Payroll Manager

Forward Financing is a financial technology company based in Boston, Massachusetts with team members throughout the United States, Dominican Republic, and Canada. The company is on a mission to unlock the capital that fuels small businesses across America. Recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In Boston and certified as a Great Place To Work®, Forward is investing in its employees, technology, and customer experience – with long-term success in mind every step of the way.

In this role you will:

Play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of our payroll operations across the United States and Canada. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Corporate Accounting, you will be the primary lead for all payroll-related activities, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. In this role, you will work closely with the People and Finance teams to provide a seamless experience for our employees while maintaining rigorous financial controls.

• Manage and execute end-to-end payroll processing for all employees based in the United States and Canada.

• Maintain documentation for all payroll transactions.

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state/provincial, and local payroll tax regulations and filing requirements.

• Serve as the subject matter expert for payroll systems, troubleshooting issues, maintaining internal controls and implementing process improvements.

• Partner with the People Team to manage benefits deductions, leaves of absence, and new hire onboarding within the payroll system.

• Reconcile payroll data including earnings, taxes, deductions and liabilities and prepare detailed reports for the Finance department and executive leadership.

• Stay current on changes in labor laws and payroll tax updates in both the US and Canada to ensure organizational compliance.

• Audit payroll records periodically to maintain data integrity and respond to internal or external audit requests.

• Address and resolve employee inquiries regarding pay, tax withholdings, and deductions with a high level of customer service.

Why you should apply:

• Mission driven company: Forward is a trusted source of fast, flexible funding for small businesses that have often been underserved by traditional financing options. When you join the team, you will help ensure all small businesses have access to the financial support they need to succeed.

• Flexibility is a top priority: Our employees are empowered to choose where they want to work (whether that’s from home, in the office, or a combination of both) with flexible hours.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.

• 6 + years of experience in a dedicated payroll role.

• Proven experience managing payroll for both United States and Canadian populations.

• Strong knowledge of US and Canadian payroll taxes, labor laws, and year-end reporting (W-2s, T4s, etc.).

• High level of attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining confidentiality.

• Advanced skills with Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, etc.) and experience with modern HRIS/Payroll platforms.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build relationships across all levels of the organization.

Compensation:

Annual Targeted Salary: $110,000-$130,000 USD

Annual Target Bonus: 12%

At Forward Financing, we're committed to fair and transparent compensation. We believe in providing a compensation package that recognizes your skills, experience, and the unique value you bring to our team. We take a market-based approach to pay, regularly reviewing benchmark data to ensure our compensation remains competitive, equitable, and aligned with our performance-driven culture.

Final offers are determined by a variety of factors, including the candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, specific skills, and internal equity. This approach ensures that our compensation is competitive and equitable. Your recruiter will provide specific details on the expected base and variable earnings as it pertains to this specific role.