Payroll and Benefits Manager

About the role

The Payroll and Benefits Manager will oversee the entire employee lifecycle related to compensation and benefits, ensuring accuracy and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll: Process multi-state payroll accurately and on schedule. Manage payroll changes, off-cycle runs, and year-end processes including W-2s and ACA reporting.
• Administer benefits programs: Manage day-to-day administration of health, dental, vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, and other employee benefit programs. Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits questions.
• Lead open enrollment: Plan and execute annual open enrollment, including vendor coordination, employee communications, and system configuration. Evaluate current offerings and bring recommendations to leadership.
• Evaluate compliance: Stay current on federal and state payroll and benefits regulations. Manage filings, audits, and reporting requirements across all jurisdictions where we have employees.
• Partner with Finance and People: Work closely with Finance on payroll reconciliation, headcount reporting, and budgeting. Support People on new hire onboarding, leave management, and offboarding.
• Manage vendors and systems: Own relationships with our payroll provider and benefits brokers. Evaluate tools and processes continuously and drive improvements as the company scales.
• Support international employees: Coordinate with our Austria-based team and external advisors on international payroll and benefits, ensuring consistency and compliance across geographies.

Requirements

• Minimum 5+ years of payroll and benefits administration experience, with at least 2 years in a standalone or lead role.
• Experience processing multi-state payroll for a US-based company with 150+ employees.
• Deep knowledge of payroll regulations, tax compliance, and benefits law (ERISA, ACA, COBRA, FMLA, etc.).
• Hands-on experience with payroll platforms such as Rippling, Gusto, ADP, or Paylocity.
• Strong benefits administration experience, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and supplemental programs.
• High attention to detail and a track record of running clean, accurate payroll processes.
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with Finance, Legal, and People teams.
• Strong communicator who can explain complex benefits information clearly to employees at all levels.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at a high-growth startup or Series B/C company where you've had to build or significantly improve payroll and benefits infrastructure.
• Familiarity with international payroll coordination, particularly in Europe.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist) certification.
• Experience with HRIS systems and comfort with data—you can pull reports, spot anomalies, and reconcile numbers independently.