Payroll Manager

Kodiak•Mountain View, CA

17d•$110,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

Kodiak AI is seeking a Payroll Manager to own and oversee payroll operations. The role ensures accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for salaried and hourly employees while maintaining strong internal controls and supporting the financial reporting requirements of a publicly traded company. The Payroll Manager will use Paylocity and work closely with Accounting, Finance, People Operations, and Stock Administration to support payroll accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency. Responsibilities include managing end-to-end payroll across multiple states; handling regular and off-cycle payroll, including restricted stock unit (RSU) releases and nonqualified stock option (NQSO) exercises; overseeing Paylocity processing and administration; ensuring regulatory compliance; and managing payroll month-end close activities. The role also supports equity payroll reconciliation and tax withholding, SOX controls and audits, payroll tax filings, year-end reporting, W-2 preparation, financial reporting, and process improvements. The position is based at Kodiak’s Mountain View, California office. The listed California base salary range is $110,000–$140,000. Total compensation includes base pay, equity, bonus, and benefits. Kodiak describes its work environment as safe and collaborative and states its commitment to equal opportunity employment. Certain sensitive roles may require additional verification of residence, U.S. person status, or citizenship status; visa sponsorship may be available for eligible candidates. Kodiak uses a third-party AI tool to assist with initial application screening, while final hiring decisions are made by its human recruitment team.

Requirements

At least 8 years of progressive payroll experience, including hands-on ownership of end-to-end payroll processing.
Direct experience using Paylocity for payroll processing and administration.
Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including California wage-and-hour laws and multi-state payroll compliance.
Experience processing payroll for salaried and hourly employees, including timekeeping and overtime requirements.
Experience processing equity-related payroll transactions, including RSU releases and NQSO exercises, and associated tax withholding and reporting.
Strong understanding of payroll accounting and month-end close processes, including journal entries, accruals, and general ledger reconciliations.
Experience with public-company internal controls, SOX compliance, and audit requirements.
Advanced Excel skills, strong analytical abilities, and exceptional attention to detail.
Strong communication and organizational skills, with a proactive, hands-on approach to problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration.

Nice To Haves

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
Prior experience managing payroll at a publicly traded company.
Experience supporting payroll operations in a high-growth technology environment.

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end payroll operations and ensure accurate, timely processing for salaried and hourly employees across multiple states.
Manage regular and off-cycle payroll runs, including payroll associated with RSU releases and NQSO exercises.
Oversee payroll processing and administration in Paylocity, ensuring accuracy, data integrity, and timely issue resolution.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including wage-and-hour laws, payroll tax requirements, and reporting obligations.
Own payroll-related month-end close activities, including journal entries, accruals, general ledger reconciliations, and variance analysis.
Partner with Stock Administration on processing, reconciliation, and tax withholding for equity-related payroll transactions.
Maintain and strengthen payroll internal controls, policies, and procedures to support SOX compliance and public-company audit requirements.
Oversee payroll tax filings, year-end reporting, and W-2 preparation, and support internal and external audits.
Collaborate with Accounting, Finance, and People Operations to resolve payroll issues, support accurate financial reporting, and improve processes.
Identify opportunities to streamline payroll operations, improve efficiency, and strengthen accuracy and controls.

Benefits

Competitive compensation package including equity and annual bonuses.
Medical, dental, and vision plans through Kaiser Permanente, Cigna, and MetLife, including a medical plan with infertility benefits.
MetLife Legal Services, Identity & Fraud Protection, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness Insurance.
Flexible PTO, 10 paid holidays, and generous parental leave policies.
Dog-friendly office, free catered lunch, a fully stocked kitchen, and free EV charging.
Long-term disability, short-term disability, and life insurance.
Wellbeing benefits, including Headspace through Cigna, Calm through Kaiser, One Medical, Gympass, Spring Health through Cigna, and Rula mental health navigation.
Fidelity 401(k).
Commuter benefits, FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and HSA.
Incentive programs, including referral bonuses and patent bonuses.