Senior Payroll Manager at Anthropic

Hybrid - San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA

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Senior Payroll Manager responsible for end‑to‑end US and Canada payroll operations, leading a small team, ensuring compliance and driving AI adoption to improve accuracy and efficiency, reporting to the Head of Global Payroll.

Salary

USD 230,000 - 300,000

Requirements

Skills

  • 8+ years of payroll experience, with at least 3 years in a senior or manager-level role owning US multi‑state payroll end‑to‑end
  • Hold a CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification
  • Direct people management experience — managed at least one FTE directly
  • Strong Workday experience — payroll module preferred; HCM with direct payroll involvement
  • Deep familiarity with equity compensation processing (RSUs, ISOs, NSOs) and the tax implications at both federal and state levels
  • Demonstrated ability to thrive in fast‑moving, ambiguous environments
  • Strong cross‑functional instincts — ability to build trust quickly, influence without authority, and communicate clearly across Finance, HR, Legal, and beyond
  • Canada payroll experience — willingness to learn
  • Experimented with AI or automation tools to improve payroll workflows
  • Been part of a Workday payroll implementation or major system migration
  • Worked at a company that scaled rapidly — from 500 to 2,000+ employees
  • Experience in or exposure to IPO readiness, SOX compliance, or building financial controls from scratch

Responsibilities

  • Own full‑cycle payroll processing for all US entities — multi‑state, multi‑frequency, exempt and non‑exempt populations
  • Process complex equity compensation including RSUs, ISOs, and NSOs, ensuring accurate tax withholding and timely reporting
  • Manage high‑volume payments: bonuses, commissions, severance, and equity events
  • Oversee quarter‑end, W‑2 preparation, year‑end reconciliations, and resolution of federal and state tax notices
  • Maintain and continuously improve Workday payroll configuration — identify automation opportunities and lead optimization initiatives
  • Oversee Canada payroll operations in partnership with PwC Global Payroll Platform, developing expertise in CRA compliance, T4s, Records of Employment, and multi‑province processing
  • Partner with international payroll team to ensure Canada stays integrated into global compliance posture
  • Build out Canada payroll SOPs as the function matures
  • Manage and develop 1–2 direct reports on the US payroll team — set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and invest in their growth
  • Build a team culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement
  • Serve as escalation point for complex payroll issues and employee inquiries
  • Partner with Corporate Accounting on payroll journal entries, accruals, and month‑end close
  • Work closely with Tax, Benefits, People Systems, and Employment Legal to ensure data integrity and compliance
  • Support audit readiness and internal & systems controls
  • Champion the use of AI tools within the payroll function — identify high‑value use cases for reconciliation, anomaly detection, and reporting
  • Lead or support process improvement projects that reduce manual effort, increase accuracy, and improve employee payroll experience
  • Document processes, build SOPs, and contribute to the team's knowledge infrastructure

Technologies

WorkdayPwC Global Payroll PlatformAI tools

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