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Payroll Operations Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Director of NAMER Payroll Operations will have led a payroll team in a complex and dynamic environment and will be able to leverage prior US and Canada payroll experience. To be successful in ...

The Director of NAMER Payroll Operations will have led a payroll team in a complex and dynamic environment and will be able to leverage prior US and Canada payroll experience. To be successful in ...

About the Role & Team The Payroll Operations Specialist supports the administrative and compliance foundation that enables customers to operate across state jurisdictions. You'll manage payroll tax ...

The Payroll Manager oversees all functional aspects of the payroll operation, including accurate and timely completion of all payrolls, responding to inquiries about payroll transactions, ensuring ...

The Payroll Manager oversees all functional aspects of the payroll operation, including accurate and timely completion of all payrolls, responding to inquiries about payroll transactions, ensuring ...

The Payroll Manager oversees all functional aspects of the payroll operation, including accurate and timely completion of all payrolls, responding to inquiries about payroll transactions, ensuring ...

The Payroll Manager will lead end-to-end payroll operations across the United States and United Kingdom, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely pay for all employees. This role partners closely ...

Key Responsibilities Payroll Operations & Compliance - Direct and oversee payroll operations across multiple companies, entities, and states. - Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll ...

Payroll Director

Brea, CA · On-site

$160K - $180K/yr

Key Responsibilities Payroll Operations & Compliance - Direct and oversee payroll operations across multiple companies, entities, and states. - Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll ...

Global Payroll Director

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$133K - $172K/yr

Oversee end-to-end global payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing for multiple countries and regions. * Establish and maintain strong relationships with local payroll providers ...

Oversee end-to-end global payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing for multiple countries and regions. * Establish and maintain strong relationships with local payroll providers ...

Global Payroll Director

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$133K - $172K/yr

Oversee end-to-end global payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing for multiple countries and regions. * Establish and maintain strong relationships with local payroll providers ...

Maintains payroll operations by following policies and procedures; reporting needed changes. * Maintains employee confidence and protects payroll operations by keeping information confidential.

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Showing results 1-20

Payroll Operations information

See California salary details

$41.5K

$88.2K

$131.3K

How much do payroll operations jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for payroll operations in California is $88,225.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,100.00 and $102,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are common challenges faced in Payroll Operations, and how can new team members effectively handle them?

A common challenge in Payroll Operations is ensuring absolute accuracy and compliance with ever-changing tax regulations and company policies. New team members often need to quickly become proficient with specialized payroll software while managing tight deadlines, especially during pay cycles. To handle these challenges effectively, it’s important to regularly communicate with HR and finance departments, stay updated on legal requirements, and develop strong attention to detail. Many organizations provide ongoing training and encourage collaboration, which helps new hires build confidence and perform efficiently.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Payroll Operations, and why are they important?

To thrive in Payroll Operations, you need a strong grasp of payroll processes, tax regulations, and compliance standards, usually backed by experience in finance or accounting. Familiarity with payroll software like ADP, SAP, or Workday, and certifications such as Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) are commonly expected. Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to communicate clearly with employees and management set top performers apart. These skills are essential for ensuring accurate, timely payroll processing and maintaining compliance with legal requirements.

What is Payroll Operations?

Payroll Operations refers to the processes and systems involved in managing employee compensation within an organization. This includes calculating wages, withholding taxes, distributing paychecks, and maintaining payroll records. Payroll Operations also ensure compliance with legal regulations and company policies regarding employee pay. The goal is to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time while adhering to all relevant laws and guidelines.

What is the difference between Payroll Operations vs Payroll Specialist?

AspectPayroll OperationsPayroll Specialist
Primary FocusOversees end-to-end payroll processes, including system management and complianceProcesses payroll, verifies data, and ensures accurate employee payments
Required CredentialsKnowledge of payroll systems, HRIS, and compliance regulationsSimilar credentials, often with payroll certification or related training
Work EnvironmentTypically in HR or payroll departments, handling multiple payroll functionsIn HR or payroll teams, focusing on data entry and payroll processing

Payroll Operations roles generally involve managing the entire payroll process and systems, while Payroll Specialists focus on executing payroll tasks. Both roles require similar skills and certifications, but Payroll Operations has a broader scope and strategic responsibilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Payroll Operations jobs in California? The most popular types of Payroll Operations jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Payroll Operations jobs in California? For Payroll Operations jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Payroll Operations jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Payroll Operations jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Payroll Operations job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,225 per year, or $42.4 per hour.
Director, Payroll Operations

Director, Payroll Operations

LinkedIn

Sunnyvale, CA • Hybrid

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago


LinkedIn rating

9.3

Company rating: 9.3 out of 10

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 245 rated software companies


Job description

Company Description

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network, built to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce. Our products help people make powerful connections, discover exciting opportunities, build necessary skills, and gain valuable insights every day. We're also committed to providing transformational opportunities for our own employees by investing in their growth. We aspire to create a culture that's built on trust, care, inclusion, and fun - where everyone can succeed.

Join us to transform the way the world works.

