Payroll Manager

Overview

• Full-time, remote position
• Salary, exempt
• Includes benefits, paid time off, flexible schedule, and equity

This role owns end-to-end payroll operations for a 500+ person, multi-state workforce and serves as a liaison between Finance and the People team. Responsibilities include full-cycle payroll processing, multi-state compliance, vendor management, month-end reporting, and headcount planning support.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute the full payroll cycle for all US and international employees and contractors, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
• Administer and maintain payroll operations within Rippling HCM, including pay runs, tax setup, deductions, and employee data integrity.
• Review timecards for 300+ hourly employees each pay cycle to identify meal and rest break violations, split shift triggers, and reporting time obligations.
• Calculate and enter owed penalties, premiums, and top-ups, and audit system-calculated overtime, including California daily, weekly, and seventh-day rules and other state variations, before payroll closes.
• Act as the primary liaison between the People and Finance teams, ensuring accurate and timely transfer of information regarding new hires, terminations, pay changes, leaves, commission and bonus data, wage garnishments, and court-mandated deductions.
• Partner with department and business unit leaders to process commission and bonus payouts in accordance with plan documents and policy.
• Lead payroll compliance across all US states and applicable federal requirements, including wage and hour law, tax and unemployment insurance obligations, unclaimed property, and benefits-related payroll reporting.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on multi-state payroll compliance, with particular depth in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, New York, Nevada, and Minnesota.
• Monitor payroll tax deposits and filings across all jurisdictions.
• Triage and resolve tax notices with the payroll platform and relevant agencies.
• Maintain payroll records according to federal and state retention requirements.
• Investigate and resolve pay discrepancies and employee payroll inquiries accurately and promptly.
• Maintain and improve payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls, identifying opportunities to automate or streamline processes.
• Partner with Finance during month-end close to explain and reconcile payroll expense changes, provide variance context, and supply supporting documentation.
• Support Strategic Finance with headcount planning using payroll cost data, forecasts, and scenario modeling as needed.
• Support internal and external audits related to payroll, tax, and compliance, as well as other payroll projects.

Requirements

• 5+ years of multi-state payroll experience, ideally supporting a remote workforce of 600+ employees, including non-exempt and exempt employees and commission, bonus, and incentive compensation structures.
• Deep expertise in wage and hour compliance, including meal and rest breaks, split shift, reporting time, and state-specific overtime regulations.
• Hands-on experience with Rippling Payroll and Rippling Time & Attendance.
• Strong knowledge of payroll compliance in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, New York, Nevada, and Minnesota.
• Experience processing all pay types, regular and off-cycle runs, bonuses, commissions, leave top-ups, and termination pay.
• Familiarity with state and local payroll tax registration across jurisdictions.
• Experience working cross-functionally between People/HR and Finance teams.
• Excellent stakeholder communication skills and a solid understanding of how payroll expenses flow into month-end close.
• Strong Excel and/or Google Sheets skills, including experience building and maintaining reconciliation and payroll data reports.
• Highly detail-oriented and organized, with a record of accurate, on-time delivery.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced, high-growth, remote-first environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting headcount planning or workforce cost forecasting with a Strategic Finance/FP&A team.
• CPP certification.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $85,000 - $100,000
• Premium medical, dental, and vision coverage, with options for employees and their families; some plans cover 100% of premiums.
• Wellness and mental health benefits that can be shared among employees and families.
• Flexible paid time off.
• Equity options.
• Access to a 401k through Guideline.
• Home office setup and a monthly stipend to offset internet and phone costs.

Equal Opportunity and Application Information

• The employer is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of characteristics protected by law. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
• Applicants needing special assistance or accommodations for interviews or website access may request support.
• Professional credentials and skills, educational and work history, technical skills assessment or working exercise results, and other application information may be collected, analyzed, and stored in the employer’s system.
• Background checks are conducted only after an offer is extended.
• AI-assisted tools are used for this role to identify and prioritize candidates whose experience aligns with the position. All hiring decisions are made by the People team.