Senior Payroll Analyst

Airspace

5d•$75,000 - $85,000•Remote

About The Position

Airspace is seeking a Senior Payroll Analyst to administer payroll across its global entities and Employer of Record partnerships. The role is responsible for accurate, timely payroll and compliance with the tax, social security, and retirement requirements of the territories where Airspace operates. It partners with HR, Finance, Legal, local payroll providers, and other teams to improve payroll operations as the company grows. The position is a remote U.S. role, with Carlsbad, California preferred but not required; Pacific time zone hours are preferred. It is an individual-contributor role on the People Team and reports to the Manager, Payroll & Human Resources. The analyst owns employee payroll support, manages concurrent payroll cycles, maintains compensation, benefits, and retirement records, and performs audits. The role also manages payroll controls, vendor relationships, statutory filings and registrations, agency communications, and payroll documentation. It is expected to identify and resolve payroll issues, stay current on regulatory developments, support automation and transformation initiatives, communicate payroll guidance to colleagues and senior leaders, and deliver at least one process improvement or enhancement each quarter. During the first 90 days, the analyst is expected to learn Airspace's systems, vendors, processes, and country-specific requirements; shadow an end-to-end payroll cycle across multiple entities; build relationships with providers and internal partners; and process a first payroll cycle independently with appropriate support. By 180 days, the analyst should independently manage global payroll with accuracy, consistency, accountability, and compliance, while identifying opportunities to strengthen controls and improve efficiency and the employee experience.

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience as a payroll specialist or administrator, including international payroll or payroll across multiple organizations or entities and pay cycles.
Excellent attention to detail and exemplary organizational skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and thoughtfully across teams and time zones.
Technology savvy, with hands-on experience working in HRIS systems.
Independent and resourceful, with sound judgment about what merits escalation and the initiative to communicate it clearly.
Comfort managing multiple competing priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Intellectual curiosity, a drive to improve, and willingness to make and learn from mistakes.
A collaborative, selfless approach to teamwork.
Familiarity with statutory payroll mechanics in several of the following: garnishments; UK PAYE and pension management; Netherlands Zvw contributions; Singapore CPF; Malaysia SOCSO/EPF; general LATAM social security; contractual versus at-will employment; and FLSA classifications.
Experience calculating and processing variable compensation, including bonuses, commissions, incentives, and other supplemental earnings, while ensuring accuracy and compliance with local payroll regulations.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Rippling, MTH Numbers, or Vistra.
Knowledge of GDPR, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and emerging regulatory issues.
Carlsbad, California location is preferred but not required.
Pacific time zone hours are preferred.

Responsibilities

Own the employee payroll experience by responding to inquiries professionally, empathetically, accurately, and promptly.
Own and process global payroll across Airspace entities and Employer of Record platforms, managing concurrent payroll cycles and meeting deadlines accurately.
Maintain compensation, health benefits, and retirement plan administration across jurisdictions, and conduct regular audits and reviews.
Maintain payroll checklists, country-specific standard operating procedures, and documentation; complete monthly retirement and benefits audits.
Monitor international tax, social security, and retirement requirements; flag regulatory changes and take ownership of timely statutory filings and registrations.
Coordinate with in-country service providers to run international payroll accurately and on time.
Manage relationships with payroll vendors and external partners, resolving delays and other issues.
Maintain payroll controls, including approval workflows, segregation of duties, and audit-trail reviews.
Lead efforts to automate and scale payroll operations.
Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, and other teams to establish and refine global payroll practices.
Manage payroll-related notices, garnishments, tax notices, agency audits, statutory workforce reporting, and agency communications, ensuring timely action, documentation, and compliance.
Bring at least one payroll process improvement or enhancement forward each quarter.
Support U.S. and international payroll transformation and automation initiatives as Airspace enters new markets.
Communicate payroll matters clearly to colleagues and senior leadership, translating technical details into relevant guidance.
Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, identify root causes, and implement preventative solutions.
Maintain accurate payroll records and employee data, confidentiality, audit readiness, and compliance with data privacy requirements.
Stay current on payroll legislation, tax changes, and best practices, and apply relevant updates to payroll processes.
Complete onboarding, shadow a full payroll cycle across multiple entities, build working relationships with providers and internal partners, and progress to independent payroll management.