SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 110,000 - 140,000 / annual
Kodiak AI (Nasdaq: KDK) is a leader in Physical AI, developing autonomous driving technology for long-haul trucking, industrial trucking, and defense applications. The company launched commercial Driver-as-a-Service operations in 2024 and plans to launch driverless long-haul service between Dallas and Houston by end of 2026. Kodiak partners with major names including Bosch, AWS, Atlas Energy Solutions, IKEA, Bridgestone, Werner Enterprises, and General Dynamics Land Systems.
You will own and oversee all payroll operations at Kodiak AI, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing for salaried and hourly employees while maintaining strong internal controls and supporting the financial reporting requirements of a publicly traded company.
Key responsibilities include:
- Own end-to-end payroll operations across multiple states, ensuring accuracy and timeliness for salaried and hourly employees
- Manage regular and off-cycle payroll runs, including processing related to restricted stock unit (RSU) releases and nonqualified stock option (NQSO) exercises
- Oversee payroll processing and administration in Paylocity, ensuring data integrity and timely issue resolution
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including California wage-and-hour laws and multi-state requirements
- Own payroll-related month-end close activities, including journal entries, accruals, general ledger reconciliations, and variance analysis
- Partner with Stock Administration to ensure accurate processing, reconciliation, and tax withholding for equity-related transactions
- Maintain and strengthen payroll internal controls, policies, and procedures to support SOX compliance and public-company audit requirements
- Oversee payroll tax filings, year-end reporting, W-2 preparation, and support internal and external audits
- Collaborate with Accounting, Finance, and People Operations to resolve issues and improve processes
- Identify opportunities to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and strengthen accuracy and controls
Requirements:
- 8+ years of progressive payroll experience, including hands-on ownership of end-to-end payroll processing
- Direct experience using Paylocity for payroll processing and administration
- Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including California wage-and-hour laws and multi-state payroll compliance
- Experience processing payroll for both salaried and hourly employees, including timekeeping and overtime requirements
- Experience processing equity-related payroll transactions, including RSU releases and NQSO exercises, and associated tax withholding and reporting
- Strong understanding of payroll accounting and month-end close processes, including journal entries, accruals, and general ledger reconciliations
- Experience with public-company internal controls, SOX compliance, and audit requirements
- Advanced Excel skills, strong analytical abilities, and exceptional attention to detail
- Strong communication and organizational skills, with a proactive, hands-on approach to problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration
Nice to have:
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification
- Prior experience managing payroll at a publicly traded company
- Experience supporting payroll operations in a high-growth technology environment
