Full-Time

Senior Manager

Payroll

Posted on 8/21/2025

Zūm

Zūm

501-1,000 employees

Tech-driven school transport platform with safety

Compensation Overview

$176k - $207k/yr

+ Equity + Commission

San Carlos, CA, USA

Hybrid

This is a hybrid position.

Category
Accounting (1)
Required Skills
Data Analysis
Excel/Numbers/Sheets
Requirements
  • A minimum of 10 years overall experience with 4+ years in a union-based payroll industry and 3+ years management experience
  • Technologically savvy with advanced Excel/Google Sheets skills. You know how to do things like data visualization, detailed reporting, interpreting large datasets, and using Excel formulas for analysis to ensure data integrity
  • Able to handle multiple Union CBA’s (Required)
  • Deep systems experience with either ADP Lyric or ADP Workforce Now
  • An understanding of prioritization and multitasking in a demanding and complex environment
  • Previous experience with SOX Compliance to allow us to adhere to regulatory requirements and internal controls
  • Knowledge of Labor Laws and State and Federal Legislation. Specifically staying up to date on FLSA and understanding state-specific regulations
  • CPP with a 4 year college degree preferred
Responsibilities
  • Manage and mentor the payroll processing team in addition to setting team and individual goals to ensure the team is meeting business goals
  • Ensure all union payrolls are processed on time, compliantly, and within our SLAs
  • Remove and resolve issues that are escalated internally and externally as it relates to processing payroll
  • Oversee payroll tax filings, audits, and reporting, ensuring full compliance with statutory requirements
  • Collaborate closely with Finance, HR, and Legal teams to develop and implement efficient payroll processes that align with company objectives
  • Identify and drive improvements in payroll systems and procedures to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and scalability
  • Ensure compliance with multi-jurisdictional payroll regulations, including local labor laws and tax obligations, as well as adherence to internal policies and procedures
  • Prepare and present payroll-related insights and reports to the Payroll Director and or management to support strategic decision-making
  • Ensure all Payroll standard operating procedures are well documented, and the team is fully cross trained to allow for redundancy
Desired Qualifications
  • CPP with a 4 year college degree preferred

Zum provides a technology-driven school transportation service. It operates a fleet—including electric vehicles—focused on safety, efficiency, and sustainability, mainly serving schools and districts. The product is a platform that analyzes routes and operations to optimize schedules, predict traffic, and manage fleets. It includes an app for parents, drivers, and schools to track buses and student rides in real time, increasing transparency and safety while saving time and costs. Drivers and operators get tools to manage staffing and routing, and schools stay securely aligned with families and drivers. Compared with traditional bus services, Zum emphasizes data-driven route optimization, real-time visibility, and environmental sustainability to differentiate itself. The company aims to improve student safety, reduce operational costs, and lower carbon emissions by using smart routing and electric vehicles, growing its footprint through school contracts and parent-based access.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

Growth Equity (Venture Capital)

Total Funding

$468.8M

Headquarters

Redwood City, California

Founded

2014

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Transportation Anxiety Crisis research quantifies $15 billion annual educational spending loss, validating massive TAM expansion.
  • Reached $333M revenue (35% YoY growth) and adjusted EBITDA breakeven with 40%+ four-year CAGR trajectory.
  • Long-term contracts (5-10 years) with $2B+ total contract value provide predictable revenue and customer stickiness.

What critics are saying

  • Driver wage compression: Amazon ($23/hr) and UPS ($24/hr) undercut Zum's $21-$32/hr across 257+ open positions.
  • School district budget crisis: 42 states face $68B structural deficits by 2027, forcing 20-30% contract price cuts.
  • First Student acquired Transfinder routing software, bundling legacy operations 15-20% below Zum's pricing to existing customers.

What makes Zūm unique

  • Unified platform orchestrates routing, dispatch, workforce, safety, and communications in real-time across 4,500+ schools.
  • AI-powered system achieves 98% on-time performance and 4.9/5 parent satisfaction across 1.7 million ratings.
  • Vehicle-to-grid technology converts school bus batteries into virtual power plants for grid support and decarbonization.

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Benefits

Competitive compensation, including cash and equity

Medical, dental and vision benefits, including paid membership to One Medical

Unlimited vacation policy

Free daily catered lunches + fully stocked kitchen at HQ

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

1%
Dealroom.co
Apr 16th, 2026
Zum company information, funding & investors

Zum, provides child transportation for school districts and busy families. Here you'll find information about their funding, investors and team.

