Payroll Manager

About Neuralink:

We are creating devices that enable a bi-directional interface with the brain. These devices allow us to restore movement to the paralyzed, restore sight to the blind, and revolutionize how humans interact with their digital world.

Team Description:
The Finance Team at Neuralink is instrumental in supporting our mission to create advanced brain-machine interfaces that restore autonomy to individuals with unmet medical needs. We ensure financial operations run smoothly and compliantly, enabling our teams to focus on groundbreaking innovation. In a fast-paced, high-growth environment, we handle everything from payroll to equity administration with precision and efficiency. If you are a detail-oriented professional passionate about building scalable processes that support technological pioneers, this team is for you.

Job Description and Responsibilities:
As Payroll Manager, you will own and optimize Neuralink's end-to-end payroll process, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness across our growing workforce. Reporting to the Head of Accounting, you will serve as the primary expert on payroll operations, interfacing with our HR system (UKG Pro), internal teams (e.g., HR, finance, and legal), and external partners. This role involves managing multi-state payroll complexities, particularly in California and Texas, while collaborating closely with the equity administration team to handle tax withholding, reporting, and compliance for equity-related compensation (e.g., stock options and RSUs).

With Neuralink's rapid expansion, this position offers significant growth potential, including the opportunity to take over equity administration responsibilities and build out related processes. The ideal candidate is proactive, adaptable, and excels at streamlining operations in a dynamic tech environment, with a strong focus on compliance and employee experience.

Key responsibilities include:

• Owning the full, bi-weekly payroll lifecycle, from data collection and processing to disbursement, using UKG Pro as the core HR and payroll system
• Interfacing with internal teams to gather and verify payroll data for hourly and salaried employees, resolve discrepancies, and ensure seamless integration between payroll, benefits, and time-tracking systems
• Managing multi-state payroll compliance, including tax calculations, withholdings, garnishments, deductions, benefits (including non-cash taxable benefits), and reporting for employees in California, Texas, and potentially other jurisdictions as Neuralink expands
• Collaborating with the equity administration team to ensure accurate payroll processing for equity transactions, vesting events, and related tax implications, maintaining full compliance with IRS and state regulations
• Auditing payroll processes for accuracy and efficiency, implementing improvements to support scalability and reduce errors
• Leading payroll-related reporting, reconciliations, and year-end activities (e.g., W-2s, 1099s) and partner with Finance on payroll accounting, reconciliations, and reporting to ensure accurate financial results
• Identifying opportunities to automate and enhance payroll workflows, with a path to assuming leadership over equity administration as the role evolves
• Answering employee questions related to payroll, managing relationships with benefits administrators, and responding to any regulatory agencies

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in payroll management, with proven expertise in multi-state payroll processing at a medium sized firm (100+ employees)
• Hands-on experience with HRIS/payroll systems, specifically UKG Pro (or similar platforms like ADP or Workday)
• Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, tax withholding, and reporting, including experience with equity compensation (e.g., stock options, RSUs)
• Excellent attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
• A desire to grow your scope and take on more responsibility
• Proficiency in Excel

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or similar certification.
• Experience in a high-growth technology company
• Prior involvement in equity administration or stock plan management, with familiarity in tools like Carta or Shareworks
• Proficiency in payroll software integrations, data analytics tools (e.g., Excel, SQL), and process automation

Expected Compensation:

The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the following range. Your actual base pay will be determined by your job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or