Manager, Payroll (Workday)

Overview

Create a future where DNA is no longer destiny. Join Rocket Pharma.

Rocket Pharma is a fully integrated, late-stage biotechnology company advancing gene therapies with curative potential for patients with rare and life-threatening diseases. We are a team of creative, compassionate, and driven individuals united by a profound mission of seeking gene therapy cures. Rocket places tremendous value on our people and fosters a collaborative environment where bold ideas thrive and every team member makes a meaningful impact. Our core values guide everything we do: we trust one another, show generosity toward patients, embrace curiosity, and strive to elevate science. Team members receive a competitive total rewards package, including equity participation, 401(k) matching, and excellent health benefits.

Position Summary

The Manager, Payroll (Workday) is responsible for the accurate, compliant, and timely administration of payroll while serving as the functional lead for Workday Payroll and Time & Attendance, including system configuration, testing, reporting, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement. Reporting to the Director, Payroll & Benefits, this role combines hands-on payroll execution with Workday expertise to ensure efficient operations, strong controls, and a high-quality employee experience. The position partners closely with Finance, People Operations, Benefits, Compensation and external vendors to maintain operational excellence and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Manage full-cycle payroll processing across exempt and non-exempt U.S. employees, ensuring timely and accurate execution in Workday Payroll; manage payroll for global employees in conjunction with local partners and EOR.
• Process equity payroll and reconcile equity events (RSU and NQSO), including taxation and coordination with external providers.
• Lead quarterly and annual payroll tax activities, including reconciliation, amendments, and W-2 processing, using Workday and ADP; respond to tax notices; maintain state and local accounts.
• Manage garnishment processing; HSA, FSA, and 401(k) contribution funding, and ensure compliance with all associated requirements.
• Administer Workday Timekeeping transactions and updates, ensuring accuracy and seamless integration with payroll.
• Maintain and troubleshoot Workday Payroll configurations, integrations, and testing; continuously identify automation opportunities to reduce manual work.
• Serve as the Workday Payroll subject matter expert for stakeholder requests, system releases, internal audits, and recurring operational enhancements.
• Implement process improvements that shorten payroll cycles, improve audit readiness, and minimize reconciliation effort.
• Partner with Finance to ensure accurate journal entries, general ledger postings, reconciliations, and reporting.
• Maintain payroll compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Manage benefits-related payroll deductions, invoice reconciliation, vendor payments, and funding activities.
• Support day-to-day administration of health, welfare, and retirement programs.
• Support leave administration including FMLA, state leave, and company leave policies, and international leave programs where applicable.
• Partner with employees and managers to support seamless leave experiences.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations (e.g., ACA, ERISA, FLSA)
• Prepare, validate, and deliver payroll reports for audits, workers’ compensation, state plans, benefits programs, and management requests.
• Support periodic and annual 401(k) testing, payroll audits, SOX controls, and compliance reporting.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or Human Resources, or 5+ years of equivalent payroll experience.
• Hands-on processing experience with Workday Payroll and Time and Attendance highly preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in payroll administration, preferably in a public company.
• Experience processing multi-state payroll, including exempt and non-exempt required; experience with equity/RSU payroll preferred.
• Experience with SOX controls, audits, and compliance frameworks highly preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage complex, sensitive, confidential data.
• Advanced Excel, pivot tables, and reconciliations, highly preferred.

Compensation

The expected salary range for this position is $120,000 to $160,000. 

At Rocket, our compensation philosophy and ranges are built upon data and insights collected from validated world-class providers. We are committed to compensating employees equitably based on several factors, including responsibilities and level of the position, depth and types of the employee’s experience, location of the position and availability of similar talent in a competitive market.

For U.S.-based candidates, this is an at-will position, and Rocket reserves the right to adjust the range at hire or during the year due to market shifts.

In addition to base salary, Rocket offers a competitive total rewards package that may include bonuses (short-term incentives), medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, 401(k) with company match and generous vesting, paid vacation and holidays, global shutdown days between Christmas and New Year’s, and a variety of wellness resources and employee support programs. Also, certain positions are eligible for added forms of compensation, such equity awards (long-term incentives).

EEO Statement

A diverse workforce fosters innovation and strengthens Rocket’s business. We ensure equal opportunity without discrimination or harassment in the workplace on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, citizenship, status as a protected veteran, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, and federal laws.