Senior Payroll Specialist

About the Role

The Global Payroll team at Coinbase operates in a fast-paced, remote-first environment that values innovation, efficiency, and compliance. As a Senior Payroll Specialist, you will be part of a team that is dedicated to delivering exceptional payroll services that meet the evolving needs of the company. Your expertise will be crucial in driving process improvements, resolving complex payroll issues, and ensuring that payroll operations are aligned with the company's mission to increase economic freedom.

Coinbase is known for its intense and dynamic work environment, where professionals are pushed to deliver their best work. As a remote-first company, Coinbase values flexibility and autonomy, allowing employees to work from anywhere while maintaining a strong sense of community and collaboration. The company's quarterly in-person working sessions, known as "surges," provide a unique opportunity for teams to come together, share knowledge, and drive projects forward.

What You Will Do

• Own end-to-end biweekly US payroll processing for salaried and hourly employees, ensuring accuracy and compliance with all relevant regulations.
• Execute payroll input compilation from multiple sources, validating data for accuracy and completeness before each cycle.
• Drive timely resolution of employee payroll inquiries in Jira within SLA, performing root cause analysis to prevent recurrence.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and cross-functional teams to process employee changes in payroll and cross-check data accuracy.
• Lead timecard tracking and reconciliation to ensure alignment between timekeeping systems and payroll records.
• Support continuous process improvements by identifying opportunities for automation and efficiency gains in payroll workflows.
• Collaborate with the Global Payroll team to develop and implement best practices for payroll operations.
• Stay up-to-date with changes in payroll regulations and legislation, ensuring that Coinbase remains compliant.
• Develop and maintain reports to analyze payroll data, track trends, and identify areas for improvement.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience with multi-state payroll processing, with demonstrated expertise in federal, state, and local tax compliance.
• Proven experience processing payroll for employee populations that receive equity compensation, including restricted stock units.
• Hands-on proficiency with payroll platforms (e.g., UKG Pro, Workday HCM) and HRIS integrations in a high-volume environment.
• Track record of resolving complex payroll issues independently, with documented root cause analysis and process improvement outcomes.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace, Slack, Atlassian tools (Jira), and Apple products for daily collaboration and case management.
• Utilizes generative AI responsibly, maintaining human oversight to deliver business-ready outputs and drive measurable improvements in workflow efficiency, cost, and quality.
• Fluency with cloud-native data environments (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery) and their metadata, lineage, and governance capabilities at scale.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and make informed decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

Nice to Have

• Experience with international payroll processing and compliance.
• Certification in payroll or a related field (e.g., CPP, FPC).
• Knowledge of accounting principles and financial reporting.
• Experience with project management tools and methodologies.
• Familiarity with Coinbase's products and services.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Equity compensation package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) matching program.
• Flexible PTO policy and remote work stipend.
• Access to professional development opportunities and training programs.
• Quarterly in-person working sessions ("surges") for team collaboration and strategy development.
• A dynamic and supportive work environment that values innovation and creativity.

• When applying, ensure your resume and cover letter highlight specific experiences with payroll processing, compliance, and automation.
• Prepare to discuss your experience with payroll platforms, HRIS integrations, and data analysis during the interview.
• Showcase your problem-solving skills by providing examples of complex payroll issues you've resolved and how you approached them.
• Be ready to talk about your understanding of federal, state, and local tax regulations and how you stay updated on changes.
• Consider creating a portfolio that demonstrates your proficiency in payroll operations, process improvements, and data analysis.
• Research Coinbase's culture and values, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the company's mission.