Payroll Manager

Job Title: Payroll Manager
Industry: Financial Technology (FinTech)
Location: Hybrid, onsite 3 days/week (Mon, Tue, & Thu) – San Jose, CA (100% remote after approximately 2 months in September)
Duration: 8 months – W2 Contract (Extension possible; conversion unlikely)
Schedule: 40 hours/week (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM with 1-hour lunch)

Position Overview

Client is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead end-to-end payroll operations across our domestic and Australian workforce of over 1,500 employees. In this role, you will own the accuracy and compliance of our payroll function—including equity transactions, SOX controls, and multi-state tax obligations—while driving automation initiatives and serving as the company''s subject matter expert on payroll accounting, tax, and regulatory requirements. You will work closely with Finance, HR, Legal, and third-party agencies to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll delivery at scale.

Recruiter Insights

Must Haves:

• Hands-on expertise with Workday Payroll
• Targeting 5 to 8 years of Workday Payroll exp
• Payroll accounting
• Australia & USA payroll exp
• Customer service-oriented skill set (internal & external)

Nice to Haves:

• Advanced excel skills (pivots/formulas/etc.)
• Managed a team that operates within workday payroll
• Job title is Payroll Manager
• Only thing being managed is the payroll process
• Will not be managing individuals BUT that exp is nice to have
• Experience with AI tools

Required Qualifications

You have:

• In Office 3 days per week (Mon, Tues, Thurs); Remote 2 days per week (Wed, Fri) through September (set date TBD). Will then be transitioning full remote
• 8+ years of experience processing end-to-end payroll and equity transactions in Workday Payroll
• Hands-on expertise with Workday Payroll is absolutely mandatory to be considered. ADP experience is welcome; however, it will not be considered if solely experienced in ADP
• Strong knowledge of payroll accounting principles, SOX controls, and general ledger reconciliation
• In-depth understanding of federal and multi-state payroll tax compliance and wage and hour laws
• Proven year-end close experience, including W-2 and W-2c processing in Workday and ADP SmartCompliance
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and G-Suite (Excel, Google Sheets)
• Ability to work independently with general supervision, prioritize effectively, and meet tight deadlines
• Strong attention to detail, self-motivation, and ability to manage confidential material with discretion
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with commitment to customer service and ownership