Payroll Manager

Overview

A growing organization serving global manufacturers is seeking a Payroll Manager to join their finance team. This role reports to the Director of Accounting and is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of both domestic and international payroll. The Payroll Manager will act as a subject matter expert on payroll operations, tax compliance, and system administration, primarily using Rippling. This position requires close collaboration with HR, Finance, and Legal teams to ensure regulatory compliance and operational excellence.

This is a remote position based in the United States.

Responsibilities

US Payroll Processing

• Manage end-to-end semi-monthly, bi-weekly, and off-cycle payroll runs in Rippling for all employee types, including full-time, part-time, and contractors
• Review and validate payroll inputs such as new hires, terminations, salary changes, bonuses, commissions, and deductions prior to processing
• Ensure proper configuration of Rippling payroll settings including pay groups, earnings codes, deduction types, and benefits integrations
• Partner with HR and Finance to reconcile payroll data and resolve discrepancies promptly
• Administer garnishments, wage assignments, and other court-ordered deductions in compliance with applicable laws

International Payroll Processing

• Oversee payroll processing for international employees across multiple countries, coordinating with in-country payroll providers and Rippling's EOR/global payroll infrastructure
• Coordinate payroll calendars, funding schedules, and approval workflows to meet international payroll deadlines
• Maintain awareness of country-specific payroll regulations, mandatory contributions, and statutory deductions (e.g., social insurance, pension, income tax withholding)
• Serve as the primary liaison with third-party international payroll vendors to ensure data accuracy, timeliness, and compliance

Payroll Tax Compliance & Filings

• Review federal, state, and local employment tax returns including Form 941, FUTA (940), state unemployment insurance (SUI), and local withholding filings
• Manage registration, maintenance, and closure of employer tax accounts across all required US jurisdictions
• Ensure accurate and timely year-end processing including W-2, W-2c, and 1099 filings and coordinate distribution to employees
• Monitor and respond to notices from tax agencies; research and resolve tax discrepancies, penalties, and interest assessments
• Stay current on legislative and regulatory changes affecting payroll tax obligations and update internal processes accordingly
• Support international payroll tax compliance by coordinating with local advisors on statutory filings, annual employer returns, and employee tax certificates (e.g., P60, T4, BAS)

Systems, Reporting & Process Improvement

• Serve as a Rippling power user and internal resource for payroll configuration, troubleshooting, and new feature adoption
• Build and maintain payroll reports and dashboards to support Finance, HR, and executive leadership
• Maintain payroll controls documentation, standard operating procedures, and audit-ready records
• Lead or participate in payroll-related audits, both internal and external (e.g., workers' compensation, SOX)
• Identify and drive process improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of payroll operations

401(k) Audit Coordination & Support

• Act as the primary payroll contact for the annual 401(k) plan audit, coordinating with plan administrators, TPAs, and external auditors
• Prepare and deliver audit-ready payroll data including eligible compensation, contribution schedules, deferral elections, true-up calculations, and census data
• Reconcile 401(k) contribution remittances against payroll records and plan statements to ensure accuracy and timeliness
• Identify, research, and support correction of contribution errors or late deposits, including preparation of VFCP filings or self-correction documentation
• Maintain organized audit support files for rapid retrieval during audits
• Partner with HR Benefits and People Operations to ensure plan eligibility, auto-enrollment, catch-up contributions, and loan repayments are accurately reflected in payroll
• Support Form 5500 preparation by providing payroll-sourced data and responding to auditor inquiries

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of end-to-end payroll processing experience, including multi-state US payroll
• Demonstrated experience with Rippling payroll administration
• Hands-on experience with employment tax filings across federal, state, and local jurisdictions
• Strong understanding of US payroll regulations including FLSA, IRS withholding requirements, FICA, FUTA, and SUI
• Experience managing relationships with third-party payroll or EOR vendors for international employees
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets for data analysis and reconciliation
• High degree of accuracy, confidentiality, and attention to detail

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) designation
• Experience processing payroll in Canada, UK, Mexico, or other key international markets
• Familiarity with NetSuite or similar ERP/HRIS platforms and payroll data integrations
• Experience supporting payroll in a high-growth, scaling environment

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive compensation package including stock options
• Flexible work schedule
• Comprehensive benefits including retirement plan match
• Unlimited paid time off
• Opportunity to work with a dynamic and growing team

Location

• Remote position based in the United States
• Distributed team with collaboration required within core working hours
• Team members also located in Ontario, Canada