Payroll Manager

What’s the Opportunity 

We are seeking a Payroll Manager to join our growing finance team, reporting to the Director of Accounting. This individual will be responsible for the accurate and timely processing of domestic and international payroll across the organization. This role serves as a subject matter expert on payroll operations, tax compliance, and system administration—primarily within Rippling—while partnering closely with HR, Finance, and Legal to ensure regulatory compliance and operational excellence. 

This role is located in the United States (remote). 

Key Responsibilities 

US Payroll Processing

• Manage end-to-end semi-monthly, bi-weekly, and off-cycle US payroll runs in Rippling for all employee types, including full-time, part-time, and contractors 
• Review and validate payroll inputs including 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 in a timely manner 
• Administer garnishments, wage assignments, and other court-ordered deductions in accordance with applicable law 

International Payroll Processing 

• Oversee payroll processing for international employees across multiple countries, working 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, ensuring 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 to the applicable jurisdictions 
• Manage registration, maintenance, and closure of employer tax accounts across all required US jurisdictions as the company expands or reduces its footprint 
• 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 needs 
• 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 that increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of payroll operations 

401(k) Audit Coordination & Support 

• Serve as the primary payroll contact for the annual 401(k) plan audit, coordinating with the plan administrator, TPA, and external auditors throughout the engagement 
• Prepare and deliver audit-ready payroll data including eligible compensation, employee and employer 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 of deposits in accordance with DOL guidelines 
• Identify, research, and support correction of contribution errors or late deposits, including preparation of VFCP filings or self-correction documentation as needed 
• Maintain organized audit support files including payroll-to-plan reconciliations and funding confirmations throughout the plan year for rapid retrieval during audit 
• Partner with HR Benefits and PeopleOps 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 related to compensation and contribution testing 

Qualifications 

• 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 

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