Sr. Manager, Payroll

Manage payroll processing and tax withholding for RSU vesting events, including coordination with Stock Administration on vest schedules, sell-to-cover mechanics, and supplemental withholding rates

Ensure correct treatment of ESPP, NQSOs, ISOs, and other equity instruments from a payroll tax perspective

Partner with Legal and Tax on equity income sourcing and IRS / CRA reporting obligations on equity-derived income

Reconcile equity payroll data to stock admin records each quarter with zero tolerance for mismatch

Lead, develop, and performance-manage a team of four to five payroll professionals — setting clear expectations, managing workload, and building capability

Create a team culture where accuracy is non-negotiable, deadlines are owned not managed around, and problems surface early

Build redundancy and cross-training so the function is never single-threaded on any critical process

Coach the team on technical depth — tax law, equity mechanics, compliance — so they grow into the next generation of payroll leaders

Design and maintain SOX-compliant payroll controls, including segregation of duties, approval workflows, and exception reporting

Lead payroll's response to internal and external audits — preparing documentation, managing timelines, and closing findings without repeat

Maintain payroll policy documentation and desktop procedures, updated with every legislative or system change

Produce monthly payroll metrics and variance analysis for Finance and HR leadership

Experience with Workday Payroll and Workday HCM — working knowledge of the platform in a payroll operations context is a strong advantage

Hands-on experience with ADP Smart Compliance for multi-jurisdictional tax filing and agency management is a strong advantage

Experience supporting a high-growth technology company through rapid headcount scaling across new US states and Canadian provinces

Familiarity with Shareworks for stock plan administration and equity payroll integration is an added advantage

Experience with payroll and equity tax rules for mobile employee populations

Exposure to global payroll coordination and vendor management beyond North America

Pay Range Transparency

Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected base salary range for non-commissionable roles or on-target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipated utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here.

About Databricks

Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 20,000 organizations worldwide — including adidas, AT&T, Bayer, Block, Mastercard, Rivian, Unilever, and 70% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Data + AI Platform to build and scale data and AI apps, analytics and agents. Headquartered in San Francisco with 30+ offices around the globe, Databricks offers a unified platform that includes Genie, Lakebase, Agent Bricks, Lakeflow, Lakehouse, and Unity Catalog. To learn more, follow Databricks on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Instagram. Benefits At Databricks, we strive to provide comprehensive benefits and perks that meet the needs of all of our employees. For specific details on the benefits offered in your region click here.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Databricks, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can excel. We take great care to ensure that our hiring practices are inclusive and meet equal employment opportunity standards. Individuals looking for employment at Databricks are considered without regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.

Compliance

If access to export-controlled technology or source code is required for performance of job duties, it is within Employer's discretion whether to apply for a U.S. government license for such positions, and Employer may decline to proceed with an applicant on this basis alone.