4+ years of progressive payroll experience with multi-state US payroll ownership
Proficient in Rippling payroll administration for both US and global payroll
Experience managing global payroll through Employers of Record (EORs)
Expertise in complex California hourly payroll regulations
Knowledge of bonus and commission payroll processes
Strong understanding of federal/state/local payroll tax and year-end reporting
Proficient in Excel/Sheets with a focus on self-auditing
Responsibilities
Manage full-cycle multi-state payroll in Rippling, ensuring compliance with tax regulations
Oversee California hourly payroll, including overtime and meal/rest break compliance
Handle global EOR payroll, including compliance and new-country setups
Process payments for US and global contractors, ensuring correct currency and classification
Administer bonuses and commissions, validating with Sales Ops and Finance
Maintain payroll controls, accounting, and compliance through audits and mandatory filings
Serve as the payroll expert, automating processes and addressing employee inquiries
Benefits
Interesting and challenging work
Opportunities for learning and growth
Health, dental, and vision insurance for US employees
Regular team events and offsites
Full Job Description
About this role: fal is hiring a Foundational Global Payroll Manager to own payroll end to end for a fast-growing, distributed team: US W-2 employees, US contractors, global employees through Employers of Record (EORs), and global contractors. The role runs accurate, on-time payroll in Rippling, gets bonuses and commissions paid correctly, and builds the controls and processes that let payroll scale. It's hands-on: run the cycles today, and design how payroll works as fal adds states, countries, and headcount.
What you'll do
US W-2 payroll: full-cycle multi-state payroll in Rippling; federal/state/local tax compliance and new state registrations; year-end (W-2s, W-2Cs, fringe reporting); payroll-side benefit deductions.
Hourly, non-exempt, and intern pay: California daily OT, double time, 7th-day rules; regular-rate calculations; timekeeping, meal/rest break attestations and premiums; Labor Code 226-compliant wage statements; per-cycle audits.
Global EOR payroll: monthly inputs, register review, and invoice reconciliation; new-country setup and entity decisions; country-by-country compliance.
US and global contractors: payments in the right currency; W-9/W-8BEN collection and 1099-NECs; classification risk with People and Legal; monthly GL reconciliation.
Bonuses, commissions, variable pay: supplemental withholding by state/country; commission validation with Sales Ops and Finance; equity-event payroll (RSU vests, option exercises).
Controls, accounting, audit and compliance: payroll JEs, GL recs, month-end accruals; controls and audit trails; agency notices and audits; mandatory filings including pay data reports.
Systems and process: Rippling payroll expert; automate manual steps; payroll calendar, runbooks, and policies; go-to for employee payroll questions.
Qualifications/Nice-to-haves
4+ years of progressive payroll experience, including full ownership of multi-state US payroll
Rippling payroll admin (US and Rippling Global)
Hands-on global payroll through EORs; paying US and international contractors (1099s, W-8BENs, classification)
Complex California hourly payroll: daily OT, regular rate, meal/rest premiums, and the records behind them
Bonus and commission payroll, including supplemental withholding and accruals
Deep knowledge of federal/state/local payroll tax, FLSA, and year-end reporting
Comfortable with journal entries, GL reconciliations, and month-end close
Strong Excel/Sheets skills and a habit of auditing their own work
Sound judgment with confidential data; clear, friendly communication
Nice-to-haves
Stood up payroll in a new country or entity
Equity comp payroll (ISOs, NSOs, RSUs) and Carta
High-growth startup, ideally AI or developer infrastructure
CPP or FPC certification
Automates manual work with scripts, integrations, or AI tools
US benefits knowledge, including 401(k) and mandatory compliance
