Payroll Accounting Manager, Instacart

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Accounting
• 5–7+ years of payroll accounting experience; global payroll exposure strongly preferred
• Strong foundational knowledge of payroll accounting principles, GL treatment, and account reconciliation best practices
• Experience managing or mentoring accounting staff
• Strong technical knowledge of U.S. GAAP and SOX requirements
• Hands-on experience with payroll and ERP systems, preferably Workday, ADP, and Oracle Fusion
• Strong Excel / data analysis skills (pivot tables, SUMIFS, VLOOKUP, reconciliations)
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and drive continuous improvement

Desirable

• We are seeking a highly skilled, proactive Manager, Payroll Accounting to lead payroll accounting operations and drive payroll-to-GL accuracy at scale
• In this role, you will oversee global payroll accounting activities, ensure integrity of data across platforms, and safeguard compliance with U.S. GAAP and SOX requirements
• You will manage and mentor the payroll accounting team, build strong cross-functiofnal partnerships, and drive process innovation across HR, Finance, Tax, and Compliance
• This role is ideal for a leader who is eager to strengthen operational excellence, enhance systems and workflows, and provide high-quality insights that inform business decisions
• The Financial Accounting Team is the backbone of Instacart’s financial integrity
• We are responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant financial reporting across the organization
• With a strong foundation in U.S. GAAP and an understanding of operational processes, we partner closely with cross-functional teams to implement robust controls, streamline close cycles, and support business scalability
• Our mission is to deliver clarity and confidence in the numbers that drive strategic decisions
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing payroll accounting team; establish priorities and guide execution during close and project cycles
• Own the global payroll accounting function, including system integrity, month-end close, reconciliations, reporting, and compliance
• Serve as the primary liaison between Payroll/HR, FP&A, Tax, and Accounting to ensure alignment and timely delivery of critical workflows
• Oversee internal controls related to payroll accounting; maintain and enhance SOX-compliant processes and documentation
• Oversee preparation and review of payroll journal entries, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and GAAP compliance
• Own reconciliation and data integrity across payroll/HRIS and financial systems (e.g., Workday, ADP, Oracle, Workiva)
• Manage monthly close related to payroll accounting including variance analysis, flux explanations, reporting packages and account reconciliations
• Lead preparation of audit deliverables and serve as primary contact for internal/external and SOX audits related to payroll, benefits, and statutory compliance
• Oversee global payroll accounting, ensuring proper treatment of FX, intercompany transactions, statutory reporting, and collaboration with international teams or providers
• Manage accruals and reporting for payroll-related expenses (bonuses, commissions, PTO, benefits)
• Partner with FP&A and HR teams to support workforce cost forecasting, budgeting, and reporting
• Own troubleshooting of complex payroll issues; drive timely resolution of root causes at scale
• Ensure the accuracy of system integrations and mapping between payroll platforms and GL; partner with systems teams to enhance workflows
• Identify, recommend, and lead implementation of scalable process improvements across systems, reporting, and close workflows
• Develop and maintain clear documentation of policies, procedures, and controls