Payroll & Equity Manager

Clay Labs•New York, NY

About The Position

Clay is looking for a Payroll & Equity Manager to own and scale our payroll operations and equity administration as we scale operations and grow globally. This role sits at the intersection of Finance, People, and Legal and is critical to ensuring accuracy, compliance, and a world-class employee experience. You’ll be responsible for managing multi-entity payroll, administering equity plans and building the systems and processes that support a fast-growing and distributed workforce. This is a hands-on role with strategic ownership which is ideal for someone who thrives in detail, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in payroll and/or equity administration, ideally in a high-growth startup or tech environment
A successful candidate thrives in a dynamic, high-accountability environment, is able to manage multiple workflows and will partner closely with HR, Finance, Legal, and external auditors and consultants
Deep hands-on experience running payroll and administering equity plans
Strong understanding of U.S. payroll compliance and international payroll experience Experience with equity platforms (Carta, Pulley, Shareworks, etc.) and HRIS platforms (Rippling, ADP, Workday, etc)
Exceptional attention to detail and a strong control mindset
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
Comfortable operating independently in an evolving, fast-paced environment
Clear communicator who can translate complex topics into simple, employee-friendly explanations

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end payroll processing across the U.S. and international entities (employees and contractors). Strong experience with multi-state payroll and tax scenarios.
Ensure timely, accurate payroll runs, tax filings, and statutory compliance across jurisdictions
Own year-end payroll activities, including review of tax forms, W-2, as well as fringe benefit reporting, 401k limits, and ensuring accuracy of state tax rates
Partner with external payroll providers (Rippling) and drive automation
Manage payroll related reconciliations, journal entries, monthly/quarterly close support and audits.
Maintain and improve payroll controls, documentation, and internal processes
Act as the primary point of contact for payroll questions from employees and leadership
Own administration of Clay’s equity plans (ISOs, NSOs, RSUs, etc.)
Process grants, exercises, terminations, and vesting events accurately and on time
Partner with Legal and Finance on equity compliance, board approvals, and cap table integrity
Support equity related reconciliations, journal entries, monthly/quarterly close support and audits.
Support equity-related reporting for audits, valuations (409A), and financial statements
Help educate employees on equity basics and provide clear, thoughtful support
Research and resolve complex equity transactions with the support of management
Partner closely with People Ops, Finance, Legal, and external vendors
Support scaling efforts as Clay grows headcount, geographies, and complexity
Identify opportunities to automate, streamline, and future-proof payroll and equity workflows while supporting new system implementations
Contribute to broader finance and people operations projects as needed