Payroll Lead

Aston Carter•South San Francisco, CA

3d•$65 - $75•Hybrid

About The Position

The Payroll Manager (contract) serves as a payroll subject matter expert and a key member of the Finance team, supporting the needs of a growing organization. This role leads and supports payroll operations, tax and business processes, and vendor and partner management while delivering exceptional customer service to employees and internal stakeholders. In addition to owning critical payroll activities, the Payroll Manager contributes to broader finance and accounting initiatives, working closely with HR and Accounting in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
8+ years of payroll experience.
Strong knowledge of California state tax and wage and hour laws.
Experience with multi-state payroll; exposure to global payroll is a plus.
Working knowledge of Ultimate Software/UKG HRIS and/or other payroll software.
Solid understanding of payroll accounting to ensure accurate general ledger and tax reporting.
Proven experience in payroll processing, including off-cycle and ad hoc payroll inputs.
Experience conducting payroll audits related to taxes, benefits, and employee changes.
Proficiency in leave of absence (LOA) calculations and manual wage adjustments.
Strong reconciliation and analysis skills for payroll and related financial data.
Ability to provide superior customer service and support to employees and internal collaborators.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and adapt in a changing, fast-paced environment.
High attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to meet time-sensitive deadlines.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, security, and integrity of sensitive payroll information.
Comfort with a hands-on, “roll up your sleeves” work style with a strong sense of drive and urgency.

Nice To Haves

Experience with UKG is preferred.
Experience with ADP, Paylocity, or Paycom, particularly with strong audit and reporting capabilities, is highly valued.
Background in biotech, life sciences, or similar environments is a plus but not required.
Experience working in a payroll model where the vendor supports file uploads and the internal team owns full validation, auditing, and reporting.
Ability to serve as a second-level reviewer for payroll audits and approvals.
Strong communication skills to effectively collaborate with Finance, HR, and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Facilitate end-to-end payroll operations, including handling escalations, approvals, issue resolution, and employee communications.
Manage selected payroll vendor activities, including regular payroll processing, month-end, quarter-end, and year-end or annual activities.
Prepare and review payroll data files for each payroll cycle to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Prepare and process leave of absence (LOA) calculations and other wage calculations, including manual adjustments and off-cycle or ad hoc payroll inputs.
Prepare and process month-end and quarter-end payroll journal entries to support accurate financial reporting.
Manage payroll-related tax notices, registrations, wage orders, government correspondence, and audit support activities.
Conduct payroll audits focused on taxes, benefits, and employee changes to ensure compliance and data integrity.
Assist with vendor and stakeholder management, including preparing requested statistical, financial, and payroll reports, data, and estimates.
Provide superior customer service to employees and internal stakeholders regarding payroll systems, functions, issues, and questions.
Troubleshoot payroll system issues and payroll vendor interface files, identifying and resolving discrepancies.
Partner with Accounting, HR, and Finance on payroll policies, projects, and operational support initiatives.
Manage year-end and annual payroll audits, reporting requirements, and ad hoc analyses.
Support additional Finance responsibilities as needed, including data analysis and reporting.
Balance hands-on payroll processing with audit and approval ownership, acting as a second-level reviewer for payroll accuracy.
Maintain strict confidentiality, security, and integrity of payroll data at all times.