Role Description

We are seeking a Manager, Payroll - US PEO to lead the operational delivery, compliance governance, and continuous improvement of our US PEO payroll function. This role owns the day-to-day PEO payroll operating model, manages risk and escalations, and ensures consistent, compliant payroll delivery across a growing PEO client base.

The US PEO Manager sits at the intersection of Payroll Operations, Tax, Benefits, Product, and Engineering, translating complex PEO requirements into scalable operating standards. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring deep US PEO payroll expertise, strong people and process leadership, and comfort operating in a fast-scaling, remote-first environment.

Qualifications

• Several years of US payroll experience, with significant hands-on experience in a PEO environment.
• Proven expertise in multi-state US payroll and co-employment models.
• Strong knowledge of US payroll tax, benefits, and labor compliance.
• Prior experience leading or mentoring payroll professionals.
• Ability to operate independently while managing complex, high-risk payroll scenarios.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex payroll issues clearly to non-experts.

Requirements

• Experience supporting or scaling PEO payroll operations in a high-growth or tech-enabled company.
• Exposure to payroll system implementation or internal payroll engine development.
• Experience partnering with Product or Engineering teams.
• Familiarity with remote-first, asynchronous work environments.

Key Responsibilities

• PEO Payroll Operations & Compliance:
  • Own end-to-end US PEO payroll operations, including on-cycle, off-cycle, and correction payrolls.
  • Ensure accurate handling of multi-state payroll, including work-state vs residence-state taxation under a co-employment model.
  • Oversee PEO-specific compliance areas, including:
    • Federal, state, and local tax withholdings and filings
    • SUTA/FUTA and state unemployment complexities
    • Workers’ compensation and benefits-related payroll deductions
    • Co-employment risk and client responsibility boundaries
  • Act as the final escalation point for high-risk payroll, tax, or compliance issues.
• Team Leadership & Performance Management:
  • Lead and develop a team of PEO payroll specialists, providing coaching, feedback, and performance guidance.
  • Establish clear expectations around accuracy, timeliness, documentation, and ownership.
  • Review payroll outputs, reconciliations, and risk items to ensure operational quality.
  • Support onboarding, training, and skill progression for PEO payroll team members.
• Operating Model & Process Improvement:
  • Define and maintain PEO payroll operating standards, SOPs, and control frameworks.
  • Identify operational gaps, risk patterns, and scalability issues; drive process improvements and automation where possible.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to improve payroll workflows, controls, and client experience.
  • Ensure strong documentation, audit readiness, and evidence quality.
• Cross-Functional Partnership:
  • Partner closely with Product and Engineering to inform PEO payroll system enhancements and roadmap priorities.
  • Collaborate with Tax, Benefits, Legal, and Finance teams to resolve complex PEO issues.
  • Provide subject-matter guidance on US PEO feasibility, risk, and scalability.
  • Support go-to-market, sales, or implementation teams as an advisor on PEO payroll capabilities and limitations.
• Reporting & Risk Management:
  • Provide regular updates on operational health, risks, escalations, and performance metrics.
  • Own incident management for PEO payroll issues, including root cause analysis and corrective action plans.
  • Ensure compliance with internal controls and external regulatory requirements.

Benefits

• Work from anywhere
• Flexible paid time off
• Flexible working hours (we are async)
• 16 weeks paid parental leave
• Mental health support services
• Stock options
• Learning budget
• Home office budget & IT equipment
• Budget for local in-person social events or co-working spaces