Payroll and Benefits Manager

As Avoca scales to 300+ employees and contractors globally, we need a dedicated owner for payroll, benefits, equity, and compliance. This role will ensure the fundamentals are flawless - accurate payroll, smooth benefits administration, clean equity tracking, and compliant filings across jurisdictions - while building scalable processes and controls for continued growth.

This is a new role reporting to the People Operations Lead.

- Own end-to-end payroll for U.S. and international employees and contractors

- Manage employee compensation changes, including new hires, terminations, compensation adjustments, and off-cycle payments across currencies and time zones

- Administer Carta equity workflows, including grants, vesting, exercises, terminations, and employee equity questions

- Own multi-state and international compliance, including tax registrations, statutory filings, worker classification, wage and hour requirements, and equity-related regulatory requirements

- Own benefits administration, including enrollments, qualifying life events, vendor coordination, employee questions, and compliance-related benefits processes

- Monitor regulatory changes as Avoca expands into new states and countries, proactively identifying risks before they become issues

- Reconcile payroll and equity with Finance monthly across all entities, and lead year-end compliance activities including W-2s, 1099s, and international equivalents

- Serve as the primary point of contact for questions related to payroll, equity, and compliance

- Build scalable processes and controls that can support 2-3x growth in headcount and geographic footprint

- 5+ years of experience owning payroll, equity administration, and related compliance, ideally at a startup scaling across multiple states and countries

- Direct experience managing payroll and worker-classification compliance across multiple U.S. states and at least one international market

- Hands-on experience with Rippling and Carta, or comparable payroll, HRIS, and equity administration systems

- Strong process-building instincts - you've created controls, workflows, and documentation from the ground up, not just operated within existing systems

- Advanced Excel skills and a detail-oriented control mindset for reconciliations, audits, reporting, and payroll accuracy

- Clear, calm, and empathetic communication style when supporting employees through sensitive payroll, equity, or compliance questions

- Bonus: CPP certification, global payroll experience, or deeper exposure to international equity and compliance requirements

- You're meticulous, fast-moving, and trusted with sensitive details

- You're customer-obsessed and treat employees' payroll, equity, and compliance questions with urgency, clarity, and care

- You build order out of ambiguity by creating clear, repeatable processes

- You're proactive about risk and comfortable escalating issues early

- You're energized by working in person with a high-ownership team; this role is expected to be in office 5 days/week

Compensation: The expected base salary for this role is $140,000-$160,000 with final compensation based on experience, skills, and qualifications determined during the interview process. Avoca's total compensation package includes base salary, equity, and a comprehensive suite of benefits and perks. Our Recruiting team will share the full details as you progress through our hiring process.