Project Manager, Payroll & Stock

Circle is a financial technology company at the epicenter of the emerging internet of money, where value can finally travel like other digital data - globally, nearly instantly and less expensively than legacy settlement systems. This ground-breaking new internet layer opens up previously unimaginable possibilities for payments, commerce and markets that can help raise global economic prosperity and enhance inclusion. Our infrastructure - including USDC, a blockchain-based dollar - helps businesses, institutions and developers harness these breakthroughs and capitalize on this major turning point in the evolution of money and technology.
What you'll be part of:
Circle is committed to visibility and stability in everything we do. As we grow as an organization, we're expanding into some of the world's strongest jurisdictions. Speed and efficiency are motivators for our success and our employees live by our company values : High Integrity, Future Forward, Multistakeholder, Mindful, and Driven by Excellence. We have built a flexible and diverse work environment where new ideas are encouraged and everyone is a stakeholder.
What you'll be responsible for:
As the Project Manager, Payroll & Stock, you will operate at the center of critical cross-functional projects designed to enable Circle's growth and operational efficiencies. You will coordinate across People, Finance, Legal, and external teams to ensure Circle's payroll and stock operations are best in class, accurate, compliant, and audit-ready. This role requires an extreme level of attention to detail, collaboration, innovation, and creativity.
What you'll work on:

• Lead global expansion for the payroll and stock teams including new entity launches, EOR expansion, and current country expansion
• Lead vendor relationships with current payroll vendors with the bias towards expecting best in class service and ensuring global compliance and automation
• Support vendor selection and lead system implementations
• Manage system integrations between payroll platforms (e.g., Workday, UKG, Deel, Fidelity)
• Oversee quarterly and year-end reconciliations for U.S. and non-U.S. payroll, including equity and tax reporting
• Support payroll-related stock tasks, including vesting, grant acceptance, and reporting
• Lead responses to internal audit, external audit, and government requests, including pulling required samples
• Own process documentation and improvements across payroll and equity operations
• Drive communication and collaboration with cross-functional partners on payroll and mobility topics
• Act as backup for regular payroll and stock transactions including but not limited to payroll processing, stock vesting, stock granting, reporting, and auditing

What you'll bring to Circle:
Core Requirements:

• 7+ years of experience, including global payroll as a core focus, with additional experience in stock administration or finance operations preferred
• Understanding of payroll processes, compliance, and tax regulations across U.S. and international markets
• Experience working with global equity compensation operations, including system integration, reporting, and employee stock purchase plans
• Familiarity with tools like Workday, UKG, Fidelity, and Deel
• Experience at a public company with SOX compliance requirements
• Familiarity with international mobility, immigration, or EOR structures
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, with attention to detail

Circle is on a mission to create an inclusive financial future, with transparency at our core. We consider a wide variety of elements when crafting our compensation ranges and total compensation packages.
Starting pay is determined by various factors, including but not limited to: relevant experience, skill set, qualifications, and other business and organizational needs. Please note that compensation ranges may differ for candidates in other locations.
Base Pay Range: $130,000 - $170,000
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, or any other protected status required by the laws in the locations where we hire. Additionally, Circle participates in the E-Verify Program in certain locations, as required by law.
Should you require accommodations or assistance in our interview process because of a disability, please reach out to [email protected] for support. We respect your privacy and will connect with you separately from our interview process to accommodate your needs.
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