Senior Payroll Specialist

Benchling

5d•Remote

About The Position

Benchling is looking for a Senior Payroll Specialist to own and help scale our global payroll operations. In this role, you will serve as the primary owner of US multi-state payroll processing while supporting non-US payroll in EMEA (and possibly in LATAM, APAC in the future) in partnership with the regional payroll processors. You will work cross-functionally with People, Accounting, and Legal to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely pay for our employees. You will also apply a continuous improvement mindset across day-to-day processing, system builds, and automation initiatives. This role is well-suited for a payroll professional who is equally comfortable in the details of a complex pay run and leading cross-functional process improvement initiatives.

Requirements

5+ years of experience processing multi-state US payroll, with broad familiarity across most states
Proficiency in ADP Workforce Now
Proficiency in Workday HCM
Hands-on experience supporting EMEA payroll, including one or more of the following: Switzerland, UK (including Northern Ireland), Republic of Ireland, France, Germany, Denmark
Experience processing equity compensation, including stock options and RSUs, with a strong understanding of associated tax withholding and compliance requirements
Experience processing taxable/non-taxable fringe benefits, leave of absence, 401(k), overtime pay, and visa holder payroll
Hands-on experience supporting financial statement audits, workers' compensation audits, and 401(k) audits, including preparation of schedules and responding to auditor requests
Experience performing payroll accounting tasks including journal entries and GL reconciliations
Demonstrated ability to identify process improvement opportunities and lead or contribute to cross-functional initiatives
Highly organized with strong attention to detail; ability to prioritize competing deadlines and pivot as business needs shift
Intermediate Excel skills including XLOOKUP, pivot tables, and IF functions
Ability to handle confidential data with discretion and professionalism
Effective written and verbal communication skills across various levels of management and external partners

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with APAC payroll practices, particularly in Korea and/or Japan
Familiarity with LATAM payroll practices, particularly in Mexico and/or Colombia
Experience with an equity management system (e.g., Carta, Equity Edge)
Experience with NetSuite
CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification
Experience with payroll system implementations
Experience using AI and automation tools to build or improve payroll workflows and drive operational efficiency

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end US payroll processing across multiple states, ensuring accuracy and timeliness for all pay runs.
Support EMEA payroll operations across Switzerland, UK (including Northern Ireland), Republic of Ireland, France, Germany, and Denmark, in partnership with regional vendors and the Payroll Manager.
Administer leave of absence payroll processing, ensuring accurate pay, benefit deductions, and compliance with applicable state and federal regulations.
Act as a subject matter expert and point of contact for employee and internal partner payroll inquiries.
Collect, verify, and maintain compensation, benefit, and deduction data to support payroll calculations and ensure data integrity.
Ensure proper taxation and compliance with federal, state, local, and international payroll regulations across all operating jurisdictions.
Process equity-related payroll items, including stock options and RSUs, and ensure proper tax withholding and reporting compliance.
Perform payroll accounting tasks including journal entries and GL reconciliations, as part of month/quarter/year-end close activities.
Support external audits, including financial statement audits, workers' compensation audits, and 401(k) audits, by preparing schedules, pulling data, and responding to auditor inquiries.
Identify opportunities for process improvement and drive cross-functional initiatives to enhance payroll operations, system efficiency, and compliance.
Leverage AI and automation tools to streamline payroll workflows, reduce manual effort, and improve operational efficiency.
Collaborate with People, Finance, and Legal teams on payroll matters and policy compliance.
Assist with payroll system implementations, upgrades, and related projects as needed.
Support future payroll entity build-outs in APAC and LATAM as the company expands into new regions.