What are the responsibilities and job description for the Payroll Director position at Vaco by Highspring?
About the Company:Real Estate Investment Trust
Location: San Diego - Hybrid: three days a week in office
Title: Payroll Director
Salary:$125k-160k Bonus Equity
Job Description: This position will lead and scale our global payroll operations. In this high-impact role, you'll oversee both domestic and international payroll, ensure tax and regulatory compliance, and manage a team of payroll professionals across multiple geographies.
If you thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and have deep expertise in payroll operations-particularly in the U.S., UK, and Netherlands-we'd love to hear from you!
Responsibilities:
- Lead and develop a high-performing payroll team, fostering accountability and continuous improvement
- Manage and ensure timely and accurate payroll processing for 400 U.S. employees across 20 states
- Oversee global payroll operations, including 50 employees in the UK and Netherlands, in partnership with third-party providers
- Develop and execute long-term payroll strategies aligned with company goals
- Enhance and implement global payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls
- Identify automation opportunities and drive digital transformation across payroll functions
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Treasury, Accounting, and People Success
- Ensure tax compliance across new states and countries, liaising with relevant agencies
- Oversee audits, SOX compliance, reconciliations, and year-end reporting
- Support M&A integration, stock and compensation reporting, and ad hoc financial analysis
- Deliver best-in-class support to employees on payroll-related questions
Qualifications:
- 10 years of U.S. payroll experience, including California-specific requirements
- 5 years in a managerial payroll role, including international payroll oversight
- Deep knowledge of statutory compliance in the UK (HMRC) and the Netherlands
- Bachelor's degree in business, finance, or accounting (or equivalent experience)
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP); international payroll certification preferred
- Workday experience strongly preferred
- Proficiency in Excel (VLOOKUPs, macros, etc.)
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
- Experience with M&A and leading through ambiguity
Benefits:
- Best-in-class benefits, including healthcare, dental, and vision for employees and dependents
- 401(k) with 50% company match up to 6% of eligible compensation
- Wellness, financial, and lifestyle support programs
Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.
Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com .
Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.
By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.
- California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
- Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
- Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
- Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
- Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.
Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:
- the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
- licensure and certification requirements;
- office location and other geographic considerations;
- other business and organizational needs.
With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.
Salary : $125,000 - $160,000
