Senior Payroll Analyst

About the Role:

As a Senior Payroll Analyst, you’ll be a critical engine keeping our global payroll running accurately and on time. This isn’t a role for someone who wants to maintain the status quo.

You’ll own multi-jurisdiction payroll execution across 34 US states and Canada, drive continuous process improvements, and serve as a key partner to HR, Finance, and Legal as we scale. This role collaborates closely with People Operations and Accounting.

If you’re based within a pre-determined commuting distance of one of our offices (SF, NY, London, or Berlin), the role includes in-office anchor days on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. If you're located beyond that distance, the role is fully remote. For location-specific details, please connect with our recruiting team.

What You Will Do:

• Process full-cycle, multi-state US, payroll end-to-end across bi-weekly and semi-monthly pay cycles using ADP Workforce Now and Workday.
• Work with third party providers to process Canada and LATAM payrolls
• Reconcile payroll data between Workday HRIS and ADP WFN, ensuring accuracy of earnings, deductions, taxes, and benefits contributions before each pay run.
• Manage multi-state tax compliance across all 34 active states including new-hire reporting, SUI/SIT registration, local tax setup, and year-end W-2/T4 processing.
• Administer Canadian payroll in compliance with federal and provincial requirements (source deductions, ROEs, T4s, and year-end remittances).
• Partner with HR, Total Rewards, and Finance to process payroll changes including new hires, terminations, LOAs, equity compensation events, and off-cycle payments.
• Identify, document, and lead process improvement initiatives that increase accuracy, reduce manual effort, and scale with company growth - you’ll be expected to leave each process better than you found it.
• Support payroll audits, internal controls reviews, and SOX-adjacent compliance activities as the company moves toward an IPO-ready finance posture.
• Serve as a tier-2 escalation point for employee payroll inquiries, resolving issues with speed and professionalism.
• Monitor regulatory changes in federal, state/provincial, and local tax law and proactively flag impacts to the team.
• Contribute to the buildout of payroll infrastructure to support international expansion beyond the US and Canada.

About You:

• 4 - 7 years of payroll experience, with at least 3 years handling multi-state US payroll at scale (1,000+ employees).
• Hands-on proficiency with ADP Workforce Now (WFN); you know it deeply, not just surface-level.
• Experience with Workday as an HRIS, including integration data flows between Workday and a payroll processor.
• Demonstrated experience processing Canadian payroll, including provincial compliance and year-end requirements.
• A track record of owning and shipping process automations & improvementsStrong grasp of US payroll tax concepts: federal withholding, FICA, SUI/SIT, imputed income, supplemental wages, and equity-related taxation (RSUs, NSOs, ISOs).
• Meticulous attention to detail paired with the ability to prioritize in a fast-moving environment.
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills; comfortable explaining payroll nuance to non-payroll audiences.
• Exposure to pre-IPO or high-growth tech environments.

Bonus If You:

• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or PCP (Payroll Compliance Practitioner) certification or aspirations to get certified.
• Experience with equity administration platforms (Carta, Morgan Stanley/Shareworks) and their payroll tax implications.
• Familiarity with global payroll vendors or PEO structures for EMEA or APAC populations.
• Experience building or improving payroll runbooks, SOPs, and internal controls documentation.
• Exposure to the Workday Payroll module (in addition to Workday as HRIS).

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package, including equity.
• Inclusive Healthcare Package.
• Learn and Grow - we provide mentorship and send you to events that help you build your network and skills.
• Flexible Time Off.
• We will provide you the gear you need to do your role, and a WFH budget for you to outfit your space as needed.

The San Francisco, CA base pay range for this role is $100,000 - $120,000. Actual salary will be based on job-related skills, experience, and location. Compensation outside of San Francisco may be adjusted based on employee location. The total compensation package may include benefits, equity-based compensation, and eligibility for a company bonus or variable pay program depending on the role. Your recruiter can share more details during the hiring process.

Vercel is committed to fostering and empowering an inclusive community within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Vercel encourages everyone to apply for our available positions, even if they don't necessarily check every box on the job description.