Director, Payroll Operations

FIGMA • San Francisco, CA

44d • Remote

About The Position

We're looking for a Director, Payroll Operations to lead and scale Figma's payroll function worldwide. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for driving the vision, strategy, and execution of payroll operations across all regions where Figma operates. You'll oversee end-to-end payroll processing, compliance, and automation while partnering closely with Finance, People, Accounting, and Legal to ensure excellence in every transaction and every country. As Figma continues to grow as a public company, this leader will be instrumental in building scalable, automated systems, ensuring regulatory compliance, and providing an exceptional employee experience globally. This role reports to the Senior Director, Assistant Controller. This is a full time role that can be held from one of our US hubs or remotely in the United States.

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience leading global payroll operations in a public company environment
• Deep understanding of U.S. and international payroll laws, taxation, and compliance requirements
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and maintain SOX-compliant controls and documentation
• Strong leadership skills, with experience managing distributed teams and fostering growth through change
• Ability to work cross-functionally and influence decision-making at all levels of the organization

Nice To Haves

• Experience in high-growth technology or SaaS environments
• Expertise in international vendor consolidation and payroll vendor management
• Experience with stock-related payroll transactions, including stock options, RSUs, and ESPPs, with strong knowledge of tax reporting and withholding
• Certification as a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or through the Global Payroll Management Institute (GPMI)

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all aspects of global payroll operations, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely processing across multiple countries and employment arrangements
• Develop and execute a global payroll strategy aligned with Figma's growth, public company controls, and expansion goals
• Manage, mentor, and grow a global payroll team of 5+ professionals and contractors, fostering development, stability, and accountability
• Drive process automation, vendor consolidation, and system optimization to create efficiency, reduce manual work, and scale for growth
• Partner cross-functionally with People Operations, HRIS, Benefits, Accounting, Equity, and Tax on payroll-related initiatives, including system integrations, entity setup, and compliance enhancements
• Ensure SOX compliance, internal controls, and audit readiness for payroll-related processes
• Create and maintain policies, documentation, and governance frameworks to ensure consistency and adherence to global labor, tax, and data protection requirements
• Serve as a strategic partner in global expansion efforts, advising on payroll design, vendor models, and compliance strategy

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees