Senior Manager - Payroll

SR. MANAGER, PAYROLL

The Sr. Manager, Payroll is a key member of the finance team and plays a critical role in ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll operations for our rapidly growing workforce. This position combines hands-on payroll expertise with strategic process improvement, SOX compliance, and audit management in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. Payroll is centrally organized for SpaceX in the US, supporting over 25,000 employees. This role will be supporting the Head of Payroll for SpaceX and will directly interact with the CFO and Corporate Controller. Significant growth potential is expected for this role.      

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build a world class payroll process for global employees
• Identify and drive process improvements, automation initiatives, and internal control enhancements
• Develop and maintain documentation of current payroll processes and procedures for both US and global entities
• Support payroll-related projects, including system implementations, integrations, and process transformations
• Assist with end-to-end payroll processing for all US employees on a weekly and biweekly basis, including exempt, non-exempt, and equity compensation
• Support annual payroll compliance reporting for the US, including the preparation, review, and audit of W-2s
• Ensure all monthly close payroll deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule
• Support SOX requirements for all US payroll, including control documentation, testing, monitoring, and remediation
• Lead internal and external audits related to payroll, serving as the primary point of contact

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 10+ years of professional experience in finance with 5+ years in payroll
• 4+ years in a supervisory role managing direct reports

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience working in finance organizations of fast-moving entrepreneurial companies – “run it like you own it” mentality
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations, tax requirements, and compliance obligations
• Hands-on experience with UKG (Ultimate Software) and Workday
• Experience supporting international payroll operations
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Demonstrated expertise in SOX compliance and internal control frameworks

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Willingness to work long hours and weekends when needed to meet critical deadlines
• This position is based in Hawthorne, CA, and requires being onsite - remote/hybrid will not be considered