Accounting Operations and Payroll Manager

Decagon
San Francisco, US
On-siteCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Best suited to mid-level accounting professionals with payroll expertise working in high-growth startups.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with full ownership of U.S. payroll in dynamic environments
    — “full ownership of U.S. payroll
  • Individuals comfortable with cross-functional collaboration between Finance and People teams
    — “Partner cross-functionally with People and Finance
  • Professionals who thrive in fast-moving startup environments with minimal oversight
    — “comfort operating in a fast-moving startup environment

Things to consider

  • In-office presence required despite comprehensive benefits
    — “We’re an in-office company
  • Global payroll responsibilities may involve time zone challenges
    — “Own end-to-end global payroll processing

How to stand out

  • Demonstrate experience building scalable systems beyond task execution
    — “transforming these core operations into smooth, scalable systems
  • Highlight specific examples of process documentation improvements
    — “maintaining strong process documentation and internal controls
  • Showcase multi-state payroll compliance experience with concrete examples
    — “Strong experience managing multi-state U.S. payroll
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Mid Level

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • accurate and timely payroll processing
  • timely processing of accounts payable and receivable
  • accurate financial reporting
Typical background
6-8 years of progressive payroll experience, with full ownership of U.S. payroll

Skills & requirements

Required

Payroll ProcessingExpense ManagementAccounts PayableAccounts ReceivableMonth-end Close ActivitiesFinancial Reporting

Preferred

Payroll ComplianceTax RegulationsGL CodingVendor Management

Stack & domain

Payroll ProcessingPayroll ComplianceTax RegulationsExpense OperationsCorporate Card ManagementExpense Report ReviewPolicy EnforcementTravel Vendor RelationshipsAccounts PayableAccounts ReceivableMonth-end Close ActivitiesAutomation And System EfficiencyPartnering Cross-functionallySupporting Headcount GrowthIdentifying Opportunities To Improve Automation And System EfficiencyMaintaining Strong Process Documentation And Internal ControlsPerforming Payroll ReconciliationsReportingAudit SupportManaging Vendor PaymentsCash ApplicationAging ReportsLeading Month-end Close ActivitiesProactively Managing Vendor Payments

About the role

Original posting from Decagon via Ashby

About Decagon

Decagon is the leading conversational AI platform empowering every brand to deliver concierge customer experiences.

Our technology enables industry-defining enterprises like Avis Budget Group, Block’s Cash App and Square, Chime, Oura Health, and Hunter Douglas to deploy AI agents that power personalized, deeply satisfying interactions across voice, chat, email, SMS, and every other channel.

We’re building a future where customer experiences are being redefined from support tickets and hold music to faster resolutions, richer conversations, and deeper relationships. We’re proud to be backed by world-class investors who share that vision, including a16z, Accel, Bain Capital Ventures, Coatue, and Index Ventures, along with many others.

We’re an in-office company, driven by a shared commitment to excellence and velocity. Our values — Just Get It Done, Invent What Customers Want, Winner’s Mindset, and The Polymath Principle — shape how we work and grow as a team.

About the Team

The Accounting team at Decagon is at the center of our growth, building the financial foundation that powers a rapidly scaling startup. We ensure accurate, timely financial reporting in accordance with U.S. GAAP while designing scalable processes and strong controls that support expansion across teams and geographies. Partnering closely with Sales, People, Legal, and Operations, we drive thoughtful spend management, contract oversight, and payroll excellence—balancing precision with agility in a fast-moving environment where our work directly enables the company’s next stage of growth.

About the Role

We’re looking for a high-impact Finance Operations & Payroll Manager to build the finance engine that keeps our company scaling. You’ll own payroll, expenses, AP, and AR, transforming these core operations into smooth, scalable systems that support a fast-moving, high-growth team. This is a high-impact individual contributor role responsible for ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll while helping build the processes and controls needed to support a rapidly scaling organization.

In this role, you will

  • Own end-to-end global payroll processing for accuracy and compliance, including management of new hires, terminations, bonuses, and other variable compensation
  • Perform payroll reconciliations, reporting, and audit support while maintaining strong process documentation and internal controls
  • Administer end-to-end business travel and expense operations including corporate card management, expense report review, policy enforcement, and travel vendor relationships ensuring compliance, accurate GL coding, timely reimbursement, and monthly T&E reporting and variance analysis
  • Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable, ensuring timely processing, accurate coding, and proper approvals while proactively managing vendor payments, cash application, and aging reports
  • Lead month-end close activities across payroll, AP, and AR, including accruals and reconciliations
  • Partner cross-functionally with People and Finance to support headcount growth and identify opportunities to improve automation and system efficiency across all owned functions

Your background looks something like this

  • 6-8 years of progressive payroll experience, with full ownership of U.S. payroll
  • Strong experience managing multi-state U.S. payroll in a high-growth or dynamic environment
  • Deep knowledge of payroll compliance, tax regulations, and reporting requirements.
  • Experience working closely with HR / People and Finance teams
  • Strong attention to detail and the ability to independently reconcile and resolve discrepancies
  • A proactive, ownership-driven mindset with comfort operating in a fast-moving startup environment

Even better if you have

  • Have worked in a hyper growth company
  • Some exposure to or familiarity with accounts payable, accounts receivable, and/or business travel and expense operations

Compensation

$160,000 - $200,000 + equity

Benefits

We proudly offer the following benefits for our full-time employees:

  • Take what you need vacation policy (subject to local requirements; UK employees receive 25 days of statutory leave)
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits for you and your family
  • Life Insurance and Disability Benefits
  • Retirement Plan (e.g., 401K, pension)
  • Parental Leave
  • Fertility and family building benefits through Carrot
  • Daily lunches and snacks in the office to keep you at your best

These benefits are described in more detail in Decagon’s policies, may vary by location, and can change at any time according to applicable compensation and benefits plans.

Source: Decagon careers (Ashby)

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