Senior Manager, Payroll Compliance & International Operations (Sydney, Australia)

Remote from: Australia
Annual salary: Undisclosed
Salary information is not provided for this position. Check our Salary Directory to estimate the average compensation for similar roles.
Department: HR & Recruiting
Employment type: Full Time,
Job posted: 5 Jun 2026
Apply before: 5 Jul 2026
Experience level: Entry-Level
Junior
Views / Applies: 55 / 10

About company

About Figma

A design platform for teams who build products together.

Design
2012

Actively Hiring

AI Summary

This Senior Manager position at Figma leads global payroll compliance and international operations across APAC and EMEA. The role ensures accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing, manages vendor relationships, and drives process improvements. Candidates need 10+ years of global payroll experience and strong knowledge of compliance and audits. Figma is a high-growth tech company focused on design collaboration, offering a remote role based in Australia. This role reports to the Director of Payroll Operations and involves leading a distributed team.

Role DNA

Job Complexity

Easy Hard

Pace & Pressure

Relaxed Fast-paced

Autonomy Level

Guided Full Ownership

Communication Load

Independent Highly Collaborative

AI Insight The role requires extensive experience in global payroll compliance across multiple jurisdictions, managing distributed teams, and navigating complex regulatory environments, making it highly challenging.

Salary Analysis

AI Insight The salary for this role is not explicitly stated, but based on market data for a Senior Manager of Global Payroll Operations with 10+ years of experience, the estimated median salary is around $175,000 per year in the US market, which is competitive for the level of expertise required.

Key Skills

Global Payroll Compliance International Operations Vendor Management Audit SOX Process Improvement Team Leadership APAC/EMEA Workday

Cover Letter Sample

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am excited to apply for the Senior Manager, Payroll Compliance & International Operations role at Figma. With over 10 years of experience managing global payroll operations across APAC and EMEA, I have developed a deep expertise in compliance, process optimization, and vendor management. At my previous company, I led payroll integration for five new countries and implemented SOX-compliant controls that reduced audit findings by 40%.

I am particularly drawn to Figma's mission of making design accessible and the opportunity to scale payroll operations in a high-growth environment. My experience leading distributed teams and partnering with cross-functional stakeholders aligns perfectly with this role. I am eager to bring my skills in international compliance and operational excellence to Figma.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to Figma's global growth.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Possible Interview Questions

How do you stay updated on regulatory changes across multiple countries and ensure compliance in payroll operations?

I subscribe to regulatory updates from local authorities, use compliance calendars, and maintain close relationships with in-country experts and payroll vendors. I also conduct quarterly reviews of legislative changes and assess impacts on our processes.

Describe a time you led a complex payroll integration for a new country. What challenges did you face?

At my last role, I led the expansion into Japan. Challenges included understanding local tax laws, setting up a compliant payroll system, and training the local team. I partnered with a local provider, coordinated with legal, and created a detailed project plan that ensured a smooth launch.

How do you handle vendor performance issues in a multi-country payroll setup?

I establish clear KPIs and SLAs with vendors from the start. If issues arise, I escalate through defined channels, conduct root cause analysis, and work with the vendor on improvement plans. Regular check-ins and performance reviews help maintain quality.

Can you explain your experience with SOX compliance in payroll?

I have implemented SOX-compliant controls for payroll processes, including segregation of duties, access controls, and audit trails. I also prepare documentation for internal and external audits and ensure timely remediation of any findings.

How do you prioritize competing demands when managing payroll operations across time zones?

I use a risk-based approach, prioritizing tasks that have the highest impact on compliance and employee satisfaction. I also leverage project management tools and set clear communication protocols to ensure alignment across the team and stakeholders.

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 Senior Manager, Global Payroll Compliance & International Operations to help scale Figma’s international payroll operations and compliance programs. In this role, you’ll lead payroll operations across APAC and EMEA, ensuring employees are paid accurately, compliantly, and on time. You’ll partner closely with Payroll, Finance, People, Accounting, Legal, and external vendors to strengthen operational foundations, improve compliance visibility, and build scalable processes that support Figma’s continued global growth.

This role reports to the Director, Payroll Operations.

This is a full-time role that can be held remotely from Australia.

What you’ll do at Figma:

Lead payroll operations across APAC and EMEA, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing across multiple countries
Partner with global payroll vendors and local providers to resolve operational issues, maintain service quality, and drive continuous improvement
Manage payroll compliance activities, including maintaining compliance calendars, tracking statutory requirements, and ensuring key deadlines are met
Monitor regulatory and legislative changes across jurisdictions, assess impacts, and escalate risks and recommendations to leadership
Support internal and external audits by coordinating documentation, responding to requests, and strengthening audit readiness processes
Standardize and improve international payroll processes, controls, and reporting to support scalability and operational consistency
Lead and develop a distributed team, including an employee in EMEA and contractors in the Philippines
Collaborate with People, HRIS, Accounting, and Legal teams on payroll initiatives, vendor implementations, and operational improvements

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

10+ years of experience managing global or multi-country payroll operations
Expertise in international payroll compliance across APAC and EMEA jurisdictions
Experience leading distributed teams and partnering with global payroll vendors
Strong knowledge of payroll controls, audit requirements, and SOX-compliant processes
Demonstrated ability to manage complex operational priorities and collaborate effectively across cross-functional stakeholders

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

Operated in a high-growth technology or SaaS environment
Supported international expansion or new market entry initiatives
Managed equity, mobility, or expatriate payroll programs
Utilized Workday, ADP, and global payroll platforms to support payroll operations
Led vendor consolidation or global process standardization initiatives

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 job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

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 [email protected]. 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.

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