Global Payroll Lead

About the job:
Hi, I’m Atlee and I’m the Controller at Ashby. We're hiring a Global Payroll Lead to own payroll for our fast-growing, global employee base. We pay employees across an ever-growing number of U.S. states and internationally, through a mix of local entities and employers of record (EOR). Every pay cycle has more people, more jurisdictions and more complexity than the one before.

This is a senior individual contributor role. You’ll be the company’s payroll expert and the person accountable for getting it right. You’ll run the day-to-day work yourself and also design how payroll should run as we scale. We’re looking for someone who stands out in customer service, analytical horsepower, attention to detail, independent time management and speed.

Payroll is a critical part of both the employee experience and business operations. You’ll own the full payroll cycle (semi-monthly and monthly) across all of our populations. That covers the details behind it: employee data changes, leave events, bonuses, commissions, deductions, off-cycle payments and final pay. It also covers the controls, vendors and processes that hold it all together. You’ll partner closely with Finance, People Operations, Benefits, Legal, managers, employees and external providers so that payroll is right the first time, and when it isn’t, issues get resolved quickly and the root cause gets fixed.

• Own recurring payroll activities across U.S., U.K., Canadian, and international EOR/contractor populations, coordinating timelines, inputs, approvals, processing, and final review.

• Collect, validate, and enter payroll changes, including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, promotions, bonuses, commissions, deductions, reimbursements, leave, and return-to-work events.

• Review payroll registers and supporting reports for accuracy, reconcile discrepancies, and coordinate corrections, off-cycle payments, and retroactive adjustments.

• Partner with Finance on payroll funding, payroll accounting, reporting, reconciliations, and month-end or year-end close activities.

• Coordinate with payroll, tax, benefits, HR, and EOR vendors to resolve issues, manage escalations, and maintain exceptional service levels.

• Support payroll tax filings, notices, audits, year-end reporting, and other compliance activities in partnership with internal stakeholders and external providers.

• Serve as a trusted point of contact for employee payroll questions, explaining complex issues clearly and following through to resolution.

• Build and maintain payroll calendars, checklists, standard operating procedures, and control points that make payroll more predictable and scalable.

• Identify opportunities to simplify workflows, reduce manual work, strengthen controls, and improve the connection between payroll, People systems, benefits, and Finance.

• Support projects related to payroll infrastructure, global expansion, system changes, and process improvements.

• 7+ years of experience in payroll operations or payroll administration

• Direct experience supporting payroll for employees in multiple countries, including U.S. and Canadian payroll and/or international EOR or contractor populations.

• Experience in payroll for both exempt and non-exempt employee populations.

• Experience managing payroll inputs, validating payroll registers, reconciling results, and processing corrections or off-cycle payments.

• Working knowledge of payroll compliance, tax concepts, wage and hour requirements, leave-related pay, and year-end processes.

• Strong attention to detail and a consistent record of accurate execution against firm deadlines.

• Comfort working across multiple systems and vendors, with the ability to trace an issue back to its source and determine the right fix.

• Strong spreadsheet and analytical skills, including the ability to audit data and explain variances.

• Excellent judgment and discretion when handling compensation, tax, banking, and other sensitive employee information.

• Clear, thoughtful communication with employees, managers, Finance, People, and external partners.

• A proactive, process-oriented approach: you notice recurring problems, document what you learn, and improve the system rather than relying on workarounds.

• Ability to work independently in a distributed, asynchronous environment while keeping stakeholders informed.

• You are the person others trust to catch the detail that could otherwise become a payroll problem.

• You have experience with payroll platforms such as Gusto, Deel, Remote, or similar systems.

• You can balance precision and urgency without losing sight of the employee experience.

• You have operated in an environment where the process is growing and not every answer is already documented (and you’re the one who is excited to document!)

• You communicate early when something is unclear, make sound decisions with incomplete information, and follow through until the issue is closed.

Our interview process is thorough - we assess if you are the right fit for Ashby and we will provide ample information for you to determine if Ashby is the right place for you. The process for this role is as follows:

• Recruiter Screen with Talent Acquisition- 30 min

• Hiring Manager Interview with Atlee - 45 min

• Practical Assessment

• Final Round - 2.5 hours, consisting of four 30 minute interviews with key stakeholders

• 10-year exercise window for stock options. You shouldn’t feel pressure to purchase stock options if you leave Ashby, do it when you feel financially comfortable.

• Unlimited PTO with four weeks recommended per year. Expect “Vacation?” in our one-on-one agenda until you start taking it 😅.

• Twelve weeks of fully paid family leave in the US. We plan to expand this to employees in other countries as situations arise.

• Generous equipment, software, and office furniture budget. Get what you need to be happy and productive!

• $100/month education budget with more expensive items (like conferences) covered with manager approval.

• 401(k) with a 3% employer contribution, regardless of your contribution.

• If you’re in the US, top-notch health insurance for you and your dependents with all premiums covered by us.

Ashby’s success hinges on hiring great people and creating an environment where we can be happy, feel challenged, and do our best work. We’re being deliberate about building that environment from the ground up. I hope that excites you enough to apply.

Ashby provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome people from all backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and abilities.

Ashby is committed to a fair and transparent hiring process. We confirm that this advertisement is for an active, existing vacancy within our organization. Please be advised that we may use artificial intelligence-driven tools to assist our recruitment team in screening, assessing, and selecting candidates for this position.