Associate Director, Global Payroll and Compensation Accounting

Trilliad

7d•$105,000 - $130,000

About The Position

The Associate Director, Global Payroll and Compensation Accounting, is accountable for accurate accounting, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance for all employee compensation globally — including payroll, bonuses, equity, commissions, benefits, and related liabilities — across multiple countries and acquired businesses. You own the payroll accounting close process, ensure compensation-related balance sheet accounts are reconciled and audit-ready, and lead the standardization of payroll accounting practices as Trilliad scales internationally. You manage the team responsible for payroll accounting inputs and outputs, coordinate with the Talent Team to ensure payroll delivery meets both operational and financial reporting requirements, and serve as the primary finance interface for payroll tax registrations and regulatory communications. Which means that on a day-to-day basis, you will: Global Payroll Accounting and Financial Reporting Oversee the monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting close process for all compensation-related accounts globally — ensuring accurate accrual, recognition, and reporting of payroll, bonuses, commissions, equity, and benefits in compliance with US GAAP and local statutory requirements Manage the reconciliation and substantiation of compensation-related balance sheet accounts across all entities — ensuring audit readiness and resolving discrepancies between payroll systems, general ledger, and statutory filings Direct the accounting treatment of complex compensation structures including sales commissions, performance bonuses, equity-based compensation, and multi-country benefit programs — translating operational complexity into compliant financial reporting Payroll Process Ownership and Cross-Functional Coordination Manage the finance components of the global payroll process — coordinating with the Talent Team and external payroll providers to ensure payroll is delivered on time, accurately, and with complete accounting inputs across all jurisdictions Oversee the collection, validation, and accounting treatment of payroll inputs including commissions from internal and external sources, bonuses, equity vesting, and benefit deductions — ensuring data integrity and timely processing Ensure payroll tax registrations, filings, and regulatory communications are accurate and compliant — serving as the primary finance point of contact for payroll tax authorities and external advisors Standardization and Process Improvement Standardize payroll accounting processes — harmonizing practices across acquired businesses and new country operations to ensure consistency, scalability, and control effectiveness Evaluate and strengthen internal controls over payroll accounting and reporting — identifying risks, implementing mitigating controls, and ensuring SOX compliance where applicable Drive process improvements and automation in payroll accounting workflows — reducing manual effort, improving data accuracy, and enabling faster close cycles as the organization scales Team Leadership and Development Manage the payroll accounting team — setting priorities, allocating work, coaching team members, and conducting performance reviews to build capability and ensure delivery against close timelines and audit requirements Develop team expertise in multi-country payroll accounting, compensation structures, and regulatory compliance — ensuring the team can operate with increasing independence as Trilliad expands geographically Audit and Compliance Support Partner with external auditors during quarterly reviews and year-end audits — providing documentation, reconciliations, and explanations for all compensation-related accounts and ensuring timely resolution of audit inquiries Monitor changes in payroll tax regulations, accounting standards, and statutory reporting requirements across all jurisdictions — assessing impact and implementing necessary changes to accounting policies and processes

