Benefits and Payroll Specialist

About the Role

We're seeking an employee-experience-driven, detail-oriented Benefits & Payroll Administrator. You’ll be stepping into a critical position where administrative accuracy directly impacts team trust, morale, and peace of mind. You’ll lead day-to-day payroll and benefits functions, navigate multi-state compliance, and serve as a champion for an exceptional, frictionless employee experience for the People Operations team.
You’ll thrive in this role if you are energized by fast-paced environments, view compliance and operational precision as foundational to great employee care, and love solving complex operational problems with empathy, speed, and clarity.
This role is open to candidates in San Jose, CA, Mountain View, CA, or fully remote, with a preference for those located on the West Coast.

Responsibilities

• Payroll Execution & Trust: Deliver flawless, timely multi-state payroll for all exempt and non-exempt employees, serving as a reliable steward of employee pay and compensation trust.
• Empathetic Employee Support: Act as the primary, high-touch point of contact for day-to-day payroll and benefits inquiries, translating complex policies into clear, supportive guidance across all levels of the organization.
• 401(k) Remittance & Funding: Manage the post-payroll funding process by ensuring timely and accurate transmission of all employee 401(k) deferrals to our plan provider, maintaining strict adherence to DOL and ERISA standards.
• Benefits Experience: Oversee day-to-day benefits operations, enrollments, and status updates. Partner with People Ops leadership and benefits brokers to design and execute a seamless annual open enrollment experience.
• Distributed Workforce Expansion: Support team members wherever they live by leading payroll registration, tax setup, and compliance renewals as we expand into new states.
• Audits & Data Integrity: Conduct regular internal audits of payroll and benefits records to protect data hygiene, while leading external compliance audits (e.g., 401k, Workers' Comp) with precision.
• HRIS Optimization: Maintain accurate employee profiles, compensation, and benefits data within the HRIS to ensure smooth cross-platform workflows and reliable self-service tools for employees.

Requirements

• 3+ years of dedicated experience in multi-state payroll and benefits administration within a fast-paced, high-growth, or startup environment.
• Employee-First Communication: Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with an approachable, kind demeanor and a service-oriented mindset that supports team members at every stage and level.
• Multi-State Compliance Expertise: Proven track record managing multi-state payroll compliance, registering in new states, and keeping up with evolving labor and tax guidelines.
• Proven Audit Experience: Direct hands-on experience leading or supporting internal data hygiene checks and external audits (401k, Workers' Compensation).
• High Empathy & Discretion: Ability to manage sensitive compensation, financial, and benefits data with sound judgment, ultimate discretion, and deep respect for confidentiality.
• Tech & Automation Savvy: Comfortable with Google Workspace, Slack, and HRIS/Payroll platforms (Rippling), with a natural knack for leveraging automation to eliminate tedious manual work and improve systems.
• Detail-Oriented & Autonomous: Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently on critical deadlines.

Nice to Have

• Previous experience scaling People Ops processes or documentation in a high-growth startup environment.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or related HR/Benefits certification.
• Naturally curious about modern People Tech and AI tools, continuously exploring new ways to reduce friction and improve the overall employee experience.

The salary range for this role is $92,000-$134,000, plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location as assessed during the interview process.