Payroll Lead

Credo•San Jose, CA

6d•$95,000 - $140,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re looking for a Payroll Lead who will own day-to-day payroll operations for the AMER region (US and Canada) and our Employer of Record (EOR) workforce. This role reports to the Sr. Manager, Global Payroll. In addition to reviewing North America payroll, the Payroll Lead is a key contributor to global payroll operations and advancement projects including system implementations, process improvements, and the initiatives that support our growing organizational footprint. This role is for the self-proclaimed payroll nerd - a highly cross-functional, detail-driven person comfortable owning review and sign-off responsibilities, working confidently in Excel, introducing AI into payroll practices, and communicating clearly with our customers: employees, Finance, and global stakeholders.

Requirements

Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables and VLOOKUP (or XLOOKUP), used routinely for payroll reconciliation, audit, and reporting.
Strong, current knowledge of US payroll processing, including federal, state, and local tax withholding requirements.
Deep understanding of both US and Canada payroll requirements, including statutory filings, deductions, and processing cycles.
Demonstrated ability to act as an initial/first-line reviewer, catching errors and compliance issues before payroll is finalized.
Ability to support Employer of Record (EOR) payroll processing across the arrangements the N.America team manages.
Experience leading or providing key support on special payroll projects, such as system implementations or process improvements.
Clear, confident written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain payroll matters to employees and partners across Finance, HR, and People teams.
4+ years of progressive payroll experience, ideally spanning both US and Canada.

Nice To Haves

Experience with equity/stock transaction processing and related payroll tax treatment (RSUs, ESPP, options).
Experience in broader global payroll operations beyond North America.
Working knowledge of Canada and/or Singapore payroll requirements.
Familiarity with AI-enabled payroll, reconciliation, or workflow automation tools.

Responsibilities

Serve as the initial reviewer for US and Canada payroll cycles, validating data for accuracy and compliance prior to final sign-off.
Maintain deep, current knowledge of US and Canada payroll regulations, tax withholding rules, and statutory requirements.
Support Employer of Record (EOR) payroll processing, ensuring accurate handling of EOR-managed employees.
Lead and/or provide key support on special payroll projects, including system implementations, process redesign, and M&A payroll integration.
Build and maintain Excel-based reconciliations, audits, and reporting using pivot tables and VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP.
Partner closely with the Sr. Manager, Global Payroll, and cross-functional Finance, and People teams on payroll accuracy, compliance, and process alignment.
Respond to employee payroll inquiries with clear, timely communication.
Document payroll procedures and controls to support consistency as we continue to expand operations to new countries/jurisdictions.
Identify and recommend process improvements, including opportunities to apply AI-enabled tools where relevant.