Payroll Specialist - US/Canada

Sardine

1d•$80,000 - $100,000•Remote

About The Position

Sardine is seeking a Payroll Specialist to manage payroll across its global workforce. The role handles payroll for employees in the United States, Canada, and Lithuania, as well as contractor and employer-of-record payroll through Rippling and Deel. The specialist manages payroll taxes and state registrations, retirement plan funding, workers’ compensation coverage, and payroll corrections, working closely with People Operations, Finance, and vendors to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time. The position also supports payroll accounting operations, including employee stipends and reimbursements, accruals, payroll-related balance sheet accounts, and monthly and year-end reconciliations. Sardine is a remote-first company; this role is remote in the US or Canada, with employees expected to maintain a home base in the country where they are hired.

Requirements

At least 5 years of payroll experience, including independently processing multi-state US payroll.
Canadian payroll experience.
Experience with payroll tax compliance and working with state agencies.
Experience with correction runs, retroactive payments, tax notices, and year-end reporting.
Experience with payroll platforms such as Rippling and Deel, and retirement plan vendors such as Fidelity or Wealthsimple.
Strong knowledge of US federal, state, and local payroll regulations and tax requirements.
Strong understanding of payroll accounting, including accruals, liabilities, reconciliations, and year-end reporting.
Ability to analyze payroll data, identify discrepancies, and resolve complex issues.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Ability to manage deadlines in a high-compliance, deadline-driven environment.
High integrity, discretion, and professionalism when handling confidential information.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work cross-functionally with People, Finance, IT, and international teams.

Nice To Haves

Additional international payroll experience.

Responsibilities

Oversee and execute end-to-end global payroll for US and other global entities, including employer-of-record and contractor arrangements worldwide.
Process off-cycle and correction payroll runs, including retroactive pay, sign-on bonuses, commissions, garnishments, and short-term, long-term, and state disability payments.
Manage relationships and service-level performance with global payroll, EOR, and benefits platforms, including Rippling, Deel, Fidelity, and Wealthsimple.
Establish standard operating procedures, internal controls, and variance reporting standards for payroll, off-cycle adjustments, and foreign-exchange reconciliations.
Support annual US payroll compliance reporting, including preparation, review, and audit of W-2s.
Manage payroll tax registrations, agency notices, quarterly amendments, unemployment claims, and year-end corrections.
Oversee governance, funding, and reconciliation for domestic and international retirement programs, including US 401(k) and Canadian RRSP plans.
Partner with People Operations to support tax compliance for global equity awards, Carta transactions, sign-on bonuses, garnishments, and disability disbursements.
Manage employee stipends and expense reimbursements.
Support accruals for commissions, bonuses, payroll taxes, and benefits.
Ensure payroll-related balance sheet accounts are accurate and support monthly and year-end reconciliations.
Support year-end financial statement audits and prepare payroll audit schedules.

Benefits

Generous compensation in cash and equity.
Early exercise for all options, including pre-vested options.
Remote-first culture and work-from-anywhere flexibility within the country of hire.
Flexible paid time off and year-end break.
Health insurance, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents in the US and Canada.
4% matching in 401(k) or RRSP plans for US and Canada employees.
MacBook Pro delivered to your door.
One-time home-office setup stipend.
Monthly meal stipend.
Monthly social meet-up stipend.
Annual health and wellness stipend.
Annual learning stipend.