Director, Payroll Operation (Archived) | VirtualInterview.ai

Figma is growing our team of passionate creatives and builders on a mission to make design accessible to all. Figma’s platform helps teams bring ideas to life—whether you're brainstorming, creating a prototype, translating designs into code, or iterating with AI. From idea to product, Figma empowers teams to streamline workflows, move faster, and work together in real time from anywhere in the world. If you're excited to shape the future of design and collaboration, join us!

We’re looking for a Director, Payroll Operations to lead and scale Figma’s payroll function worldwide. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for driving the vision, strategy, and execution of payroll operations across all regions where Figma operates. You’ll oversee end-to-end payroll processing, compliance, and automation while partnering closely with Finance, People, Accounting, and Legal to ensure excellence in every transaction and every country.

As Figma continues to grow as a public company, this leader will be instrumental in building scalable, automated systems, ensuring regulatory compliance, and providing an exceptional employee experience globally. This role reports to the Senior Director, Assistant Controller.

This is a full time role that can be held from one of our US hubs or remotely in the United States.

What you’ll do at Figma:

Lead and oversee all aspects of global payroll operations, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely processing across multiple countries and employment arrangements

Develop and execute a global payroll strategy aligned with Figma’s growth, public company controls, and expansion goals

Manage, mentor, and grow a global payroll team of 5+ professionals and contractors, fostering development, stability, and accountability

Drive process automation, vendor consolidation, and system optimization to create efficiency, reduce manual work, and scale for growth

Partner cross-functionally with People Operations, HRIS, Benefits, Accounting, Equity, and Tax on payroll-related initiatives, including system integrations, entity setup, and compliance enhancements

Ensure SOX compliance, internal controls, and audit readiness for payroll-related processes

Create and maintain policies, documentation, and governance frameworks to ensure consistency and adherence to global labor, tax, and data protection requirements

Serve as a strategic partner in global expansion efforts, advising on payroll design, vendor models, and compliance strategy

We'd love to hear from you if you have:

12+ years of experience leading global payroll operations in a public company environment

Deep understanding of U.S. and international payroll laws, taxation, and compliance requirements

Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and maintain SOX-compliant controls and documentation

Strong leadership skills, with experience managing distributed teams and fostering growth through change

Ability to work cross-functionally and influence decision-making at all levels of the organization

While not required, it’s an added plus if you also have:

Experience in high-growth technology or SaaS environments

Expertise in international vendor consolidation and payroll vendor management

Experience with stock-related payroll transactions, including stock options, RSUs, and ESPPs, with strong knowledge of tax reporting and withholding

Certification as a Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or through the Global Payroll Management Institute (GPMI)

At Figma, one of our values is Grow as you go. We believe in hiring smart, curious people who are excited to learn and develop their skills. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the points outlined in the , we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Pay Transparency Disclosure

If based in Figma’s San Francisco or New York hub offices, this role has the annual base salary range stated below.

Job level and actual compensation will be decided based on factors including, but not limited to, individual qualifications objectively assessed during the interview process (including skills and prior relevant experience, potential impact, and scope of role), market demands, and specific work location. The listed range is a guideline, and the range for this role may be modified. For roles that are available to be filled remotely, the pay range is localized according to employee work location by a factor of between 80% and 100% of range. Please discuss your specific work location with your recruiter for more information.

Figma offers equity to employees, as well a competitive package of additional benefits, including health, dental & vision, retirement with company contribution, parental leave & reproductive or family planning support, mental health & wellness benefits, generous PTO, company recharge days, a learning & development stipend, a work from home stipend, and cell phone reimbursement. Figma also offers sales incentive pay for most sales roles and an annual bonus plan for eligible non-sales roles. Figma’s compensation and benefits are subject to change and may be modified in the future.

Annual Base Salary Range (SF/NY Hub):

$198,000—$288,000 USD

At Figma we celebrate and support our differences. We know employing a team rich in diverse thoughts, experiences, and opinions allows our employees, our product and our community to flourish. Figma is an equal opportunity workplace - we are dedicated to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We will work to ensure individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to apply for a role, participate in the interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you require accommodation, please reach out to accommodations-ext@figma.com. These modifications enable an individual with a disability to have an equal opportunity not only to get a job, but successfully perform their job tasks to the same extent as people without disabilities.

Examples of accommodations include but are not limited to:

Holding interviews in an accessible location

Enabling closed captioning on video conferencing

Ensuring all written communication be compatible with screen readers

Changing the mode or format of interviews

To ensure the integrity of our hiring process and facilitate a more personal connection, we require all candidates keep their cameras on during video interviews. Additionally, if hired you will be required to attend in person onboarding.

By applying for this job, the candidate acknowledges and agrees that any personal data contained in their application or supporting materials will be processed in accordance with Figma's Candidate Privacy Notice.

Director, Payroll Operations

Job Description

What you’ll do at Figma:

We'd love to hear from you if you have:

While not required, it’s an added plus if you also have:

Skills & Requirements