Who you are

• This is an opportunity for a hands-on, detail-oriented payroll leader who thrives in a high-growth environment, is comfortable navigating ambiguity, and can design scalable processes that support a distributed workforce
• 6–10 years of progressive payroll experience
• 3+ years of experience managing global payroll across multiple countries
• CPP, CPA, or similar certification
• Expertise in US and Canadian payroll compliance
• Experience with EMEA/APAC payroll jurisdictions is a strong plus
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, including payroll accruals, reconciliations, and month-end close processes
• Proven experience implementing or upgrading payroll systems and process improvements
• Deep attention to detail, high ownership, and an ability to operate in a fast-paced, scaling environment
• Excellent communication skills and comfort interacting with colleagues at all levels
• If some of the above doesn’t line up perfectly with your experience, we still encourage you to apply!

What the job involves

• Cohere seeks a Payroll Manager to own and scale our global multi-country payroll operations across North America, Europe, and APAC
• In this role you will be responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing as we continue to grow rapidly across jurisdictions
• You will partner closely with Finance, People, Legal, and regional external providers to build a global payroll function
• Own end-to-end payroll processing for all global entities and employee populations, including full-time employees, contractors, and international transfers
• Ensure timely and accurate payroll cycles (bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly) across multiple jurisdictions
• Validate payroll inputs (compensation changes, bonuses, commissions, benefits, leave, etc.) and review calculations
• Oversee payroll reconciliations and perform monthly payroll-related close activities (payroll-related journal entries, accruals, and variance analyses)
• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll queries from employees and internal stakeholders
• Lead process improvements to increase accuracy, scalability, and automation of payroll workflows
• Partner with People Ops to transition and modernize our global HRIS and payroll systems including platform implementation
• Develop and maintain robust documentation, including global playbooks, country-level SOPs, and integration maps to support future scale
• Act as a subject matter expert for payroll system integrations with other platforms (e.g., accounting software, benefits administration)
• Implement and monitor KPIs to measure payroll process efficiency and accuracy
• Ensure compliance with local tax regulations, and statutory reporting requirements across supported countries
• Maintain and enhance internal controls over payroll, including segregation of duties, approvals, documentation standard
• Manage audits (financial, tax, and internal) requiring payroll support
• Stay current on global payroll legislation changes and coordinate implementation of required updates
• Conduct periodic internal audits and risk assessments to identify control gaps
• Manage relationships with global payroll providers, PEOs, and local in-country partners
• Evaluate vendor performance and partner on RFP efforts with Procurement

Benefits

• Six weeks’ paid vacation
• Equity / stock options
• RRSP, 401(k), and Pension Scheme contributions
• Coverage for 100% of your insurance premiums across health, dental, vision, and travel
• Additional coverage for accessing mental health providers/services
• Six months of fully paid parental leave, including adoption and surrogacy
• Financial support for egg freezing and IVF in Canada and the UK
• A monthly fitness and wellness allowance
• Globally dispersed company that supports a remote work culture
• A $2,000 annual education benefit for professional development
• A weekly stipend for meals when working remotely and catered lunch when working from one of our global offices
• A monthly arts and culture allowance
• A monthly quality time allowance