Senior Manager, Payroll & Equity

Senior Manager, Payroll & Equity (Contract to Hire)

Base pay range: $/yr - $/yr

At Viridian, we are focused on developing best‑class medicines for people living with autoimmune and rare diseases. Leveraging our team’s expertise in antibody discovery and engineering, we have created a robust pipeline of differentiated investigational therapeutic candidates for well‑validated targets.

Viridian is a fast‑paced, high‑growth biotech preparing for commercialization. Reporting to the VP, Finance, the Senior Manager, Payroll and Equity will be responsible for the accurate, timely and compliant processing for all payroll and equity cycles, including semi‑monthly payrolls, special/off‑cycle payrolls, equity grants, RSU vesting and stock option exercises, as well as annual processes such as bonus payments and year‑end reporting.

This role requires excellence in operational execution and strong communication skills. The successful candidate thrives in a dynamic, high‑accountability environment, is able to manage multiple workflows and will partner closely with HR, Finance, Legal, and external auditors and consultants.

This role is based in our Waltham, MA headquarters. Our office‑based employees are required to work in the office three (3) days a week.

This role is a contract‑to‑hire role.

• Process and validate semi‑monthly payrolls in UKG, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and SOX‑compliant documentation
• Prepare and process special payrolls, including RSU vesting and stock option exercises
• Manage multi‑state processing and reporting, including state tax registrations, withholding accounts, and unemployment accounts
• Maintain payroll system accuracy, including earnings codes, deductions, tax configurations, and pay rules
• Own year‑end payroll activities, including review of forms 3921/3922, W‑2, as well as fringe benefit reporting, 401k limits, and ensuring accuracy of state tax rates
• Administer other payroll‑related compliance requirements and reporting
• Escalate payroll or equity issues early, providing clear recommendations for resolution
• Provide clear, prompt, professional and accurate communication to employees regarding payroll and equity questions
• Draft employee‑facing messages with impeccable grammar, accuracy and tone
• Proactively communicate payroll timelines and status updates to all stakeholders; communicate professionally and clearly with internal partners, with a focus on accuracy, clarity and timeliness
• Handle sensitive employee issues with professionalism, confidentiality and urgency
• Run weekly and monthly reports for Finance team members
• Provide support on workers’ compensation, 401(k), and KPMG audits, and provide workers’ compensation data for insurance as needed
• Upload grants and ESPP contributions to Fidelity and Certent platforms
• Ensure employee data is accurate in equity platforms
• Manage ESPP purchases and ensure enrollments are properly recorded for new offering periods
• Manage RSU vesting events to ensure appropriate tax withholding
• Maintain and update FAQs to support consistent communication
• Develop, maintain, and implement policies and standard operating procedures to ensure compliance to internal controls
• Identify and recommend opportunities to improve processes and automate tasks
• Maintain consistent visibility and availability during core business hours.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related field, CPP designation a plus
• 7+ years of hands‑on payroll processing experience, ideally in high‑growth environments
• Strong experience with multi‑state payroll and complex tax scenarios
• Proficiency with UKG, and experience with equity platforms (Fidelity and Certent) and ERP systems (Net Suite)
• Experience supporting SOX, financial and compliance audits, and 401(k) plans
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines with accuracy; strong sense of ownership, accountability and follow through
• A focus on continuous improvement
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a high‑growth, fast paced environment
• Strong preference for experience at a publicly traded company, preferably in the biotech/pharma industry
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
• P…