Kardigan
Kardigan is a heart health company dedicated to preventing cardiovascular disease and improving patient outcomes. Our team is led by experienced founders and researchers committed to authentic collaboration, rapid learning, and bold innovation. We value patient focus, authenticity, curiosity, teamwork, and enabling the impossible.
Position title Position Title:
Manager, Payroll & Accounting
Department Department:
Finance & Accounting
Reports to Reports To:
Senior Director, Accounting
Location Location:
Princeton, NJ or South San Francisco, CA – On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs)
Job Overview Kardigan is seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Manager, Payroll & Accounting to own the company\'s payroll operations and support payroll-related accounting functions. The ideal candidate will have extensive payroll expertise, working knowledge of accounting processes, and a track record of driving process improvements. This role includes the transition of payroll in-house from TriNet to ADP, ensuring accurate payroll execution and regulatory compliance, and partnering with HR and other finance teammates to improve business performance.
This position reports to the Senior Director, Accounting and may be located in either Princeton, NJ or South San Francisco, CA.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Payroll Leadership
Oversee all aspects of payroll operations, ensuring timely and accurate processing in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, company policies, and industry standards.
Lead the implementation and transition of payroll from TriNet to ADP, collaborating with internal stakeholders and external advisors for a smooth rollout.
Maintain accurate payroll records, tax filings, and employee pay processing while booking payroll-related general ledger entries for accurate financial reporting.
Ensure compliance with medical insurance, retirement plans (including 401(k) payroll accounting), workers’ compensation, and payroll-related reporting requirements.
Prepare and support payroll-related portions of year-end audits and workers’ compensation audits.
Partner with HR to ensure payroll aligns with benefits, employee data, and compliance obligations.
Accounting & Compliance
Record, reconcile, and analyze payroll-related accounting entries (wages, taxes, benefits, insurance premiums, 401(k) contributions).
Support general ledger payroll postings, accruals, and reconciliations to reflect payroll costs and liabilities accurately.
Collaborate with the accounting team on month-end and year-end close processes related to payroll.
Assist with compliance reporting and audit requirements connected to payroll and employee benefits.
Provide accurate documentation and responses for payroll-related audits (external financial audits, internal audits, and regulatory reviews).
Assist the accounting team with ad-hoc projects and support other accounting areas as needed.
System Integration & Optimization
Collaborate with IT and finance teams to maintain and optimize ADP and its integration with the general ledger (NetSuite experience a plus).
Identify opportunities to improve payroll and accounting processes, reporting, and scalability as the company grows.
Business Partnership & Operational Excellence
Collaborate with HR, FP&A, and cross-functional teams to ensure accuracy in payroll and financial reporting.
Provide payroll-related insights to drive operational efficiency and informed decision-making.
Develop, enhance, and implement payroll policies, procedures, and controls to improve accuracy and compliance.
Qualifications and Preferred Skills
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPP certification or relevant advanced degree preferred.
7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including direct responsibility for payroll-related accounting functions.
Experience leading or participating in payroll system implementations strongly preferred.
Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, regulations, and reporting requirements across federal, state, and local levels.
Experience with payroll-related accounting entries (wages, taxes, benefits, 401(k), insurance premiums, accruals, reconciliations); broader GL experience a plus but not required.
Experience supporting payroll-related audits (financial, year-end, workers’ compensation).
Hands-on experience with payroll systems (ADP strongly preferred) and ERP/accounting systems (NetSuite a plus).
Ability to design, implement, and improve payroll processes and internal controls in a growing organization.
Familiarity with medical insurance compliance, 401(k) administration, and payroll-related benefit programs.
Self-starter with the ability to plan, organize, and meet objectives independently.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex financial and payroll information to non-financial stakeholders.
Experience in small-to-mid-sized biotech or life sciences organizations is preferred.
Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.
Pay range: $114,000 - $171,000 USD
Equal Employment Opportunity Kardigan is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
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Position title Position Title:
Manager, Payroll & Accounting
Department Department:
Finance & Accounting
Reports to Reports To:
Senior Director, Accounting
Location Location:
Princeton, NJ or South San Francisco, CA – On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs)
Job Overview Kardigan is seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Manager, Payroll & Accounting to own the company\'s payroll operations and support payroll-related accounting functions. The ideal candidate will have extensive payroll expertise, working knowledge of accounting processes, and a track record of driving process improvements. This role includes the transition of payroll in-house from TriNet to ADP, ensuring accurate payroll execution and regulatory compliance, and partnering with HR and other finance teammates to improve business performance.
This position reports to the Senior Director, Accounting and may be located in either Princeton, NJ or South San Francisco, CA.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Payroll Leadership
Oversee all aspects of payroll operations, ensuring timely and accurate processing in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, company policies, and industry standards.
Lead the implementation and transition of payroll from TriNet to ADP, collaborating with internal stakeholders and external advisors for a smooth rollout.
Maintain accurate payroll records, tax filings, and employee pay processing while booking payroll-related general ledger entries for accurate financial reporting.
Ensure compliance with medical insurance, retirement plans (including 401(k) payroll accounting), workers’ compensation, and payroll-related reporting requirements.
Prepare and support payroll-related portions of year-end audits and workers’ compensation audits.
Partner with HR to ensure payroll aligns with benefits, employee data, and compliance obligations.
Accounting & Compliance
Record, reconcile, and analyze payroll-related accounting entries (wages, taxes, benefits, insurance premiums, 401(k) contributions).
Support general ledger payroll postings, accruals, and reconciliations to reflect payroll costs and liabilities accurately.
Collaborate with the accounting team on month-end and year-end close processes related to payroll.
Assist with compliance reporting and audit requirements connected to payroll and employee benefits.
Provide accurate documentation and responses for payroll-related audits (external financial audits, internal audits, and regulatory reviews).
Assist the accounting team with ad-hoc projects and support other accounting areas as needed.
System Integration & Optimization
Collaborate with IT and finance teams to maintain and optimize ADP and its integration with the general ledger (NetSuite experience a plus).
Identify opportunities to improve payroll and accounting processes, reporting, and scalability as the company grows.
Business Partnership & Operational Excellence
Collaborate with HR, FP&A, and cross-functional teams to ensure accuracy in payroll and financial reporting.
Provide payroll-related insights to drive operational efficiency and informed decision-making.
Develop, enhance, and implement payroll policies, procedures, and controls to improve accuracy and compliance.
Qualifications and Preferred Skills
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPP certification or relevant advanced degree preferred.
7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including direct responsibility for payroll-related accounting functions.
Experience leading or participating in payroll system implementations strongly preferred.
Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, regulations, and reporting requirements across federal, state, and local levels.
Experience with payroll-related accounting entries (wages, taxes, benefits, 401(k), insurance premiums, accruals, reconciliations); broader GL experience a plus but not required.
Experience supporting payroll-related audits (financial, year-end, workers’ compensation).
Hands-on experience with payroll systems (ADP strongly preferred) and ERP/accounting systems (NetSuite a plus).
Ability to design, implement, and improve payroll processes and internal controls in a growing organization.
Familiarity with medical insurance compliance, 401(k) administration, and payroll-related benefit programs.
Self-starter with the ability to plan, organize, and meet objectives independently.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex financial and payroll information to non-financial stakeholders.
Experience in small-to-mid-sized biotech or life sciences organizations is preferred.
Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.
Pay range: $114,000 - $171,000 USD
Equal Employment Opportunity Kardigan is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
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