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Payroll Initiatives Lead

OpenAI· Finance
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Hybrid (San Francisco)Full-timePosted 2w ago

About the role

OpenAI seeks a Payroll Initiatives Lead to scale the payroll ecosystem with end-to-end payroll experience, focusing on high-value processes, strategic initiatives, and complex business needs beyond day-to-day processing.

Responsibilities

  • Lead payroll integrations for global M&A transactions, coordinating payroll activities from transition planning through stabilization.
  • Partner with acquired companies to complete final payrolls accurately and on time, including equity, variable compensation, final pay, and other deal-related payments.
  • Integrate acquired employees into OpenAI’s payroll systems, processes, controls, and service model while maintaining continuity of pay.
  • Oversee the closure of legacy payroll systems and ensure accurate, compliant year-end processing and reporting.
  • Develop and improve global payment-processing capabilities that support employees across multiple countries and payment types.
  • Lead global payroll system and provider integrations, ensuring data integrity and effective upstream and downstream connections.
  • Partner across Payroll, Finance, Tax, Legal, People, Equity, and other teams to deliver strategic initiatives and resolve complex operational challenges.
  • Identify risks, strengthen controls, and automate repeatable processes that enable payroll operations to scale with the company.

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of progressive experience in payroll operations, preferably in a fast-paced or high-growth environment.
  • Strong working knowledge of global payroll regulations and standard best practices.
  • Experience leading M&A payroll integrations.
  • Hands-on experience with Workday Payroll or other large HCM/global payroll systems; Broad systems experience is a plus.
  • Ability to independently manage priorities, take ownership of outcomes, and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent 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 a plus.

Skills

Required:Payroll operationsGlobal payroll regulationsM&A payroll integrationsWorkday Payroll or large HCM systems
Last updated Oct 22, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About OpenAI

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