Payroll Manager

Graphite is a growing boutique finance, accounting & strategy firm built to help startups scale efficiently and sustainably. We were born out of a venture capital fund, ffVC, in NYC in 2008, supporting their early-stage portfolio of early-stage companies. In 2016, we began working with the broader startup community. We are a team of seasoned Entrepreneurs, CFOs, Investors, and Accountants with a vast understanding of startup accounting and a passion for growing companies, and we’ve worked with some of the coolest startups around: The Sill, Caraway, Settle, The Muse, and Finmark to name a few.

Come join us as a key player in powering accounting and financial services for high-growth startups across the country. We’re looking for a Payroll Manager to help scale and lead our growing Payroll service line on our remote-first team. In this role, you’ll work directly with high-growth startups across industries—becoming a trusted partner in managing their end-to-end payroll needs.

You’ll be hands-on in delivering accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll operations while helping us shape our go-to-market approach for payroll services. If you're process-driven, client-focused, and love getting deep into the details (but also seeing the bigger picture), this one’s for you.

• Own and manage recurring and off-cycle payroll processing for a portfolio of clients (salaried, hourly, contractors, bonuses, severance).
• Master multiple payroll platforms including Gusto, Justworks, Rippling, ADP, Sequoia, and others—supporting onboarding, setup, optimization, and issue resolution.
• Partner with clients to streamline timesheet collection, time-off approvals, and employee communications.
• Handle multi-state payroll tax registrations, W-2 corrections, I-9 verifications, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Support HRIS updates, census submissions, and payroll-related benefits coordination.
• Implement risk-controlled processes and tech-enabled checks to ensure accuracy.
• Manage employee onboarding/offboarding workflows, payroll inboxes, and serve as a primary point of contact for employee questions.
• Provide client-ready payroll reports and support broader client meetings alongside our service team.
• Contribute to building internal systems, SOPs, and best practices as we grow.

• Bachelor's degree required; field of study flexible.
• 6+ years of payroll experience, ideally across multiple platforms and industries.
• CPP certification or equivalent preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of multi-state compliance, payroll tax, and HR operations.
• Experience working with fast-paced, venture-backed startups is a plus.

• High attention to detail: You have a keen eye for accuracy, ensuring every payroll run is meticulously reviewed to prevent errors.
• Clear communicator: You can translate complex payroll and tax information into clear, client-friendly reports and explanations.
• Client-focused mindset: You are dedicated to providing excellent service and building strong, trusting relationships with a diverse list of clients.
• Process-driven and organized: You thrive on managing multiple deadlines and can effectively prioritize a long list of tasks without sacrificing accuracy.
• Comfortable with ambiguity: You are energized by building and improving systems in a high-growth environment.
• Problem-solver: You are adept at identifying and resolving complex payroll issues and questions.
• Collaborative spirit: You work effectively with both internal service teams and external client contacts to achieve shared goals.

You’ll love working at Graphite because:

• Balance. We encourage you to take time to recharge outside of the office. You’ll have flexible PTO to enjoy life outside of work.
• We’re not just an employer. We’re real people who care about our team. We offer insurance coverage (health, vision, and dental).
• We’ll invest in your career. Our company is growing quickly, and we’ll give you the opportunity to do the same. You’ll have access to many professional development opportunities so that you can keep up with the company’s evolving needs.
• We’re creating an environment where everyone can thrive. Our customers are global and diverse, so we’re building a team that is, too.
• We offer competitive compensation packages. We deeply value the talent our team brings to the table and believe that fair and equitable total compensation packages are part of our commitment to everyone who works here, including a 401k match. 

You get to work with the coolest startups around! Your days at Graphite will be filled with conversing with, supporting, and learning from the most innovative people and startups on the planet!