Payroll Manager

About the Role

As Airship's Global Payroll Manager, you will be responsible for leading and managing payroll operations across the U.S. and international regions (e.g., UK, France, Germany, Singapore, India), while driving the development, documentation, and continuous improvement of Airship's global payroll function. Your primary focus will be on building a robust, accurate, compliant, and high-functioning payroll operation through the establishment of standardized processes, policies, and best practices. This role requires deep payroll expertise, strong project management skills, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, external vendors, and stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions.

What You'll Do

Payroll Operations & Processing

• Oversee and manage end-to-end payroll operations for U.S. multi-state payroll and international payrolls including the UK, France, Germany, Singapore, Canada, Ireland, and India
• Process bi-weekly U.S. payroll for exempt, non-exempt, and temporary employees, as well as off-cycle payments on an ad hoc basis
• Partner with local service providers to process monthly international payrolls, ensuring accurate and timely processing of salary calculations, deductions, statutory contributions, garnishments, commissions, and benefits
• Review and validate payroll inputs and outputs, including employee data, timesheets, benefits, and deductions
• Manage complex payroll scenarios and document payroll practices and procedures
• Perform payroll accounting activities, including posting journal entries and reconciling payroll general ledger accounts
• Coordinate year-end and new year payroll processes and HRIS setup, including earnings and deductions configuration, payroll schedules, tax reporting, annual statements, and country and state-specific compliance filings
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee payroll inquiries, addressing questions and concerns related to pay, deductions, taxes, and benefits with professionalism, empathy, and discretion

Payroll Transformation & Process Development

• Develop, document, and implement global payroll policies, procedures, and controls to ensure accuracy, compliance, and data security
• Evaluate current payroll processes and systems, identify gaps or inefficiencies, and implement best practices and streamlined workflows
• Establish and maintain strong payroll controls, including reconciliation procedures, spot checks, variance analysis, and audit trails
• Lead payroll system enhancements, upgrades, and integrations to improve efficiency and reporting
• Drive standardization and automation of payroll processes across all regions while accommodating local regulatory requirements

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with local payroll regulations, tax laws, and statutory requirements in all countries of operation; stay current with emerging legislation and compliance requirements for each jurisdiction
• Conduct periodic payroll audits and collaborate with internal and external auditors to ensure data accuracy, identify discrepancies, and resolve payroll-related issues promptly
• Manage payroll data integrity and maintain employee records in compliance with data protection regulations (including GDPR)
• Manage state and local reporting and filing requirements, workers' compensation reporting, payments, and annual audit
• Administer ongoing 401k processes and employee-employer contribution plans, including coordination of audit-related activities

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Manage relationships with international payroll service providers, ensuring service level agreements are met and escalations are addressed promptly; evaluate vendor effectiveness and lead vendor selection processes when necessary
• Collaborate with People Ops, Finance, and IT teams to gather payroll requirements, ensure accurate reporting, support cross-functional initiatives, and integrate payroll systems with HRIS, time and attendance systems, and other relevant platforms

Training, Reporting & Leadership

• Develop and deliver payroll training programs to People Ops, Finance, and relevant teams to enhance knowledge and ensure adherence to global payroll processes and procedures
• Monitor and report on global payroll performance and metrics, identifying trends and making recommendations for continuous improvement
• Supervise payroll processing team, providing direction, feedback, and guidance on payroll processes, compliance, and reporting

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience as a Global/International Payroll Manager or similar role, with demonstrated responsibility for managing end-to-end payroll operations across multiple countries and regions, including in-depth knowledge of U.S. multi-state payroll and familiarity with UK and/or France/Germany/Singapore/India payroll regulations and compliance requirements
• Experience developing and documenting payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Strong understanding of payroll best practices, including reconciliation, audit procedures, and quality assurance processes, with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional payroll calculations and transformation challenges
• Experience managing payroll vendors and ensuring compliance with service level agreements
• Proficiency in implementing payroll system solutions; strong project management skills with the ability to lead process improvement and system implementation initiatives
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy; excellent organizational and time management skills to handle multiple payrolls, projects, and deadlines
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to address sensitive employee payroll concerns with patience and discretion while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams, external stakeholders, and employees
• Understanding of data protection regulations (GDPR, etc.) and confidentiality requirements in handling employee information
• Proficiency in UKG Payroll and Reporting and G-Suite applications, particularly Sheets/Excel for data analysis and reporting
• Experience experimenting with AI tools in your personal or professional life - or an eagerness to learn!

We'd Be Delighted If You Also Have

• Experience leading payroll transformation initiatives, including system implementations and process standardization
• Familiarity with HRIS systems (e.g., UKG, ADP, SAP) and their integration with payroll systems
• Experience with payroll in a SaaS or technology company environment
• Professional certification in payroll (e.g., CPP, FPC, CIPP) or project management is advantageous
• Continuous learning mindset to stay updated with changes in global payroll regulations and technology advancements

Work Location & Travel Requirements

Airship’s ‘Digital First’ approach to work means that for the majority of our roles, work can be performed remotely, either some or most of the time. Airship believes that flexible work contributes to a more productive and more equitable work environment, and that Airshippers are able to collaborate, innovate, and support one another across different locations and timezones.

Some roles may require that employees perform their work from a specific location to support business activities, and/or be within proximity to an Airship office location or customer or partner locations, while other roles can be performed 100% remotely.

This position is fully remote and may require up to 10% travel based on business needs or as requested by your manager.

Compensation

The starting base pay range for this position is: $90,000-$125,000 USD per year. Base pay is part of the total compensation package and is determined by a variety of factors such as relevant skills, work experience, business priorities, market demands, and location. This role offers stock options, providing a direct opportunity to share in Airship’s success.

Benefits & Perks

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance options for you and your dependents
• Flexible time off, company paid holidays, paid parental leave, and paid volunteer time off
• Support for your overall wellbeing with mental health and wellness resources
• Employer-subsidized life insurance as well as short-term and long-term disability
• A digital-first work environment and a monthly stipend to support remote work
• Mentorship and growth opportunities to build skills and accelerate professional development
• And more!

We use artificial intelligence tools in our recruitment process as decision-support tools only. Airship's People Operations team reviews all AI-generated scores and recommendations before making any hiring determination. No applicant is rejected solely on the basis of an AI-generated output. Depending on your location, you may have the right to request human review of any AI-assisted employment decision or to opt out of AI evaluation. To make a request or learn more about how we use AI in hiring, contact privacy@airship.com or visit airship.com/legal.

California residents can view the CCPA disclosure notice here.

**Please Note: To ensure the security of your personal information, Airship will only contact candidates through email addresses ending with “@airship.com”.