Payroll Manager

About the Team:

Grindr is an AI-native platform powering how millions of gay people connect globally. With 15M+ monthly users, 130B+ annual messages, and a team of fewer than 200, we move fast, stay lean, and tackle technical problems at a scale few companies ever see.

Grindr is looking for an experienced Payroll Manager to own and operate our end-to-end payroll function in a public-company environment. This is a role for someone who has done it before - a subject matter expert who understands how to run accurate, compliant payroll at scale, navigate public-company requirements, and partner closely across Finance, People, Legal, and external vendors.

You'll be responsible for ensuring every employee is paid accurately and on time, equity and stock-based compensation are reflected correctly, benefits are accurate, and processes meet the highest standards of precision and compliance. This role is foundational to the company's financial and people operations, requiring exceptional attention to detail, strong judgment, and a highly collaborative working style.

You'll have the opportunity to bring structure and consistency to payroll operations, improve processes and controls, and make a meaningful impact on both employee experience and the company's public-company compliance.

At Grindr, we operate in Grindr Mode. Moderately hardcore day-to-day, truly hardcore when it counts. It's about doing great work without burning out. Outcomes over outputs. Smart, driven people who raise your bar, with room to live full lives.

This is a hybrid role based in our New York office and will require you to be in person Tuesdays and Thursdays.

About the Job:

• Own the end-to-end payroll function in a public-company environment, ensuring accurate, timely payroll processing for employees and contractors across multiple pay groups and processing and reporting equity and stock-based compensation (RSUs, ISOs, and other awards), with a strong focus on employee experience.

• Maintain accurate and timely benefits administration, making sure that withholdings are reconciled, premiums are timely submitted and we are in compliance with our tax and other required submissions.

• Design, document, and maintain scalable payroll processes and internal controls, ensuring compliance with SOX requirements, tax regulations, and company policies as the organization grows.

• Serve as the system owner for ADP, managing configurations, audits, integrations, and enhancements to drive efficiency, accuracy, and visibility across payroll data.

• Prepare and own payroll-related accounting support, including detailed documentation and reconciliations for payroll, bonuses, equity, and other compensation-related accruals, ensuring accuracy, audit readiness, and seamless integration with month-end and year-end close processes.

• Partner cross-functionally with Accounting, People, Legal, and external vendors, acting as a trusted payroll subject-matter expert and collaborative problem-solver who brings clarity, responsiveness, and precision to every interaction.

Role Requirements:

• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including hands-on ownership of payroll processing and compliance in a complex, multi-state or multi-entity environment.

• Experience supporting a public company or public-company readiness, with demonstrated exposure to SOX controls, audits, and payroll-related reporting requirements (including 401k administration).

• Direct experience administering payroll for equity and stock-based compensation, including RSUs, ISOs, or similar programs, and partnering closely with Accounting and external administrators to ensure accurate payroll and reporting.

• Strong system expertise with ADP, including payroll configuration, audits, reporting, and integrations; experience with additional payroll or HRIS platforms is a plus.

• Exceptional attention to detail and a collaborative working style, with the ability to communicate clearly, work effectively across teams, and bring structure and reliability to payroll operations in a fast-paced environment.

You May Thrive in this Role if You:

• Have experience working in tech, media, or multi-entity environments.

• Possess expertise with ERP systems (e.g., Oracle) and strong Excel / data skills.

• Previously prepared documentation to be used for accounting month-end close.

Benefits and Perks:

• Health, Dental & Vision Full premium coverage for you. Partial coverage for dependents.

• Family Formation Up to $200,000 in fertility and family-building support, covering IVF, surrogacy, egg freezing, and adoption.

• Retirement: 401(k) with 6% match and immediate vesting.

• Compensation: Industry-competitive compensation, company bonus, and equity for every employee.

• Gender-Affirming Care : Industry-leading gender-affirming offerings with up to 90% cost coverage, access to Included Health, monthly stipends for HRT, and more.

• Time Off & Rest Flexible vacation policy. Two company-wide rest weeks per year.

• Other Benefits: Monthly stipends for cell phone, internet, wellness, food, and commuting, breakfast/lunch

About Grindr:

Grindr is building the global gayborhood in your pocket. With more than 15 million monthly active users, Grindr has become a fundamental part of the gay community and is charting a path to make the world more free, equal, and just.

As a public company, we're moving into the next chapter: becoming an AI-native organization that's redefining what's possible for our community. We're embedding AI into our product and operations, moving with startup speed while operating at scale.

Everything we do is rooted in impact for our users and outcomes for the business. This isn't social work, it's impact through excellence. Business success is what gives us the power to serve our community and the seat at tables others can't reach. How we work is defined by Grindr Mode, our operating model that's moderately hardcore day-to-day and truly hardcore when it counts. We think like owners, drive real outcomes, create clarity through action, and push each other to go further than we thought possible.

We're headquartered in West Hollywood with offices in the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York. Our work extends beyond the product through Grindr for Equality, our nonprofit that's partnered with 100+ community organizations globally to advance safety, health, and human rights for LGBTQ+ people worldwide.

We're profitable, growing, and building a team of smart, driven people who bring different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to the work. Want to build technology at a massive scale that serves millions? Come join us!

Grindr is an equal-opportunity employer.

To learn more about how we handle the personal data of applicants, visit our Employee and Candidate Privacy Policy.