Payroll Manager

At Achieve Life Sciences, we’re preparing for the potential commercial launch of cytisinicline and building the operational infrastructure needed to support our next phase of growth. This is an opportunity to establish scalable payroll processes that support a growing, global workforce while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and a positive employee experience.

Reporting to the Vice President, Finance, the Manager, Payroll will own and scale Achieve’s global payroll function across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This individual will oversee end-to-end payroll operations, tax compliance, financial reconciliation, reporting, systems, and year-end activities while partnering closely with HR, Finance, Accounting, Equity Administration, and Sales Operations. The role will also play a key part in preparing payroll processes for commercial launch, including sales incentive compensation and field-force pay practices.

What You’ll Do

• Lead global payroll operations: Own end-to-end payroll processing across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., including regular, off-cycle, and bonus payrolls, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payments as the organization grows.
• Manage multi-state payroll: Administer payroll for employees across multiple U.S. states, including remote and field-based sales personnel, and coordinate new hires, terminations, compensation changes, leaves, and final pay in partnership with HR.
• Oversee payroll providers and systems: Manage relationships, service-level agreements, and performance expectations with payroll providers in each country. Maintain effective HRIS and payroll integrations and drive process improvements as the business scales.
• Maintain payroll tax compliance: Oversee payroll tax withholding, remittances, filings, registrations, and statutory reporting across applicable jurisdictions. Monitor legislative and regulatory changes and update processes before new requirements take effect.
• Manage country-specific requirements: Oversee U.S. federal, state, and local payroll obligations; Canadian source deductions, remittances, and year-end reporting; and U.K. PAYE, National Insurance, HMRC submissions, statutory payments, and pension auto-enrollment.
• Prepare for commercial launch: Partner with Sales Operations, HR, and Finance to establish payroll processes for incentive compensation, including bonuses, commissions, and sales performance awards. Build scalable workflows for variable pay tied to quotas and performance metrics.
• Support field-force compensation: Coordinate payroll administration for sales expense reimbursements, car allowances, and other field-force pay elements. Ensure compliance with applicable state wage and hour requirements, commission agreements, final pay rules, and expense reimbursement laws.
• Administer equity and benefits through payroll: Process payroll-related tax withholding and reporting for stock option exercises, restricted stock unit (RSU) vesting, and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) purchases. Partner with external advisors on cross-border and mobile employee tax considerations, including U.K. share schemes and Canadian stock option rules.
• Reconcile benefits and retirement deductions: Reconcile payroll deductions with benefit carriers and plan providers and support administration of company benefits programs and the 401(k) plan.
• Own payroll accounting and reporting: Prepare payroll journal entries, accruals, and month-end close support. Deliver reporting and analysis for Finance, HR, and leadership, including headcount costs, budget variances, and R&D tax credit support.
• Strengthen controls and audit readiness: Maintain documented payroll controls and segregation of duties, support SOX compliance and financial statement and benefit plan audits and identify opportunities to reduce risk and improve operational efficiency.
• Partner across the organization: Work collaboratively with HR, Finance, Accounting, Legal, Equity Administration, and Sales Operations to resolve issues, maintain compliance, and support evolving business needs.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 7+ years of payroll experience, including 3+ years in a payroll lead or management role.
• Hands-on experience managing multi-country payroll, with direct responsibility for at least two of the following: United States, Canada, and United Kingdom.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. federal and multi-state payroll tax requirements, wage and hour regulations, and applicable payroll compliance obligations.
• Experience processing equity compensation through payroll, including stock options, RSUs, and ESPP transactions.
• Proficiency with a major payroll or HRIS platform, such as ADP Workforce Now or Rippling.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage confidential employee and financial information with discretion.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across HR, Finance, Legal, and Sales Operations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accurate payroll operations during periods of rapid growth.

     Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
• Experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or life sciences, particularly during a transition from pre-commercial development to commercialization.
• Experience in manufacturing, multi-site operations, or other complex operating environments.
• Experience building or supporting incentive compensation payroll processes for a field-based or pharmaceutical sales team.
• Experience supporting SOX compliance, internal controls, and audit readiness.
• Familiarity with pharmaceutical commercial compliance considerations, including coordination with Finance and Compliance on Sunshine Act reporting and alignment with expense policies.

Who We Are

At Achieve, we are committed to bringing medicines forward that contribute to a healthier world. Achieve is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to advancing cytisinicline as a widely available treatment option to help people battling nicotine dependence.

If you enjoy working in a dynamic team environment and are passionate about making a difference, we invite you to apply. We strive to attract, develop, and retain highly qualified individuals representing the diverse communities we serve.

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $130,000–$145,000 USD annually. This range represents a good-faith estimate of what Achieve reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of hire. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. This position is also eligible for an annual target bonus and equity compensation as determined by the Company’s compensation committee.

Benefits

Achieve offers a comprehensive benefits package, which currently includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k)-retirement plan; participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan; company-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage; and paid time off and paid company holidays.

Location & Travel

This is a remote position, and candidates may reside anywhere in the continental United States. This role may require travel of up to 10% for conferences and company meetings.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Achieve Life Sciences is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact hr@achievelifesciences.com.

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