PR Newswire
Apr 2nd, 2026
Zum ranks No. 47 on Financial Times' Americas' fastest growing companies list for fourth consecutive year

Zum has been named to the Financial Times' Americas' Fastest Growing Companies 2026 list for the fourth consecutive year, ranking 47th overall and highest in the Logistics & Transportation category. The student mobility platform serves over 4,000 schools across 15 states in the US. The Redwood City-based company generated $333 million in revenue in 2025, a 35% year-over-year increase, and has achieved a four-year revenue CAGR exceeding 40%. Zum's total contract value now surpasses $2 billion. Zum's AI-powered platform manages student transportation through real-time routing and operational management. The company also offers vehicle-to-grid technology to modernise fleets. Zum is backed by Sequoia Capital, GIC and SoftBank.

PR Newswire
Mar 18th, 2026
Zum hits $333M revenue, up 35% YoY, as AI-powered student mobility platform reaches EBITDA breakeven

Zum, a student mobility platform, reported $333 million in revenue for 2025, up 35% year-over-year, whilst achieving adjusted EBITDA breakeven. The company has reached over $2 billion in total contract value with a four-year revenue compound annual growth rate exceeding 40%. The Redwood City-based startup now serves more than 4,000 schools across 15 states, including major districts in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. Zum operates on long-term contracts of five to 10 years with school districts, providing predictable revenue streams. The company completed 68.5 million student rides in 2025, up 120% from 2024. Zum has deployed fully electric school bus fleets in Oakland, California, and plans to launch vehicle-to-grid capabilities in Connecticut. The platform uses AI-powered routing to achieve 98% on-time performance.

Zum
Feb 2nd, 2026
Shawnee Mission School District Partners with Zum, Expanding Service to 15 States

Shawnee Mission School District partners with Zum, expanding service to 15 states. Zūm Services, Inc. is excited to announce that Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) has selected Zūm to modernize district-wide transportation services beginning in the 2026 - 2027 school year. With this 7-year contract, Kansas becomes Zum's 15th state, marking a major milestone in its national expansion and growing momentum across the country. Following a rigorous procurement process, SMSD selected Zum to replace legacy operating models with a modern, technology-led transportation experience. By embracing innovation, the district is creating a safer, more reliable, and more predictable service that gives parents peace of mind and helps students arrive ready to learn. "We treat student transportation as an extension of the classroom here in Shawnee Mission School District. It is a foundational component of educational access," said Dr. David Stubblefield, Deputy Superintendent at Shawnee Mission School District. "Zum's mission goes beyond simply moving students from Point A to Point B, and their commitment to keeping students at the center of their service aligns seamlessly with Shawnee Mission's guiding theme. This is the modern, safe, and transparent experience its community deserves." "For decades, student transportation has relied on systems that were never designed for the expectations of today's families," said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO of Zum. "We built Zum to reimagine what's possible by combining technology, operational excellence, and a relentless focus on safety. With Shawnee Mission joining us, Kansas becomes our 15th state, underscoring the growing demand from districts nationwide for a better, more modern transportation model." Through Zum, Shawnee Mission School District will experience: * Modern, transparent technology for families and districts: Real-time bus tracking, proactive notifications, and clear, consistent communication that provide parents with peace of mind and districts with greater visibility and operational confidence. * Efficient, reliable transportation that supports student success: Optimized routes with a 98% on-time performance, ensuring predictable service and helping students arrive on time and ready to learn. * An industry-leading driver and monitor model: Comprehensive training, competitive pay, and benefits that attract and retain qualified drivers and monitors - addressing a nationwide driver shortage and ensuring 100% route coverage. An informational meeting for drivers and monitors will be held at Shawnee Mission North High School (7401 Johnson Dr, Overland Park, KS 66202) in the cafeteria on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. All existing drivers and monitors, as well as new applicants, are encouraged to join. For more information and updates on upcoming hiring events, visit Zum's driver and monitor page. * State-of-the-art buses and infrastructure: Modern, air-conditioned buses and advanced safety technology designed to enhance the student experience and improve drivers' day-to-day work. * A parent-first experience: Transparency built into every ride, with real-time updates through the Zum app on bus location and student pickup and drop-off status. Zūm Services, Inc. is thrilled to welcome Shawnee Mission as a school district partner!

Zum
Aug 12th, 2025
Back to School 2025: San Bernardino, Ca.

This is the third year Zum has partnered with San Bernardino City Unified School District for student transportation.

INACTIVE