Global payroll manager

About the role

WRITER is seeking a hands-on, detail-obsessed global payroll manager to join the team and own the end-to-end payroll for a multi-entity, multi-currency, and multi-regulatory environment. This high-ownership individual contributor role sits at the intersection of finance and human resources, requiring a professional who thrives on complexity and seeks to bring order to a fragmented global payroll landscape. The successful hire will drive accuracy, enforce process rigor, and scale operations across a rapidly growing international footprint. You will manage the full lifecycle of payroll processing while ensuring strict compliance across all jurisdictions. This is a role for a builder who wants to own the systems and processes that power one of the most critical employee experiences.

You will own end-to-end payroll execution for all active WRITER entities and pay schedules, including multi-state US payroll with varying pay frequencies and complex commission cycles.

You will manage UK PAYE in coordination with EOR partners, handling HMRC filings, National Insurance contributions, pension auto-enrolment, and statutory pay calculations with precision.

You will own Canadian federal and provincial remittances, Record of Employment filings, and CPP/EI calculations, ensuring timely and accurate compliance.

You will manage Singapore CPF contributions, MOM compliance, and IR8A filings, navigating local regulatory requirements with diligence.

You will oversee UAE WPS compliance and gratuity calculations, ensuring adherence to local labor laws and contractual obligations.

You will coordinate with each EOR provider, validate invoices against actuals, and resolve discrepancies to convert a high-volume, distributed model into an auditable workflow.

You will own the processing of payments and support the finance team's general ledger journals, month-end reconciliations, and variance analysis.

You will work closely with finance to ensure payroll liabilities, accruals, and actual disbursements are reflected accurately across all entities and legal structures.

What you'll do

• End-to-end payroll execution across all of WRITER's active entities and pay schedules, including multi-state US payroll with varying pay frequencies, and commission cycles; UK PAYE with HMRC filings, National Insurance contributions, pension auto-enrolment, and statutory pay calculations; Canadian federal and provincial remittances, Record of Employment filings, and CPP/EI; Singapore CPF contributions, MOM compliance, and IR8A filings; UAE WPS compliance and gratuity calculations; and contractor payroll with IC agreements, payment schedules, and 1099-equivalent filings.
• You will coordinate with each EOR provider, validate invoices against actuals, and resolve discrepancies - turning a high-volume, distributed model into an auditable workflow.
• You own the processing of the payments, and support the finance team's general ledger journals, month-end reconciliations, and variance analysis.
• You will work closely with the finance team to ensure payroll liabilities, accruals, and actual disbursements are reflected accurately across entities.
• You will manage cycle-by-cycle processing for variable compensation, working directly with Finance and Revenue Operations to ensure timing, accuracy, and correct tax withholding.
• You will stay ahead of - not just keep up with - evolving payroll tax requirements across every jurisdiction WRITER operates in.
• You will manage W-2s, P60s, P45s, T4s, and other international equivalents, and ensure our regulatory filings are complete, accurate, and on time across monthly, quarterly and annual cycles.
• You will reconcile benefits deductions against carrier invoices and manage international statutory leave top-up calculations across jurisdictions with varying leave frameworks.
• As Writer expands, you will lead new country setup for Payroll operations: systems configuration, testing, and end to end cycle execution.
• You will be a trusted resource for employees navigating payroll questions, tax situations, payslip discrepancies, and equity withholding - especially during peak seasons like tax filing and open enrollment.
• You will identify manual inefficiencies and build scalable workflows that integrate cleanly with Finance and HR systems.

Requirements

• 6-10+ years of payroll experience, ideally in a high-growth, global technology company with exposure to complex multi-country requirements.
• Experience with Rippling Payroll is required, as the platform forms a core part of the technology stack for managing global headcount.
• A strong command of US multi-state payroll is essential, including multi-frequency schedules, state-specific compliance, and nuanced tax rules.
• Demonstrated international payroll experience across at least two of the following regions: UK, Canada, Singapore, or UAE, with a clear understanding of local statutory obligations.
• Prior experience managing EOR and third-party payroll vendors, including coordinating outputs, validating accuracy, and holding partners to a high standard of service.
• A regulatory compliance mindset, with the ability to research evolving requirements proactively rather than reacting after issues arise.
• High systems proficiency and the ability to learn new tools quickly, given the use of integrated HRIS, ERP, and payroll platforms.
• Analytical rigor and strong documentation habits, ensuring high accuracy, attention to detail, and a clear paper trail that would satisfy an internal or external audit.
• Clear and effective communication skills, with the ability to partner with Finance, Legal, and People teams while also explaining payroll discrepancies directly to employees.
• A demonstrated ability to manage confidential information with discretion and maintain compliance with data privacy regulations across multiple jurisdictions.

Nice to have

Only items explicitly indicated as preferred by the hiring team are listed here, and no additional preferences have been introduced.

Practical notes

This is a full-time role based in San Francisco, California, and candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship. The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, aligned with WRITER's operational norms. No relocation assistance or visa sponsorship is available for this position. Applicants must meet the stated experience and regulatory requirements without exception, and the selection process will prioritize candidates who can demonstrate direct, relevant expertise in global payroll operations.