# Payroll Lead

**Company:** [Ai2](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/ai2)
**Location:** Seattle, WA
**Role:** Finance & Accounting
**Salary:** $90k – $134k/yr
**Experience:** 4+ years
**Skills:** payroll processing, multi-state payroll, international payroll, payroll tax compliance, HRIS, system integrations, Excel, pivot tables, xlookup, vlookup, payroll reconciliation, 401(k) administration, payroll gl accounting, Data Analysis, eor platforms
**Posted:** 2026-08-05

> Own end-to-end multi-state US payroll and international EOR payroll while maintaining tax compliance, reconciliations, reporting, and integrations. The role also leads automation and AI-assisted payroll analytics, requiring 4+ years of progressive payroll experience and advanced Excel skills.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities

### Payroll Execution
- Own end-to-end biweekly multi-state US payroll across up to 20 states, including tax withholding, SUTA rates, and local jurisdiction compliance.
- Manage international payroll for employees in 5–10 countries through Employer of Record (EOR) partners, including onboarding coordination, invoice reconciliation, and EOR relationship management.
- Coordinate urgent international employment changes, including new hires, contract extensions, and offboarding reversals.
- Partner with People Operations on new hires, internal transfers, terminations, benefit deductions, leaves of absence, and compensation changes.
- Respond to employee payroll questions with clarity, empathy, and urgency.

### Systems, Integrations, and Automation
- Own and optimize integrations between the HRIS and adjacent systems, including ATS, 401(k), and expense platforms.
- Identify integration and automation opportunities, including AI-augmented workflows.
- Build AI-assisted payroll dashboards and lead payroll data analysis projects covering cost trends, anomalies, and headcount insights.
- Maintain audit-ready documentation, internal controls, and payroll standard operating procedures (SOPs).

### Compliance, Reconciliation, and Reporting
- Perform quarterly and annual SALT payroll reconciliations and support quarter-end and year-end close, including W-2s and related reporting.
- Own monthly benefits reconciliations and resolve discrepancies with People Operations and providers.
- Administer the 401(k) plan, including contribution funding, deferral changes, and support for the annual 401(k) audit.
- Prepare and remit workers’ compensation filings, payments, and payroll true-ups for OH, WA, and WY.
- Prepare and remit Seattle payroll expense tax and Seattle Social Housing tax filings and payments.
- Coordinate prior-quarter and year-end adjustments, including W-2C creation and distribution.
- Monitor federal, state, and local payroll regulations and adjust processes to maintain compliance.
- Identify and drive payroll process improvements.

## Requirements
- 4+ years of progressive payroll experience, including ownership of multi-state payroll across 10+ states; local tax registration experience preferred.
- Hands-on experience with modern payroll and HRIS platforms and monitoring system integrations.
- Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, and manipulation of large datasets for reconciliation and reporting.
- Knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, wage and hour rules, and payroll compliance requirements.
- Solution-oriented approach to identifying and resolving problems.
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills across multiple teams in virtual or hybrid environments.
- High attention to detail, discretion with confidential information, and ownership of deadlines.

## Nice-to-Haves
- Experience managing onboarding, extensions, and offboarding for international employees or similar processes.
- International payroll experience through EOR providers such as Remote or Deel.
- Payroll GL accounting and cost allocation experience, ideally in a grant-funded or nonprofit environment.
- CPP or FPC certification.
- Experience documenting SOPs or creating process documentation from scratch.

## Compensation and Benefits
- Base salary range: **$89,500–$134,000**.
- Generous bonus plans are offered as part of the compensation package.
- Professional development support is available for CPP or FPC certification.

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