US Payroll Operations

About the Role

At OpenAI, payroll is not a back-office function — it is mission-critical infrastructure. We are seeking a seasoned US Payroll Operations expert to scale, and continuously improve the payroll and payroll-support ecosystem that serves one of the fastest-growing and most technically sophisticated organizations in the world.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

In this role, you will

• Process biweekly payrolls for 5,000+ US employees, ensuring accurate and timely payroll delivery for exempt and non-exempt populations while maintaining compliance across federal, state and local regulations.
• Support payroll activities related to mergers & acquisitions, including final payroll processing, tax account closures, W-2 reporting, payroll record retention, compliance requirements and payroll integration or wind-down activities.
• Lead day-to-day workflows with outsourced payroll/BPO partners to ensure SLAs are met, quality standards are upheld and identify opportunities to improve quality, efficiency and controls.
• Deliver exceptional employee support by resolving payroll inquiries with a strong service mindset, ensuring clear communication, timely resolution and adherence to established SLAs.
• Drive continuous process improvement through automation, AI-enabled solutions, workflow redesign and system optimization, reducing manual effort while enhancing accuracy, compliance and employee experiences.
• Create and maintain process documentation, SOPs and process maps to support scalable payroll operations and audit readiness.
• Partner closely with HR, Benefits and other cross-functional teams to ensure clean upstream inputs and accurate downstream reporting.
• Create and maintain employee-facing payroll resources, knowledge base articles and self-service tools that improve transparency, reduce inquiry volume and improve the employee experience.

You might thrive in this role if you have

• 7+ years of progressive experience in payroll operations, preferably in a fast-paced or high-growth environment.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including employee mobility, multi-state taxation and standard payroll practices.
• Hands-on experience with Workday Payroll required. ADP SmartCompliance experience is a plus.
• Ability to independently manage multiple competing priorities, take ownership of outcomes, and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high attention to detail.
• Clear and concise communication skills, with the ability to partner effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, HR, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. CPP certification is strongly preferred.