Payroll Operations Manager

Cognition

$110K — $130K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years in payroll, accounting, or finance operations with complex payroll ownership in a high-growth setting.
  • Deep experience in domestic and international payroll, including familiarity with global payroll providers and cross-border employee issues.
  • Strong understanding of US payroll tax compliance, including federal and state regulations, as well as year-end reporting demands.
  • Knowledge of international payroll tax and withholding concepts, with the ability to coordinate with local providers and advisors.
  • Fluency with enterprise payroll platforms like ADP, Workday, or Rippling, including hands-on experience with configuration and vendor management.
  • Based in San Francisco and available to work in-office 5 days a week.

Responsibilities

  • Own global payroll end-to-end across the U.S. and international jurisdictions, ensuring timely and compliant payments.
  • Design systems and processes for scalability to support increasing payroll volumes without proportional effort.
  • Manage relationships with payroll vendors and benefits administrators, focusing on maintaining high standards of accuracy and compliance.
  • Coordinate payroll tax compliance activities, including registrations, filings, and tax notice resolutions across various jurisdictions.
  • Ensure accurate payroll handling of variable compensation elements like commissions and taxable benefits.
  • Administer key programs such as 401(k) contributions and payroll deductions, ensuring seamless integration with payroll systems.
  • Collaborate with Finance, Accounting, People Ops, Tax, and Legal teams to maintain compliance and ensure a smooth employee experience.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead and scale a global payroll function in a dynamic organization.
  • Engagement with cross-functional teams and high-level stakeholders throughout the company.
  • Chance to develop and implement innovative payroll processes and systems for increased efficiency.
  • Exposure to international payroll practices and regulatory compliance in diverse markets.
  • A role that combines strategic oversight with hands-on operational responsibilities.
Full Job Description
About the role

We're looking for a Payroll Operations Manager to own and scale our global payroll function while helping build the operational foundation that supports our next stage of growth.

You'll be responsible for ensuring employees, contractors, and commission recipients are paid accurately, compliantly, and on time across the countries in which we operate . You'll oversee payroll operations end-to-end, including domestic and international payroll tax compliance and tax withholding for cash and equity compensation, manage key workforce-related programs such as 401(k) administration, and partner closely with Finance, Accounting, People Operations, Tax, and Legal to build processes that scale.

In this role you will:
  • Own global payroll end-to-end. Run payroll across the U.S. and international jurisdictions for employees, contractors, and commission recipients-accurate, compliant, and on time, every cycle.
  • Build for scale. Design and improve the systems, automation, controls, and documentation that let payroll handle 2x, 5x, 10x the volume without proportional effort.
  • Manage vendors and partners. Own relationships with payroll providers, EORs, and benefits administrators, holding them to a high bar on accuracy, compliance, and service.
  • Own payroll tax compliance. Coordinate domestic and international payroll tax registrations, withholding, deposits, filings, reconciliations, and tax notice resolution; partner with providers and advisors on local requirements and cross-border employee scenarios.
  • Manage complex and variable compensation. Ensure the accurate payroll treatment of commissions, bonuses, taxable benefits, relocation payments, and other cash and non-cash compensation.
  • Administer key programs. Run 401(k) contributions, payroll deductions, contractor payments, garnishments, benefits inputs , and other payments where administered through payroll systems.
  • Partner cross-functionally. Work closely with Finance, Accounting, People Ops, Tax, and Legal to keep data clean, stay compliant, and give employees a seamless experience.


Requirements for the role:
  • 5+ years in payroll, accounting operations, or finance operations, including ownership of complex payroll in a high-growth environment.
  • Deep domestic and international payroll experience, with meaningful exposure to international payroll, EORs, global payroll providers, and cross-border employee matters.
  • Strong command of US payroll tax compliance, including federal, state, and local withholding, deposits, filings, reconciliations, tax notices, and quarter- and year-end reporting.
  • International payroll tax knowledge. Working knowledge of international payroll tax and withholding concepts, with the judgment to identify issues and coordinate with local payroll providers, Tax, Legal, and external advisors.
  • Fluency with enterprise payroll platforms (ADP, Workday, Rippling, or similar), including configuration, process improvement, and vendor management.
  • Based in San Francisco and willing to work from the office 5 days per week.

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