Payroll Manager

Overview

This role is responsible for leading and scaling global payroll operations across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. You will own end-to-end payroll processing, including tax compliance, financial reconciliation, reporting, systems, and year-end activities, while partnering closely with HR, Finance, Accounting, Equity Administration, and Sales Operations.

In addition, you will help prepare scalable payroll processes to support a potential commercial launch, including sales incentive compensation and field-force pay practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead global payroll operations: Own end-to-end payroll processing across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., including regular, off-cycle, and bonus payrolls, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payments.
• Manage multi-state payroll: Administer payroll for employees across multiple U.S. states, including remote and field-based sales personnel. Coordinate new hires, terminations, compensation changes, leaves, and final pay in partnership with HR.
• Oversee payroll providers and systems: Manage relationships, service-level agreements, and performance expectations with payroll providers in each country. Maintain HRIS and payroll integrations and drive process improvements as the organization scales.
• Maintain payroll tax compliance: Oversee payroll tax withholding, remittances, filings, registrations, and statutory reporting across applicable jurisdictions. Monitor legislative and regulatory changes and update processes before new requirements take effect.
• Manage country-specific requirements:
  • U.S.: federal, state, and local payroll obligations
  • Canada: source deductions, remittances, and year-end reporting
  • U.K.: PAYE, National Insurance, HMRC submissions, statutory payments, and pension auto-enrollment
• Prepare for commercial launch: Partner with Sales Operations, HR, and Finance to establish payroll processes for incentive compensation (bonuses, commissions, and sales performance awards). Build scalable workflows for variable pay tied to quotas and performance metrics.
• Support field-force compensation: Coordinate payroll administration for sales expense reimbursements, car allowances, and other field-force pay elements. Ensure compliance with applicable state wage and hour requirements, commission agreements, final pay rules, and expense reimbursement laws.
• Administer equity and benefits through payroll: Process payroll-related tax withholding and reporting for stock option exercises, restricted stock unit (RSU) vesting, and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) purchases. Partner with external advisors on cross-border and mobile employee tax considerations, including U.K. share schemes and Canadian stock option rules.
• Reconcile benefits and retirement deductions: Reconcile payroll deductions with benefit carriers and plan providers and support administration of company benefits programs and the 401(k) plan.
• Own payroll accounting and reporting: Prepare payroll journal entries and accruals, support month-end close, and deliver reporting and analysis for Finance, HR, and leadership (including headcount costs, budget variances, and R&D tax credit support).
• Strengthen controls and audit readiness: Maintain documented payroll controls and segregation of duties, support SOX compliance, support financial statement and benefit plan audits, and identify opportunities to reduce risk and improve operational efficiency.
• Partner across the organization: Resolve issues and maintain compliance by working collaboratively with HR, Finance, Accounting, Legal, Equity Administration, and Sales Operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 7+ years of payroll experience, including 3+ years in a payroll lead or management role.
• Hands-on experience managing multi-country payroll, with direct responsibility for at least two of the following: United States, Canada, and United Kingdom.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. federal and multi-state payroll tax requirements, wage and hour regulations, and applicable payroll compliance obligations.
• Experience processing equity compensation through payroll, including stock options, RSUs, and ESPP transactions.
• Proficiency with a major payroll or HRIS platform, such as ADP Workforce Now or Rippling.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage confidential employee and financial information with discretion.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across HR, Finance, Legal, and Sales Operations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accurate payroll operations during periods of rapid growth.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
• Experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or life sciences, particularly during a transition from pre-commercial development to commercialization.
• Experience in manufacturing, multi-site operations, or other complex operating environments.
• Experience building or supporting incentive compensation payroll processes for a field-based or pharmaceutical sales team.
• Experience supporting SOX compliance, internal controls, and audit readiness.
• Familiarity with pharmaceutical commercial compliance considerations, including coordination with Finance and Compliance on Sunshine Act reporting and alignment with expense policies.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: $130,000–$145,000 USD annually (anticipated range).
• Eligibility for an annual target bonus and equity compensation, as determined by the compensation committee.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k)
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan participation
  • Company-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
  • Paid time off and paid company holidays

Location & Travel

• Remote position; candidates may reside anywhere in the continental United States.
• Travel may be required up to 10% for conferences and company meetings.

Equal Employment Opportunity

An equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.