Payroll Manager

Pantera Capital; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 141,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, dental

401K plan

Generous time off

Parental leave

Wellness reimbursements

Professional development

Employee investing discount

Job summary

Wealthfront is hiring a Senior Payroll Administrator in Palo Alto, California. This role involves managing payroll operations, ensuring compliance with U.S. GAAP, and collaborating with various departments. The ideal candidate will have 4-6 years of payroll or accounting experience, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and proficiency with payroll systems. The estimated salary ranges from $120,000 to $141,500 annually, plus equity and bonuses. Benefits include medical, dental, 401K, and generous time off.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years of relevant experience in payroll or related accounting/finance roles.
• Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP, internal controls, and compliance.
• Exceptional attention to detail and clear communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee timely and accurate processing of semi-monthly payroll.
• Ensure compliance with tax jurisdictions for payroll processing.
• Perform year-end reports reconciliations and communicate with state agencies.

Skills

Payroll processing

U.S. GAAP compliance

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Proficiency in payroll systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

CPA preferred

Tools

Namely/ADP/Dayforce

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

NetSuite

Job description

Wealthfront is seeking a Senior, Payroll Administration to join our Finance & Accounting team and help build scalable infrastructure to support a dynamic, high-growth organization. This role will be assisting with end-to-end payroll operations, partnering closely with Accounting, Finance, Human Strategy, Legal, and external advisors.

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Accounting, you will play a critical role in ensuring accuracy, compliance, and operational excellence across the payroll function. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, solutions-driven, and energized by improving processes in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for timely and accurate processing of the semi-monthly payroll, including the upload of payroll data, maintenance of personnel records, and processing of complex deductions such as levies and garnishments
• Responsible for all equity-related payroll tasks, including the taxation of stock options, RSUs, and ESPP. Lead the payroll processing for tax mobility to ensure compliance with varying tax jurisdictions
• Work closely with our payroll provider to ensure accurate tax returns. Prepare and review payroll and tax amendments, auditing the work performed by the payroll provider for accuracy
• Perform comprehensive year-end reports reconciliations to ensure accuracy. Communicate directly with state agencies to resolve tax notices and inquiries
• Responsible for payroll related audit requests. Perform large-scale data mapping to prepare specialized reports for senior management regarding payroll costs and tax liabilities
• Responsible for payroll related journal entries and ensuring proper accounting treatment under U.S. GAAP
• Consult with appropriate vendors and Human Strategy to resolve employee issues. Collaborate with Human Strategy to streamline workflows, leveraging technology to enhance data integrity, automate manual tasks, and improve employee experience
• Research and resolve payroll-related issues and other payroll tasks, as requested

Requirements:

• 4-6 years of relevant experience in payroll or related accounting/finance roles
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA preferred
• Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP, internal controls, and compliance requirements
• Hands-on experience with payroll systems (e.g., Namely/ADP/Dayforce preferred)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, NetSuite, Bill.com, and Expensify (or similar systems)
• Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to communicate clearly at all levels of the organization
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset
• High ethical standards and commitment to data accuracy and confidentiality
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Enthusiasm for leveraging technology to improve business processes
• Collaborative, customer-centric approach with a strong team orientation

Estimated annual salary: $120,000 - $141,500 plus equity and a discretionary bonus.

Benefits include medical, vision, dental, 401K plan, generous time off, parental leave, wellness reimbursements, professional development, employee investing discount, and more!

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.