Global Payroll Manager

fal is the generative media ecosystem powering the next generation of AI products. We build the infrastructure, tools, and model access that teams need to move from idea to production, and do it at scale without compromise. For developers and enterprises, fal is the foundation that makes generative media not just possible, but practical: a unified platform where high-performance inference, orchestration, and observability come together to unlock new categories of AI-native products.

As generative media reshapes industries across a market projected to grow by hundreds of billions over the next decade, fal is becoming the ecosystem that ambitious teams build on.

About this role:
fal is hiring a Foundational Global Payroll Manager to own payroll end to end for a fast-growing, distributed team: US W-2 employees, US contractors, global employees through Employers of Record (EORs), and global contractors. The role runs accurate, on-time payroll in Rippling, gets bonuses and commissions paid correctly, and builds the controls and processes that let payroll scale. It's hands-on: run the cycles today, and design how payroll works as fal adds states, countries, and headcount.

What you’ll do

• US W-2 payroll: full-cycle multi-state payroll in Rippling; federal/state/local tax compliance and new state registrations; year-end (W-2s, W-2Cs, fringe reporting); payroll-side benefit deductions.

• Hourly, non-exempt, and intern pay: California daily OT, double time, 7th-day rules; regular-rate calculations; timekeeping, meal/rest break attestations and premiums; Labor Code 226-compliant wage statements; per-cycle audits.

• Global EOR payroll: monthly inputs, register review, and invoice reconciliation; new-country setup and entity decisions; country-by-country compliance.

• US and global contractors: payments in the right currency; W-9/W-8BEN collection and 1099-NECs; classification risk with People and Legal; monthly GL reconciliation.

• Bonuses, commissions, variable pay: supplemental withholding by state/country; commission validation with Sales Ops and Finance; equity-event payroll (RSU vests, option exercises).

• Controls, accounting, audit and compliance: payroll JEs, GL recs, month-end accruals; controls and audit trails; agency notices and audits; mandatory filings including pay data reports.

• Systems and process: Rippling payroll expert; automate manual steps; payroll calendar, runbooks, and policies; go-to for employee payroll questions.

Qualifications/Nice-to-haves

• 4+ years of progressive payroll experience, including full ownership of multi-state US payroll

• Rippling payroll admin (US and Rippling Global)

• Hands-on global payroll through EORs; paying US and international contractors (1099s, W-8BENs, classification)

• Complex California hourly payroll: daily OT, regular rate, meal/rest premiums, and the records behind them

• Bonus and commission payroll, including supplemental withholding and accruals

• Deep knowledge of federal/state/local payroll tax, FLSA, and year-end reporting

• Comfortable with journal entries, GL reconciliations, and month-end close

• Strong Excel/Sheets skills and a habit of auditing their own work

• Sound judgment with confidential data; clear, friendly communication

• Stood up payroll in a new country or entity

• Equity comp payroll (ISOs, NSOs, RSUs) and Carta

• High-growth startup, ideally AI or developer infrastructure

• CPP or FPC certification

• Automates manual work with scripts, integrations, or AI tools

• US benefits knowledge, including 401(k) and mandatory compliance

What we offer at fal

• Interesting and challenging work

• A lot of learning and growth opportunities

• Health, dental, and vision insurance (US)

• Regular team events and offsites

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY INFORMATION:

fal provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other classification protected by applicable law.