Requirements

Multi-country payroll accounting and reconciliation — You manage the accounting treatment of payroll across multiple jurisdictions with different statutory requirements, tax regimes, and reporting standards, ensuring accurate consolidation and compliance in each location
Complex compensation accounting — You translate operationally complex compensation structures including tiered sales commissions, performance bonuses, equity-based compensation, and multi-currency benefit programs into accurate accruals, journal entries, and financial statement disclosures
Balance sheet reconciliation and substantiation — You prepare and review detailed reconciliations of compensation-related balance sheet accounts, identify and resolve discrepancies between source systems and the general ledger, and ensure accounts are audit-ready at all times
Internal controls design and assessment — You identify control gaps in payroll accounting processes, design and implement mitigating controls, and ensure compliance with SOX requirements and internal control frameworks
Cross-functional coordination with non-finance stakeholders — You work effectively with Talent Operations, payroll providers, and external tax advisors to ensure payroll processes meet both operational delivery requirements and financial reporting standards
US GAAP accounting for compensation and benefits — You must understand the recognition, measurement, and disclosure requirements for payroll, bonuses, commissions, equity-based compensation, and employee benefits to ensure financial statements are compliant and audit-ready
Multi-country payroll tax and statutory reporting requirements — You need working knowledge of payroll tax obligations, withholding requirements, and statutory reporting across the jurisdictions where Trilliad operates so that accounting entries reflect actual liabilities and compliance obligations
Payroll systems and data flows — You must understand how payroll data moves from source systems through processing platforms to the general ledger so that you can identify data integrity issues, design effective controls, and troubleshoot discrepancies
Equity compensation accounting and administration — You need to understand how equity grants, vesting schedules, and exercise activity translate into accounting entries and tax obligations so that equity-based compensation is accurately reflected in financial statements
7+ years in accounting roles with at least 3 years focused on payroll accounting, compensation accounting, or employee-related financial reporting in a multi-entity or multi-country environment
3+ years managing or leading a team responsible for payroll accounting, close processes, or balance sheet reconciliations — with direct accountability for team performance, development, and delivery against deadlines
Experience managing payroll accounting for a company operating in at least 5 countries, including coordination with external payroll providers and navigation of differing statutory and tax requirements
Demonstrated experience accounting for complex compensation structures including sales commissions with multiple tiers or accelerators, performance-based bonuses, and equity-based compensation programs
Experience supporting external audits of compensation-related accounts — including preparation of audit documentation, reconciliations, and resolution of auditor inquiries
Experience implementing or improving payroll accounting processes during periods of organizational growth, acquisition integration, or geographic expansion

Nice To Haves

Contextual Awareness
Critical Reasoning and Thinking
Data/Analytic Acumen
Empathy
Judgment and Discernment
Moral Courage
Pattern Recognition and Systems Thinking
AI Literacy
Responsible and Effective AI Use
Trilliad’s Business and Commercial Context

Responsibilities

Oversee the monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting close process for all compensation-related accounts globally — ensuring accurate accrual, recognition, and reporting of payroll, bonuses, commissions, equity, and benefits in compliance with US GAAP and local statutory requirements
Manage the reconciliation and substantiation of compensation-related balance sheet accounts across all entities — ensuring audit readiness and resolving discrepancies between payroll systems, general ledger, and statutory filings
Direct the accounting treatment of complex compensation structures including sales commissions, performance bonuses, equity-based compensation, and multi-country benefit programs — translating operational complexity into compliant financial reporting
Manage the finance components of the global payroll process — coordinating with the Talent Team and external payroll providers to ensure payroll is delivered on time, accurately, and with complete accounting inputs across all jurisdictions
Oversee the collection, validation, and accounting treatment of payroll inputs including commissions from internal and external sources, bonuses, equity vesting, and benefit deductions — ensuring data integrity and timely processing
Ensure payroll tax registrations, filings, and regulatory communications are accurate and compliant — serving as the primary finance point of contact for payroll tax authorities and external advisors
Standardize payroll accounting processes — harmonizing practices across acquired businesses and new country operations to ensure consistency, scalability, and control effectiveness
Evaluate and strengthen internal controls over payroll accounting and reporting — identifying risks, implementing mitigating controls, and ensuring SOX compliance where applicable
Drive process improvements and automation in payroll accounting workflows — reducing manual effort, improving data accuracy, and enabling faster close cycles as the organization scales
Manage the payroll accounting team — setting priorities, allocating work, coaching team members, and conducting performance reviews to build capability and ensure delivery against close timelines and audit requirements
Develop team expertise in multi-country payroll accounting, compensation structures, and regulatory compliance — ensuring the team can operate with increasing independence as Trilliad expands geographically
Partner with external auditors during quarterly reviews and year-end audits — providing documentation, reconciliations, and explanations for all compensation-related accounts and ensuring timely resolution of audit inquiries
Monitor changes in payroll tax regulations, accounting standards, and statutory reporting requirements across all jurisdictions — assessing impact and implementing necessary changes to accounting policies and processes