Job Description

At LinkedIn, our approach to flexible work is centered on trust and optimized for culture, connection, clarity, and the evolving needs of our business. The work location of this role is hybrid, meaning it will be performed both from home and from a LinkedIn office on select days, as determined by the business needs of the team.  

This role will be based in Sunnyvale, CA.

The Global Payroll and Employment Tax team is looking for a creative, enthusiastic, and tenured Director of NAMER Payroll Operations who will be responsible for leading the payroll operations team through the end-to-end execution of payroll. This person will work closely with the Payroll Employment Tax team as well as other cross-functional stakeholders to drive the payroll strategy and ensure payroll is executed accurately and on time. 

The Director of NAMER Payroll Operations will have led a payroll team in a complex and dynamic environment and will be able to leverage prior US and Canada payroll experience. To be successful in this role, the candidate will need to be organized and deadline driven, ensuring recurring assignments are handled on a timely basis while contributing to special cross-functional projects and addressing unusual developments. This position requires a highly motivated professional with a strong drive and skillset to lead the payroll team with compliance and improvement initiatives. 
Responsibilities: 

  • Reports to the Senior Director, Global Payroll & Employment Tax 
  • Lead the NAMER payroll operations ensuring accurate and timely processing, in accordance with company policies and local tax and labour regulations. 
  • Manage, coach, and develop the NAMER Payroll Operations team. 
  • Ensure all monthly, quarterly, and annual filings and year-end statements are issued per local legislation. 
  • Build and maintain a strong relationship with key stakeholders within the HRIT/Operations, Compensation, Benefits, Finance, and other related organizations to ensure optimization of the end-to-end payroll input and output processes. 
  • Ensure the proper processing and reporting of salary, equity, bonuses, and benefits and taxes at employee, agency, and enterprise level. 
  • Manage 3rd party relationships with our payroll providers. 
  • Manage the preparation of relevant management quarterly business reviews, KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), and payroll metrics. 
  • Optimize standard procedures for payroll processing, ensuring strong internal and SOX controls and segregation of duties. 
  • Ensure best practices for regular audits of earnings, payroll taxes, and annual reporting are performed and are effective to avoid any potential errors or compliance risk. 
  • Provide subject matter expertise for cross-functional projects impacting payroll operations. 
  • Govern and maintain internal controls in accordance with SOX and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requirements.
  • Ensure policies and procedure manuals are up to date and maintained by payroll personnel.
Qualifications

Basic Qualifications: 

  • 10+ years in accounting, finance, or payroll operations  
  • 5+ years in people leadership, managing direct reports and teams of 5+

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor's degree in accounting, Business, Finance, or related discipline 
  • Familiar with ADP payroll platforms, including ADP Global View and ADP Streamline a plus.
  • Expertise in the end-to-end US/CA payroll process and elevated level of understanding of general business operations and internal control concepts; ability to assess and provide input into impact of a business process / system change.
  • Ability to think strategically and act operationally; have strong personal impact and resilience and ability to influence and persuade. 
  • Excellent customer and employee experience focus. 
  • Team player, flexible, and ability to resolve conflicts. 
  • Have worked with a remote and geographically dispersed team. 
  • Familiarity with business practices and cultures across multiple international regions. 
  • Demonstration of successful interaction with cross-functional business partners. 
  • Managed under Service Level Agreement (SLA), Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and performance metrics and monitoring for in scope activities. 
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
  • Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation (or similar) a plus.

 Suggested Skills:

  • Leadership
  • Strategic partnership and thinking 
  • Stakeholder management
  • Executive communications

LinkedIn is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices.    

The pay range for this role is $158,000 to $258,000. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and specific work location. This may be different in other locations due to differences in the cost of labor.    

The total compensation package for this position may also include annual performance bonus, stock, benefits and/or other applicable incentive compensation plans. For more information, visit https://careers.linkedin.com/benefits. 

Additional Information

Equal Opportunity Statement 

We seek candidates with a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. LinkedIn considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.

LinkedIn is committed to offering an inclusive and accessible experience for all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to foster an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone has the opportunity to be successful.

If you need a Reasonable Accommodation to search for a job opening, apply for a position, or participate in the interview process, connect with us and describe the specific Accommodation requested for a disability-related limitation.
Fill out an Accommodation request here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/b660a0327d044969abfd7a4e73d15c36

Reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the application or hiring process that would enable you to fully participate in that process. Examples of reasonable accommodations include but are not limited to:

  • Documents in alternate formats or read aloud to you
  • Having interviews in an accessible location
  • Being accompanied by a service dog
  • Having a sign language interpreter present for the interview

A request for an accommodation will be responded to within three business days. However, non-disability related requests, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.

LinkedIn will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by LinkedIn, or (c) consistent with LinkedIn's legal duty to furnish information.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, LinkedIn will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Pay Transparency Policy Statement

As a federal contractor, LinkedIn follows the Pay Transparency and non-discrimination provisions described at this link: https://lnkd.in/paytransparency.

Global Data Privacy Notice and Compliance Posters for Job Candidates 

Please use this link to access documents that provide information about how LinkedIn handles the personal data of employees and job applicants, as well as the E-Verify Participation Notice and the Department of Justice Immigrant and Employee Rights Section Right to Work posters: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/candidate-portal.


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