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Moderna · 5 hours ago

Senior Payroll Specialist

Cambridge, MA

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level

$90K/yr - $144K/yr

5+ years exp

Moderna is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Payroll Specialist to support a broad range of activities within the Payroll function. This role is responsible for managing all aspects of U.S. and Canadian payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and continuous process improvement.

BiotechnologyGeneticsHealth CareMedicalPharmaceuticalTherapeutics

Comp. & Benefits

No H1B

Responsibilities

Process and oversee end-to-end payroll for U.S. (multi-entity, multi-state) and Canadian (multi-entity, multi-province) employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with all applicable laws and internal policies

Leverage ADP SmartCompliance expertise to manage wage and tax compliance and administration across the U.S. and Canada

Validate, reconcile, and audit payroll data from multiple systems (Workday and vendor outputs) to ensure data integrity before processing and funding

Partner with HR, Benefits, Accounting, and Finance to align payroll processes, support audits, and ensure a seamless employee pay experience

Collaborate with Global Compensation and Global Mobility teams to support expatriate shadow payroll, cross-border reporting, and payroll-impacting events (transfers, relocations, and repatriation)

Coordinate with HR, Finance, and Legal to fulfill documentation and compliance requests, and assist with ad-hoc payroll-related reporting

Monitor the payroll inbox and resolve employee inquiries, including timesheet validation, in a timely and professional manner

Work closely with outsourced payroll providers and vendors to ensure service quality, compliance, and adherence to SLAs

Manage state and provincial agency correspondence and remain current on wage, tax, and reporting regulations to ensure ongoing compliance

Support quarter-end and year-end payroll activities, including reconciliations, adjustments, and preparation of tax documents (e.g., W-2s, T4s, RL-1, ROE)

Assist with quarterly and annual audits and maintain accurate payroll documentation in compliance with SOX and internal controls

Maintain and update payroll procedures and SOPs to ensure audit readiness and consistency with corporate policies

Collaborate with HRIS and IT to test and implement Workday payroll configuration changes, integrations, and system updates

Contribute to process improvement initiatives, driving efficiency, accuracy, and scalability within payroll operations

Serve as a subject matter expert in payroll systems, compliance, and best practices to enhance governance and employee experience

Qualification

Workday PayrollADP SmartCompliancePayroll complianceU.S.Canadian payrollAnalytical skillsMicrosoft ExcelPayroll reportingProblem-solving skillsAttention to detailEffective communicationCollaboration skillsIntegrity

Required

Minimum of 5 years of hands-on payroll experience, including U.S. (multi-entity, multi-state) and Canadian (multi-entity, multi-province) payrolls, with demonstrated technical expertise and strong regulatory knowledge

Proficiency in Workday Payroll for end-to-end processing and ADP SmartCompliance for wage and tax compliance across the U.S. and Canada

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to detail

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and general payroll reporting and reconciliation tools

Effective communication and collaboration skills, with experience working cross-functionally with HR, Finance, and external vendors

Proven ability to process and reconcile complex payrolls accurately and on time

Strong understanding of U.S. federal, state, and Canadian provincial payroll regulations, tax compliance, and reporting requirements

Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive employees and compensation data with the highest degree of integrity and confidentiality

Work authorization in the United States without the need for future sponsorship

Preferred

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, or a related field

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or equivalent certification

7+ years of progressive payroll experience in a multi-entity, multi-state U.S. payroll environment and has exposure to Canadian payroll or equity processing

Advanced experience with Workday reporting, integrations, and system testing

Proven track record of process improvement and automation initiatives within payroll operations

Experience supporting quarter-end, year-end, and audit activities, including reconciliations and tax documentation

Strong knowledge of equity and bonus payroll processing and related taxation

Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and adapt to evolving business needs