Payroll Manager

Kodiak AI, Inc. (Nasdaq: KDK), founded in 2018, is a leader in Physical AI, developing driverless technology that powers machines that move. Its Kodiak Driver is a vehicle-agnostic autonomous driving system that combines AI-powered software with modular hardware. Today it operates in long-haul trucking, industrial trucking, and defense. In 2024, Kodiak launched commercial Driver-as-a-Service operations with no one in the cab, and plans to launch driverless long-haul service between Dallas and Houston by the end of 2026.

Kodiak has partnered with many of the biggest names in freight, including Bosch for scaled hardware production, AWS, and leading customers including Atlas Energy Solutions, IKEA, Bridgestone, Werner Enterprises, C.R. England, Roehl Transport, and General Dynamics Land Systems.

We are looking for a Payroll Manager to own and oversee payroll operations at Kodiak AI. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for our salaried and hourly employees, while maintaining strong internal controls and supporting the financial reporting requirements of a publicly traded company.

The ideal candidate brings extensive payroll experience, hands-on expertise with Paylocity, and a strong understanding of equity-related payroll transactions and payroll accounting. You will partner closely with our Accounting, Finance, People Operations, and Stock Administration teams to ensure payroll accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency.

In this role, you will:

• Own end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing for salaried and hourly employees across multiple states.
• Manage regular and off-cycle payroll runs, including payroll associated with restricted stock unit (RSU) releases and nonqualified stock option (NQSO) exercises.
• Oversee payroll processing and administration in Paylocity, ensuring accuracy, data integrity, and timely resolution of issues.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including wage-and-hour laws, payroll tax requirements, and reporting obligations.
• Own payroll-related month-end close activities, including payroll journal entries, accruals, general ledger reconciliations, and variance analysis.
• Partner with Stock Administration to ensure accurate processing, reconciliation, and tax withholding for equity-related payroll transactions.
• Maintain and strengthen payroll internal controls, policies, and procedures to support SOX compliance and public-company audit requirements.
• Oversee payroll tax filings, year-end reporting, and W-2 preparation, and support internal and external audits.
• Collaborate with Accounting, Finance, and People Operations to resolve payroll issues, ensure accurate financial reporting, and improve processes.
• Identify opportunities to streamline payroll operations, improve efficiency, and strengthen accuracy and controls.

What you’ll bring:

• 8+ years of progressive payroll experience, including hands-on ownership of end-to-end payroll processing.
• Direct experience using Paylocity for payroll processing and administration.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including California wage-and-hour laws and multi-state payroll compliance.
• Experience processing payroll for both salaried and hourly employees, including timekeeping and overtime requirements.
• Experience processing equity-related payroll transactions, including RSU releases and NQSO exercises, and associated tax withholding and reporting.
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting and month-end close processes, including journal entries, accruals, and general ledger reconciliations.
• Experience with public-company internal controls, SOX compliance, and audit requirements.
• Advanced Excel skills, strong analytical abilities, and exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, with a proactive, hands-on approach to problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration.

Nice to have experience: 

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.
• Prior experience managing payroll at a publicly traded company.
• Experience supporting payroll operations in a high-growth technology environment.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation package including equity and annual bonuses
• Excellent Medical, Dental, and Vision plans through Kaiser Permanente, Cigna, and MetLife (including a medical plan with infertility benefits)
• MetLife Legal Services, Identity & Fraud Protection, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Accident Insurance, & Critical Illness Insurance
• Flexible PTO, 10 paid holidays, and generous parental leave policies
• Our office is centrally located in Mountain View, CA
• Office perks: dog-friendly, free catered lunch, a fully stocked kitchen, and free EV charging
• Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, Life Insurance
• Wellbeing Benefits - Headspace through Cigna, Calm through Kaiser, One Medical, Gympass, Spring Health through Cigna, Rula (mental health navigation) 
• Fidelity 401(k)
• Commuter, FSA, Dependent Care FSA, HSA
• Various incentive programs (referral bonuses, patent bonuses, etc.)