Manager, Payroll Accounting

Databricks Inc.; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Databricks Inc. is seeking a Manager, Payroll Accounting to lead the payroll accounting team in India, build the operating model, and set standards as we scale.

You will partner with PeopleOps, Payroll Operations, Global Accounting, and FP&A to ensure accurate recording and compliance with US GAAP and local tax laws for a global footprint. This role blends leadership with deep technical accounting expertise and a focus on automation to drive efficiency across payroll processes and equity

Qualifications

• Minimum 15+ years progressive accounting experience, with 8+ years in payroll accounting.
• CA or CPA equivalent; CPP preferred.
• Equity compensation accounting for RSUs, stock options, ESPP.
• Proven track record driving automation/AI in payroll or accounting.
• Deep understanding of US GAAP, local tax laws, and SOX compliance.
• Experience with cloud-based systems such as SAP, Workday, Payslip.

Responsibilities

• Oversee month-, quarter-, and year-end payroll close, reviewing complex journal entries and reconciliations.
• Perform monthly payroll flux analysis for leadership and stakeholders.
• Lead payroll accounting across global entities with focus on multiple jurisdictions.
• Manage multi-currency ledger reconciliations and FX adjustments.
• Provide technical oversight for stock-based compensation and equity programs.
• Own payroll accounting for RSUs, stock options, ESPP; ensure tax withholding accuracy.
• Serve as main contact for payroll audits; ensure SOX and GAAP compliance.
• Collaborate with Legal, Tax, and external partners to set up new subsidiaries.
• Monitor independent contractor classifications and GL accuracy.
• Drive AI/automation adoption to streamline payroll data flows.
• Hire, train, and mentor a high-performing payroll accounting team.

Skills

Payroll accounting

Team leadership

Automation adoption

US GAAP knowledge

SOX compliance

Cross-border/intl tax

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economics/Business/Accounting/Finance

Tools

SAP

Workday

Payslip

Job description

Manager, Payroll Accounting

We're building a finance function that stays ahead of the curve — leveraging AI, automation, and modern tooling to operate at the pace Databricks demands.

About the Role

We are looking for a Manager, Payroll Accounting, to lead our payroll accounting team based in India. This is a foundational hire — you will help build the team, define the operating model, and set the standard for how payroll accounting operates at Databricks as we continue to scale.

This role blends team leadership with deep technical accounting expertise. As part of the Global Accounting organization, you will ensure the accurate and timely recording of all payroll-related financial data while partnering closely with PeopleOps, Payroll Operations, Global Accounting, and FP&A to ensure strict compliance with US GAAP, local tax regulations, and internal policies.

The impact you will have:

• Oversee the month‑end, quarter‑end, and year‑end payroll accounting close processes, reviewing and approving complex journal entries, accruals, and balance‑sheet reconciliations.
• Perform monthly payroll flux analysis, identifying and clearly articulating drivers behind significant period‑over‑period movements for leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Lead payroll accounting across our global entities, with particular focus on high‑complexity jurisdictions, including the Netherlands, Brazil, France, Germany, and India — ensuring accurate accounting treatment, local compliance, and timely close across each location.
• Manage complex multi‑currency ledger reconciliations, foreign exchange (FX) gain/loss adjustments, and inter‑company cross‑charges.
• Provide technical accounting oversight for stock‑based compensation and complex commission structures, ensuring accurate recording and compliance.
• Own payroll accounting for equity compensation programs, including RSUs, stock options, and ESPP, ensuring accurate recording, tax withholding treatment, and reconciliation between equity, payroll, and the inter‑company general ledger.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external payroll accounting audits. Champion compliance with internal controls (SOX), US GAAP, and multi‑jurisdictional payroll tax regulations.
• Partner with our legal team, external consultants, and banking partners to establish new subsidiaries. Collaborate with Corporate Tax and Technical Accounting to set up accounting processes for new global locations.
• Partner with PeopleOps, AP and Procurement to proactively monitor and audit independent contractor relationships, ensuring accurate general ledger classification and mitigating disguised employee risks.
• Drive AI and automation adoption across payroll accounting, including AI‑assisted reconciliation between payroll registers and the GL, automated variance detection, and leveraging the Databricks Platform to streamline data flow across payroll, equity, and financial systems.
• Hire, train, mentor, and manage a team of payroll accountants, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and high performance.

What we look for:

• BA or BS Degree focused in Economics, Business Administration, Accounting, or Finance.
• 15+ years progressive accounting experience, with at least 8+ years specifically in payroll accounting and 4+ years in a supervisory/management role within a US multinational framework.
• A Chartered Accountant (CA) or CPA equivalent certification is required. CPP is strongly preferred.
• Equity compensation accounting experience required, including for RSUs, stock options, and ESPP — from payroll tax treatment to GL reconciliation.
• Proven track record driving automation and AI adoption in payroll or accounting operations, with hands‑on experience implementing tools that reduce manual work and improve accuracy.
• Deep understanding of US GAAP, multi‑jurisdiction tax laws, and SOX compliance. Experience with cloud‑based systems (e.g., SAP, Workday, Payslip) is required.
• Proven experience partnering with local accounting teams to file statutory accounts and the flexibility to support remote teams across different geographic areas, including with US‑based accounting teams.

About Databricks

Databricks is the data and AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide — including Comcast, Condé Nast, Grammarly, and over 50% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to unify and democratize data, analytics and AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe and was founded by the original creators of Lakehouse, Apache Spark, Delta Lake and MLflow.

Benefits

At Databricks, we strive to provide comprehensive benefits and perks that meet the needs of all of our employees. For specific details on the benefits offered in your region, please refer to the benefits information available on our internal portal.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Databricks, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can excel. We take great care to ensure that our hiring practices are inclusive and meet equal employment opportunity standards. Individuals looking for employment at Databricks are considered without regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio‑economic status, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.

Compliance

If access to export‑controlled technology or source code is required for performance of job duties, it is within Employer's discretion whether to apply for a U.S. government license for such positions, and Employer may decline to proceed with an applicant on this basis alone.