Upgrade is a fintech company that provides affordable and responsible credit, mobile banking, and payment products to everyday consumers. We were the fastest growing company in the Americas last year according to the Financial Times and Upgrade Card was the fastest growing credit card in America two years in a row. We have delivered over $25 billion in affordable and responsible credit to our 2.7M customers. The company is backed by some of the most prominent technology investors and was recently valued at $6.3B.

We have built an energizing, collaborative and inclusive culture where team members help each other, learn and innovate to move the company and its customers in the right direction, and own the outcome of their efforts.

Upgrade has been named a “Best Place to Work in the Bay Area” three years in a row, “Top Companies to work for in Arizona” and one of the "Best Engineering Department" awarded annually by Comparably. We've also received recognition for being a best company for Diversity, Women, Culture, and Veterans.

We are looking for new team members who get excited about designing and delivering new and better products to join a team of 1600 talented and dedicated professionals. Come work with us if you like to tackle big problems and make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

 


About the Role:

As the Director of Payroll, you will be responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of payroll operations for our company. This role requires a seasoned professional with comprehensive experience in handling both US and Canadian payroll processes, including expertise in stock compensation. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, possess strong analytical skills, and have a thorough understanding of payroll regulations in both countries. This role will be based in our Phoenix office in a hybrid capacity.

 

 

What You’ll Do: 

  • Oversee North America payroll operations and stock administration, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations
  • Build and scale exceptional payroll and stock administration functions to support Upgrade’s growth
  • Drive improvements and cross-functional synergies by partnering with Finance, Operations, Legal, People Operations and other organizations
  • Build and nurture strong partnerships with payroll service providers
  • Manage and oversee the day-to-day operations of the payroll department as well as provide coaching and guidance to the team
  • Implement effective controls, establish international payroll and stock administration policies, and ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and other legal requirements applicable in each country, state, and province of operation
  • Effectively educate and support employees on payroll and stock-related matters, processes and requirements

 

What We Look For:

  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
  • Expertise in managing payroll operations and stock administration in multiple countries, including a solid understanding of international payroll regulations and compliance requirements
  • Demonstrated success in leading the payroll and equity administration functions through rapid growth and global expansion and executing strategies
  • Demonstrated success in working cross-functionally to execute strategic initiatives
  • Strong leadership and team management skills with a proven track record of building high-performing teams
  • Demonstrated success managing 401k payroll administration and annual audits and compliance reviews.
  • Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.

 

Nice to Have:

  • Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or similar certification
  • Experience with Workday payroll software
  • Experience managing payroll processes during an IPO
  • Public company, including SOX, experience

 

What We Offer You: 

 

  • Competitive salary and stock option plan
  • 100% paid coverage of medical, dental and vision insurance 
  • Flexible PTO
  • Opportunities for professional growth and development  
  • Paid parental leave
  • Health & wellness initiatives

 

#BI-Hybrid #LI-Hybrid

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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Upgrade is dedicated to building a diverse team and an inclusive culture. We believe that it’s crucial to Upgrade’s long-term success to create an environment where all employees feel like they belong and have an equal opportunity to succeed.

For this reason, we are asking candidates to voluntarily self-identify through a few demographic questions. Our purpose in collecting this information is to help us assess our outreach efforts and diversity representation goals. Your responses will not be linked to your identity or your application, and neither recruiters nor hiring managers can see this information at an individual level. Your responses are stored in the aggregate and will not play any role in our hiring decision.  Your decision to participate or not participate in this survey will have no impact on your candidacy at Upgrade.

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