Senior Manager, Global Payroll

The Senior Manager, Global Payroll will lead and scale LaunchDarkly’s global payroll operations during its next phase of growth. This leader will partner closely with Accounting, Finance, People, Legal, IT, Total Rewards, and external payroll providers to ensure payroll is accurate, timely, compliant, efficient, and employee-centered across all countries and entities where LaunchDarkly operates.

This role is ideal for a strategic, hands-on payroll leader who is comfortable driving change across multiple functions and regions, staying close to complex details, and building scalable processes that support a growing global workforce.

Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end global payroll operating model, including payroll calendars, standard operating procedures, data inputs, approvals, processing, funding, reconciliations, reporting, and issue resolution
• Lead US and international payroll operations across multiple countries, entities, pay frequencies, and local requirements, ensuring each payroll cycle is accurate, timely, and complete
• Manage relationships with third-party payroll providers, EOR partners, and local payroll specialists, holding partners accountable for service quality, compliance, deadlines, and issue resolution
• Establish and maintain strong payroll controls, review procedures, and audit-ready documentation across employee data, tax withholding, deductions, benefits, equity, commissions, bonuses, off-cycle payments, and employee changes
• Partner closely with People Operations and Total Rewards to ensure new hires, terminations, transfers, promotions, compensation changes, benefits elections, leaves, and other employee lifecycle events flow accurately into payroll
• Partner with Accounting on payroll reconciliations, payroll-related journal entries, accruals, balance sheet accounts, cash funding, and month-end close support
• Partner with Stock Administration to ensure equity transactions, vesting, exercises, and related taxable compensation are accurately reflected in payroll and reported appropriately
• Partner with Legal and external advisors on payroll tax, statutory requirements, registrations, wage and hour matters, audits, year-end reporting, and changes in local regulations
• Serve as the senior escalation point for complex payroll issues, investigate root causes, and communicate clearly with cross-functional partners and affected employees
• Lead payroll audits and year-end processes, including W-2s, tax filings, statutory reporting, reconciliations, and other required employee and government reporting
• Evaluate and implement/improve payroll systems, HRIS integrations, workflows, and reporting to reduce manual effort, improve data quality, and increase operational visibility
• Partner with IT and business stakeholders on payroll system enhancements, integrations, provider transitions, entity launches, and other initiatives that improve scalability and employee experience
• Define and monitor payroll operating metrics, including cycle accuracy, timeliness, exception volume, issue resolution, provider performance, reconciliations, and audit findings
• Analyze payroll data and trends, prepare regular payroll forecasts and workforce-cost projections, investigate discrepancies, and deliver clear reporting and metrics to Finance and leadership
• Improve the employee payroll experience by responding to questions, resolving issues promptly, and communicating clearly about payroll timelines and changes
• Identify opportunities to use automation and AI-enabled tools responsibly to improve payroll operations, reporting, controls, and employee support
• Lead, mentor, and develop payroll team members and external partners, creating clear accountability, strong development paths, and a culture of operational excellence
• Serve as a trusted partner to Finance and People leadership by balancing strong governance with practical, business-oriented problem-solving