Orca Bio · 5 hours ago
Specialist/Manager, Payroll
Menlo Park, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$90K/yr - $140K/yr
5+ years expOrca Bio is a late-stage biotechnology company redefining the transplant process with next-generation cell therapies. The Specialist/Manager, Payroll will manage payroll processing for a multi-state employee population, ensuring compliance with wage laws and providing support for payroll-related inquiries.
Health CareMedicalPharmaceutical
Responsibilities
Independently manage the end-to-end semi-monthly/bi-weekly payroll process for multi-state employee population (exempt and non-exempt), ensuring accuracy and compliance
Maintain and audit employee timekeeping records, including overtime, shift differentials, and meal/rest break compliance for non-exempt staff
Review, reconcile, and validate timesheets for non-exempt employees prior to payroll submission. Partnering with managers and supervisors to resolve timekeeping discrepancies quickly
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local wage and hour regulations, including multi-state tax registrations, garnishments, and other statutory requirements:
State-specific overtime rules (e.g., California daily overtime and double-time)
Meal and rest break premiums
Local tax withholdings and state unemployment insurance
Wage statement and recordkeeping requirements
Final pay regulations for terminating employees
Garnishments and other state-specific deductions
Collaborate with HR to onboard new hires, update employee records, leave management, and process terminations, including post-termination payments, in payroll systems (Zenefits / TriNet)
Partner with Finance on payroll reconciliations, journal entries, and reporting
Work with payroll service to resolve issues with tax deductions, pay discrepancies, and other payroll-related matters in a timely manner
Oversee payroll system upgrades and integrations
Liaise with auditors and external partners to manage any payroll-related requests for audits
Support year-end activities including W-2 processing and compliance filings (e.g. Form 5500, ACA)
Partner with Finance, Legal, and HR to administer employee equity program, ensuring accurate payroll integration, tax compliance, and reporting
Reconcile equity transactions with payroll records and support preparation of equity-related tax filings
Provide employee support on equity grants, vesting, and payroll/tax implications
Respond to employee inquiries regarding pay, deductions, time reporting, and related matters with a high degree of customer service
Maintain strict confidentiality and ensure data integrity in all payroll operations
Assist in developing payroll policies, procedures, and process improvements to support company growth
Qualification
Required
5+ years of payroll experience, in a multi-state environment with a significant non-exempt employee population, including alternate work schedules
1–2 years of experience supporting stock administration/equity plan operations (experience with Carta, E*TRADE, or similar equity systems preferred)
Strong knowledge of federal and state wage and hour laws (e.g., overtime, meal/rest break compliance), overtime rules, and payroll tax compliance
Experience with HRIS/payroll systems (e.g., ADP Workforce Now, Paylocity, Workday, or similar) preferably TriNet but not required
High attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a service-oriented mindset
Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
Preferred
CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or FPC certification is a plus
Start-up or biotech industry experience preferred but not required
Benefits
Pre-IPO equity
Competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits
PTO
401(k) plan
Life and accidental death and disability coverage
Parental leave benefits
Subsidized daily lunches and snacks at our on-site locations
Company
Orca Bio
Orca Bio is a clinical-stage cell therapy company dedicated to delivering curative medicine to patients.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$542MKey Investors
Lightspeed Venture PartnersSilicon Valley Bank
2026-01-09Series F· $250M
2026-01-09Debt Financing· $100M
2020-06-17Series D· $192M
Leadership Team
J
Jeroen Bekaert
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
Recent News
2026-01-16
Company data provided by crunchbase