US Payroll and Tax Lead

Overview

This is the organization’s first dedicated US payroll hire. The role owns the full US payroll and tax function end-to-end, including processing, filings, remittances, agency registrations, and year-end reporting for both internal employees and client employers served through the organization’s payroll platform.

Responsibilities

Payroll processing

• Run end-to-end payroll cycles for US employee populations and client employers, covering wages, deductions, benefits, and garnishments
• Own the payroll calendar and keep delivery accurate and on time across all pay schedules
• Handle off-cycle runs and corrections as they arise

Tax filings and compliance

• Prepare and submit all federal, state, and local payroll tax filings and remittances across all 50 states and DC
• File all quarterly and annual returns, including W-2s and 1099s, accurately and on time
• Complete employer registrations and tax account setup in new states and localities as the organization grows
• Own the compliance tracker and filing calendar to ensure nothing is missed
• Manage agency notices and resolve tax discrepancies and audit requests across all active jurisdictions

Client support

• Serve as the primary internal contact for direct payroll customers when they face complex compliance questions, tax notices, or issues they cannot resolve independently
• Help customers reach correct answers quickly

Process and documentation

• Write SOPs for payroll processing, filings, reconciliations, and year-end work
• Build audit-ready records and practical controls into day-to-day operations

Product collaboration

• Use the payroll platform to perform the work and identify where it falls short
• Partner with product and engineering to turn compliance requirements into features that work reliably

Requirements

Essential

• 6+ years of US payroll experience, with direct ownership of multi-state processing and employment tax compliance
• Proven, hands-on experience preparing and submitting payroll tax filings and remittances across a wide range of federal, state, and local jurisdictions
• Experience completing state and local agency registrations
• Solid working knowledge of multi-state withholding, unemployment tax, W-2 and 1099 requirements, and quarterly and annual return obligations
• Track record of building processes and controls in environments that were not fully established
• Strong attention to detail and reconciliation habits

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in a payroll services, EOR, or PEO environment, where responsibility included payroll and tax on behalf of client employers (not only internal employees)
• Familiarity with payroll tax engines such as MasterTax or Symmetry
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation
• Experience handling tax notices and agency inquiries across multiple jurisdictions

Location

United States