Payroll Manager

Please note that we do not accept unsolicited candidate introductions, referrals, or resumes from external recruiters or staffing agencies.

Location: Remote (U.S. based; must be available to work PST/MST hours)

Background Check Requirement

As part of our hiring process, Frontline Wildfire Defense conducts comprehensive background checks for all new hires. These checks typically cover the past 7–10 years and may include employment and education verification. For roles that require work in the field, driving record verification is also required. Employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of these background checks.

About Frontline Wildfire Defense

Founded in 2017 by landscape ecologist and fire mitigation expert Harry Statter, Frontline developed the first fully integrated wildfire defense system to stop the leading cause of home loss in wildfires: ember-driven ignition. The system combines exterior sprinklers, full-coverage design, and connected software for remote monitoring and response, allowing homes to protect themselves long after families evacuate or infrastructure fails.

Proven effective during the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, 96% of homes with Frontline systems survived. That success has earned top industry recognition, including Frontline being recognized as one of TIME’s Best Inventions 2025 in the Green Tech category and receiving the PCBC Gold Nugget Award for “Most Innovative Housing Concept” and the Best of IBS Award for “Best Home Technology.”

As wildfires grow hotter and more frequent, our vision is to give people the tools and strategies to live safely with fire. We’re building a mission-driven team creating real-world solutions in wildfire safety and climate tech.

About This Opportunity

As our Payroll Manager, you will build and own the entire payroll function from the ground up, while ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely processing. We are seeking a rare blend of high-level strategic thinking and "in the weeds" execution; you aren’t just processing checks - you are building SOPs, migrating systems, and serving as a trusted partner to our executive team. As the subject matter expert for multi-state compliance and payroll systems, you will manage ADP Workforce Now as the primary payroll platform, while mastering complex hourly payroll, blended rates, benefit deductions, and reconciliations.

This role requires grit, a thick skin, and the ability to solve complex problems within an ambiguous, fast-paced environment. You are a world-class communicator - approachable and easy to talk to - capable of translating intricate compliance data into clear, actionable updates for leadership. If you thrive on building something from nothing and prefer "doing" over "delegating," you will fit right in.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations & Compliance

• Own and operate the end-to-end payroll function for a multi-state workforce of hourly, salaried, and 1099 employees, including commissions, bonuses, equity compensation, and special payments.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for complex hourly payroll processing, including blended rates, premium pay, overtime rules, and benefit deductions.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations and wage & hour laws across multiple jurisdictions.
• Establish and maintain payroll tax accounts when employees are hired in new states and ensure proper setup and ongoing compliance.
• Act as the primary owner of payroll systems, processes, and internal controls.

Payroll Processing & Execution

• Execute accurate, timely payroll processing using ADP Workforce Now, including audits, adjustments, reconciliations, and regulatory filings.
• Manage payroll tax reporting for multiple states, maintaining a structured tracking system for tax frequencies, special circumstances, and system configuration.
• Partner with HR to ensure proper benefit deductions and reporting, including submission of FSA and HSA contributions after each payroll run.
• Support complex commission calculations and maintain detailed commission statements for the internal sales organization.

Record Keeping & Reconciliation

• Maintain accurate, confidential employee payroll records including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, and benefits updates.
• Reconcile all payroll-related accounts on both the Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet.
• Reconcile monthly health insurance invoices and 401(k) deductions.
• Ensure labor costs are accurately mapped and imported into job costing systems.

Compliance, Reporting & Audits

• Prepare and deliver periodic payroll reports for leadership review.
• Support internal and external payroll audits and ensure timely submission of all required state and federal filings.
• Manage monthly Workers’ Compensation reporting and related reconciliations.
• Troubleshoot and resolve system and data issues related to time tracking and payroll exports in ServiceTitan (migrating from QB Time).

Payroll Systems Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Build and scale the payroll function by designing and documenting SOPs and leading critical system migrations.
• Serve as Frontline's ADP Workforce Now subject matter expert - own system configuration, practitioner setup, hire/rehire templates.
• Independently resolve complex or ambiguous payroll issues, providing proactive solutions and recommendations to leadership.
• Serve as the primary payroll advisor to executive leadership, delivering clear reporting and strategic insights.
• Act as an approachable, trusted resource for employees while maintaining professionalism in sensitive payroll matters.
• Partner closely with HR and Finance to ensure accurate reconciliation of benefits, retirement contributions, and payroll tax requirements.

Qualifications

Must-Have:

• Minimum of 7–10+ years of experience in payroll, including multi-state payroll processing for hourly, salaried, and 1099 employees
• Hands-on proficiency with ADP Workforce Now, including payroll processing, tax setup, employee management, and multi-state configuration.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Proficiency in Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, Drive)
• Demonstrated expertise in complex hourly payroll processing, including blended rate calculations, overtime rules, and premium pay structures.
• Strong experience managing complex commission structures, including tracking, reconciliation, and processing.
• Working knowledge of payroll tax compliance, wage & hour regulations, and payroll best practices.
• Solid understanding of basic accounting principles, reconciliations, and financial controls.
• Experience with job costing concepts and payroll labor allocation within ADP Workforce Now or similar systems.
• High level of numerical aptitude with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to multi-task effectively, work well under pressure, and thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and time management skills with the ability to translate complex payroll and compliance information into clear, actionable insights for leadership

Nice-to-Have

• Payroll experience in Construction or closely related industry.
• Strong understanding and hands-on experience with Non-qualified Stock Options (NSO) and Incentive Stock Options (ISO)
• Experience with Sage Intacct, ADP Workforce Now, ServiceTitan, Expensify, and Ramp.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify issues and propose effective solutions.
• Background in high-growth or operationally complex organizations.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary range: $115,000 - $140,000 DOE
• Company-provided cell phone and laptop
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible time off + 14 paid holidays (yes, your birthday is one of them!)
• Work-from-home stipend to support your remote setup
• Remote-first work environment, fostering work-life balance and autonomy
• Company-provided equipment
• Join a high-performing, mission-driven team doing work that truly matters
• And much more!

Join Our Mission!

If you're excited about building technology that protects homes and families from wildfire disasters, we want to hear from you! Apply today and become part of a fast-growing team with purpose and innovation at its core.

Diversity and inclusion are essential values at Frontline. We know we'll do our best and most impactful work when we feel represented, and we belong. We encourage talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.