Senior Payroll Specialist

Datadog; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 147,000; Full time

Job summary

Datadog is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to manage payroll processing in the Americas, using Workday or ADP or via a PEO. This role collaborates with People and Finance to ensure tax withholding, compliance, and timely reporting while supporting equity transactions (RSU/NSO/ISO/ESPP).

You will work with benefits, HRIS, and regional payroll partners, aligning with APAC/EMEA for global consistency and implementing internal control improvements using AI and Workday.

Qualifications

• At least five years of experience processing payroll in the Americas region.
• Experience with ADP and Workday is preferred or essential.
• Strong knowledge of payroll legislation (SOX, FLSA).
• Proficiency with Excel and Google Sheets including pivot tables and VLOOKUP.

Responsibilities

• Manage the preparation and processing of payroll across the Americas with data accuracy and timely deadlines.
• Handle all payroll tax reporting, withholdings, and employer contributions.
• Manage regional payroll partners and PEO, including KPIs and standards.
• Coordinate with APAC and EMEA payroll counterparts for global consistency.
• Partner with Benefits, HRIS, and Finance on payroll configurations and audits.
• Process equity transactions (RSUs, NSOs, ISOs, ESPP) with Equity team alignment.
• Improve internal controls and leverage Workday and AI to increase efficiency.
• Respond to payroll and tax inquiries and resolve discrepancies.

Skills

Payroll processing

Data accuracy

Analytical skills

Communication

Tools

ADP

Workday

Excel

Google Sheets

Job description

Datadog is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to keep up with our rapidly growing company. In this role, you will support the payrolls either directly through Workday and ADP or indirectly via a PEO (Professional Employer Organization) for the Americas (Canada, Mexico, and Brazil). The individual will work closely with the internal team and with local payroll providers in order to securely process payroll within specified deadlines. You will also play a key role in supporting the company’s equity events by coordinating with the Equity team for stock-based compensation including Restricted Stock Unit releases, Non Qualified Stock Options, and Employee Stock Purchase transactions, ensuring accurate tax withholding, regulatory compliance, and timely reporting. Most importantly, you will collaborate with our People and Finance teams to continue to scale this critical function.

At Datadog, we place value in our office culture - the relationships and collaboration it builds and the creativity it brings to the table. We operate as a hybrid workplace to ensure our Datadogs can create a work-life harmony that best fits them.

What You’ll Do

• Manage the preparation and processing of payroll, ensuring data accuracy and meeting of deadlines.
• Handle all government reporting requirements for payroll taxes, withholdings and employer contributions.
• Manage regional payroll partners and PEO, including defining KPIs and standards they are required to meet.
• Liaise with payroll counterparts in APAC and EMEA to ensure global consistency of payroll processes and practices.
• Partner with the Benefits team on all matters involving benefits.
• Partner with the HRIS team for configuration and testing of new codes, tax withholding configurations, inbound/outbound integrations, and all other payroll related projects involving Workday.
• Partner with Finance stakeholders bridging the relationship between Payroll and Finance functions and support audits, identify and implement control improvements, and ensure efficient processes are rigorously followed.
• Process equity transactions inclusive of restricted stock units (RSU), non-qualified stock options (NSO), incentive stock options (ISO), disqualified dispositions and all other equity related transactions. Partner with Equity team for purposes of recording transactions related to restricted stock units, non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options and employee stock purchase plan (ESPP).
• Improve internal controls to satisfy SOX auditing requirements and simultaneously create efficiencies by leveraging Workday and AI technology.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies by running and analyzing Workday data reports.
• Collaborate with Finance stakeholders to support audits, identify and implement control improvements, and ensure efficient processes are rigorously followed.
• Respond as appropriate to payroll and tax inquiries as well as providing viable solutions to employee questions and concerns.
• Maintain payroll records according to record retention policy and employer obligations based on employment laws.
• Distribute correspondence to the employee population whenever necessary.

Who You Are

• At least five years of experience processing payroll in the Americas region. Experience required for at least Mexico, Brazil, or Canada.
• Familiarity with payroll systems. ADP and Workday are both preferred. At least one is essential.
• Knowledge of legislation relevant to payroll (e.g., Sarbanes-Oxley Act or FLSA).
• Proficiency with Excel and Google Sheets (e.g., pivot tables, VLOOKUP, SUMIF).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ability to communicate effectively to cross functional teams is essential.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Ability to leverage AI when necessary.
• Sound professional judgment and discretion with handling confidential matters.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Datadog values people from all walks of life. We understand not everyone will meet all the above qualifications on day one. That's okay. If you’re passionate about technology and want to grow your skills, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits and Growth

• Generous and competitive benefits package
• New hire stock equity (RSUs) and employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)
• Continuous career development opportunities
• Product training to develop understanding of our product and space
• Best in breed onboarding
• Internal mentor and buddy program cross-departmentally
• Friendly and inclusive workplace culture

Benefits and Growth listed above may vary based on the country of your employment and the nature of your employment with Datadog.

Datadog offers a competitive salary and equity package, and may include variable compensation. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, Datadog offers a wide range of best in class, comprehensive and inclusive employee benefits for this role including healthcare, dental, parental planning, and mental health benefits, a 401(k) plan and match, paid time off, fitness reimbursements, and a discounted employee stock purchase plan.

The reasonably estimated yearly salary for this role at Datadog is:

$110,000—$147,000 USD

About Datadog

Datadog is the leading observability and security platform for the AI era, providing businesses with unified visibility across the technology stack to manage complexity at scale. It brings applications, infrastructure, data, models, and security into one place, using AI to detect and resolve issues before they impact customers. Trusted globally by Fortune 500 companies and high-growth AI leaders, Datadog enables businesses to move faster with clarity and confidence. Learn more about #DatadogLife on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Datadog Learning Center.

Equal Opportunity at Datadog

Datadog is proud to offer equal employment opportunity to everyone regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, veteran status, and other characteristics protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Here are our Candidate Legal Notices for your reference.

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