Senior Payroll Accountant

About us:

Based in Berkeley, CA, UPSIDE Foods grows meat, poultry, and seafood directly from real animal cells. These products are not vegan or vegetarian—they are delicious meat, made without the need to raise and slaughter billions of animals. In doing so, the company aims to address some of the most pressing environmental, animal welfare, and public health challenges, while still giving people the meat they love.

Founded as the world’s first cultivated meat company in 2015, UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) has achieved numerous industry-defining milestones, including being the first company to produce multiple species of meat (beef, chicken, and duck) and to sell a cultivated meat product in the United States. The company believes that people shouldn’t have to choose between the foods they love and a thriving planet, and is working to build a better food system with access to delicious, humane, and sustainable meat, poultry, and seafood.

UPSIDE Foods has won various industry awards, including New York Times’ Good Tech Awards, FastCo’s Next Big Thing in Tech and World Changing Ideas Awards, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation by the National Association for Business Resources. UPSIDE Foods has raised a total of $608 million, including from the Abu Dhabi Growth Fund (ADG), Baillie Gifford, Bill Gates, Cargill, John Doerr, John Mackey, Kimbal and Christiana Musk, Norwest, Richard Branson, Softbank, Temasek, Threshold, Tyson Foods, and others.

About this job:

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a fast-paced and innovative start-up in a nascent industry. As a Senior Payroll Accountant, you'll oversee payroll accounting activities and driving process improvements to support our growth. You'll work closely with various departments, gaining exposure to different aspects of our business operations, while playing a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and accurate processing of employee compensation.

Responsibilities Include:

• Lead the end-to-end payroll processing activities, including data entry, wage calculations, and payment processing to ensure the completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of each cycle
• Plan, prioritize, and execute tasks associated with managing the regular payroll cycles for exempt and nonexempt employees on a semi-monthly and bi-weekly basis, respectively
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and tax regulations, including accurate withholding, periodic reporting, and remittance of payroll taxes
• Calculate, prepare, present, and post all payroll and benefits related journal entries and upload into ERP as payroll cycles are transacted
• Reconcile all payroll and benefits balance sheet and operational accounts as part of the month end close process
• Serve as the company liaison for the Accounting Department to field all questions, educate colleagues, and resolve issues regarding payroll
• Provide payroll, headcount, and benefits reporting information to support financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and other ad hoc management requests
• Collaborate with HR and benefits administration to ensure practices are aligned with policy and cross-processes
• Identify opportunities to streamline payroll processes, enhance efficiency, and implement best practices to optimize payroll operations and minimize risks
• Assist in internal and external payroll audits by providing accurate payroll records, documentation, and explanations, ensuring compliance with audit requirements
• Other special projects or duties as directed

About You:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, a related field, or equivalent years of work experience
• 3+ years of experience in payroll accounting; experience in startup is required
• Proficiency in payroll software, Rippling preferred
• Extensive knowledge of payroll regulations, tax laws, and accounting principles, with proven track record of ensuring compliance and accuracy in payroll processing
• Proficiency in managing multistate payroll environments
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks, changing priorities as necessary
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to reconcile complex payroll accounts, analyze financial data, and provide relevant information
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and levels of the organization
• Ability to maintain strictest of confidence and discretion with employee information

Who You’ll Work With:

• This role will most frequently interact with our Finance, Accounting, and HR departments

Compensation Range: $89,000 - $111,000*
*Pay may vary depending on factors including job-related knowledge and skills.

UPSIDE Benefits!

• Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
• 90-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
• Pet insurance for your furry family members!
• Unlimited PTO
• Employee Engagement Council
• Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Our company-wide mission is to create a product for everyone, so we are deeply committed to having teams and leaders that reflect this mission.