Payroll Equity Manager

About the role

The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $115,000 depending on geography and level of experience, plus equity and an annual bonus.

Responsibilities

• Own and independently execute running Semi-Monthly payrolls for exempt employees and Bi-Weekly payrolls for non-exempt/hourly employees.
• Ensure accurate, compliant and timely payroll execution, including processing all employee changes (compensation, deductions, garnishments, 401K changes, tax elections).
• Manage complex hourly calculations, including overtime, shift differentials, meal/rest break penalties, and other contractual adjustments across multiple states.
• Partner with Accounting to support month-end close, including reviewing payroll journal entries, accruals, and reconciliation of payroll GL accounts and bank activity.
• Continuously improve payroll operations by building scalable workflows and leveraging AI/automation, documenting processes, and strengthening internal controls.
• Serve as the internal system admin for Rippling. Optimize its capabilities across workflows, system integrations (time tracking), and custom payroll and compensation reports.
• Oversee payroll tax compliance across multiple states, managing new state registrations, local tax jurisdictions, and staying ahead of changing labor laws.
• Perform meticulous monthly reconciliations of all health, dental, vision, and ancillary benefit invoices against Rippling enrollment data and payroll deductions.
• Partner with our insurance brokers and carriers to immediately resolve billing discrepancies, ensuring correct payments and employee deductions.
• Manage the timely submission of 401(k) contributions and loans via Rippling’s integrations, ensuring full compliance with non-discrimination testing and annual audits.
• Serve as the primary administrator for the company’s equity incentive plan via Carta. Handle the end-to-end lifecycle of stock options (NSOs, ISOs) and RSUs, including processing new board-approved grants, equity exercises, cancellations, and vestings.
• Ensure accurate tax withholding and reporting for equity transactions (disqualifying dispositions, stock exercises) and coordinate with the accounting team for quarterly equity-based compensation journal entries.
• Collaborate with People, Finance, Legal, and external vendors to resolve payroll issues, improve efficiency, and maintain data integrity

Qualifications

• You bring a rich background of 5+ years of dedicated payroll experience, with at least 1–2 years directly managing equity administration.
• Deep, hands-on experience running payroll in Rippling is strictly required.
• Carta equity management experience is highly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of wage and hour laws, payroll processing cycles (Semi-Monthly & Bi-Weekly), and time-tracking systems for a diverse hourly workforce.
• You don't just see numbers; you look for anomalies and audit your own work before anyone else sees it.
• You thrive in a high-growth, fast-paced environment. You are comfortable building processes where they don't yet exist and scaling them as we grow.
• Entrepreneurial and resourceful — we need people who can independently find creative ways to make a big impact quickly.
• Experience handling deadlines, keeping many balls in the air, and prioritizing work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Passion for collaborating cross-functionally with sales, operations, client success, data, and product teams to ideate, complete projects, and drive impactful results.

Benefits

• Stock option plan
• Flexible schedules and remote work
• Chicago and San Francisco offices available
• Self-managed vacation days, within reason
• Paid parental leave
• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• 401K retirement plan

Pay

The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $115,000 depending on geography and level of experience, plus equity and an annual bonus.

Schedule

This is a Full Time position located remotely.