oversaw interim Stock Option Administration; helped HR and Learning & Development create employee training materials

Greater Seattle Area

(AdReady was acquired by CPX Interactive on 10/01/2013)•Transitioned AdReady Accounts Payable and merged with CPXi’s Human Resources team following acquisition; reported to HR Manager and Chief People Officer located in New York City headquarters•Helped facilitate transition from a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to in-house HR systems•Administered regional, company-wide, semi-monthly payroll and timekeeping for 150+ employees •Handled company-wide employee benefits administration including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Section 125/FSA, Disability, FMLA, COBRA, Transportation, 401(k)/Safe Harbor, Health and Fitness and Rewards Program•Wrote detailed “How To” guides for employee benefits and payroll administration, assisted with employee handbook and policy development and implementation, and provided compensation analysis for the Seattle market•Managed regional employee relations in Seattle, New Orleans and Santa Monica; including on-boarding, staffing, team building, event and charity planning, performance management, terminations and conflict resolution•Created HR home page on company intranet and maintained HRIS data•Responsible for business operations in Seattle; including coordinating office build-out with relocation

Seattle, Wa

•Integral member of leadership team during significant workforce transition and subsequent acquisition•Responsible for cash management including Accounts Payable and company expenditures•Managed employee benefits, on-boarding, employee departures, leaves of absence and worker’s compensation•Administered semi-monthly payroll and timekeeping for up to 55 employees •Partnered with management team on recruitment and compensation structure•Completed month and year-end reconciliation for cash disbursements, assisted with annual audits and prepared and filed annual contractor tax returns (IRS tax forms 1099 and 1096)

Greater Seattle Area

•Managed Billing and Accounts Payable; reported to VP of Finance•Drove Public Relations activities that promoted company brand and growth; reported to CEO (co-authored press releases, secured articles in The Wall Street Journal and Puget Sound Business Journal, launched online press room, coordinated award submissions and edited content for company blog — learned HTML on the job)•Managed daily operations for rapidly growing start-up

Seattle, Wa

•Balanced company-wide month-end general ledger and solved daily billing inaccuracies for 19 practice offices•Wrote and published billing and general ledger procedures for the Billing Services Group; trained temporary staff

•Clients included Harborview Medical Center, Pacific Medical and University of Washington

Greater Seattle Area

•Collaborated with management and controller to ensure a positive cash flow during growth and transition•Managed billing and purchase orders for approximately 40 clients per month•Responsible for AP/AR, including purchasing, cash management, collections, reconciliation and journal entries•Processed bi-weekly payroll and provided HR support to 50+ employees

Seattle, Wa

•Achieved a 100% return rate on funding for ½ of a $3 million accounts receivable financing portfolio•Validated client receivables and authorized daily distribution of funds up to $150,000 per day; 50+ companies

San Francisco Bay Area

•Media liaison and primary agency contact for creative professional product divisions at Apple •Fostered long-term relationships with strategic press and industry contacts•Wrote press releases, and developed and implemented public relations plans•Secured industry and product review articles in target publications•Staffed and co-managed media relations for tradeshows, new product launches, and special media events

San Mateo, Ca

•Core agency contact and media liaison for Discreet, a division of Autodesk and 3dfx (now NVIDIA)•Concentrated heavily on pitching, securing, and delivering both product and corporate media placements•Helped coordinate tradeshow and product tour logistics for executives and key press representatives•Staffed all local tradeshows and events

Palo Alto, Ca

•Agency contact and media liaison for Novell•Helped launch a program to influence and increase strong client relationships with valuable press representatives•Monitored news coverage and wrote a weekly analysis for executives

Sunnyvale, Ca

•Lead coordinator for team representing Hewlett-Packard’s peripheral divisions•Maintained editorial calendar program; pitched and landed monthly media placements•Coordinated press and corporate tour logistics

Mountain View, Ca

•Assistant Public Relations Coordinator for new product launch and employee event •Converted and implemented US-based public relations program for subsidiary in Australia

Bachelor Of Science, Public Relations; Minor In Business, Honors In Pr

Activities and Societies: Vice President, PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society Association)Completed my PR Thesis at Australia's.

National Emt-B Certification, Emergency Medicine