Payroll Analyst Jobs in California
Payroll Analyst jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in finance, technology, healthcare, and entertainment across a seniority range from entry-level coordinator to senior analyst. The largest hiring markets are Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose, where employers like Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente, and Disney maintain significant payroll operations. The most in-demand specialties in California include multi-state payroll compliance, equity compensation processing, and Workday or ADP implementation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 12+ Payroll Analyst jobs
INTRODUCTION
Who We Are
Notion is the collaborative AI workspace where teams and agents think together. We're building one place where your knowledge, projects, meetings, and AI tools live side by side, so work is faster, clearer, and less fragmented. Millions of individuals, small teams, and large companies run their work on Notion. Notinos (our employees) are customer zero in bringing this future of work to life. We care about craft, building things that last, and the belief that great work is still fundamentally human. Our goal isn’t to ship the next feature. Each and every team of Notinos is working to set the standard for how humans work together in the AI era. From building a business’s system of record to making and managing AI agents to automating away the busy work, we care deeply about giving our customers more time for their life’s work.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Own accurate, on-time EMEA payrolls and provide operational coverage for APAC. This role exists to keep a fast-growing international footprint compliant and dependable—while tightening the systems and workflows that make payroll feel effortless for employees. You’ll partner closely with Accounting, People Ops, and Benefits, and work day-to-day with local vendors across multiple countries. Expect hands-on processing work plus continuous improvement, with real accountability for precision and employee trust.
This role is based in one of San Francisco or New York City. We work from our offices on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (our Anchor Days) because we do our best thinking and building together in person. We’re looking for someone who’s excited to work alongside the team during those days.
WHAT YOU'LL ACHIEVE
- Prepare and reconcile the monthly EMEA and APAC payrolls using the HCM system and local payroll vendors across all regions (Ireland, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, Singapore, and EOR)
- Liaise in local time zone with the payroll support team to ensure the accuracy, compliance, and timely processing of payroll
- Collaborate closely with cross functional teams (People Ops, Benefits, and Accounting) and external payroll partners to identify and improve payroll workflows
- Provide excellent employee experience as the first point of contact for all EMEA and APAC payroll inquiries
- Process accurately and timely submission of all one-time payments (bonus, commissions, or severances), leave of absence amounts, fringe benefits, BIK, Bike to Work, and pension contributions
- Work closely with the International Corporate Accounting team to ensure payroll net pay, taxes, and pension payments are processed timely with the local bank and/or vendor
- Reconcile and prepare month end EMEA/APAC payroll journal entries produced by payroll vendors
- Assist with the preparation of payroll related month end balance sheet reconciliations
- Generate and analyze payroll reports using existing systems and data
- Serve as additional support to the APAC Payroll Analyst
- Complete ad-hoc tasks and other duties as assigned
SKILLS YOU'LL NEED TO BRING
- 4+ years of EMEA and/or APAC payroll processing experience for small to midsize organizations
- Strong knowledge of EMEA and/or APAC payroll compliance and understanding of local payroll tax and labor laws
- Proven experience managing vendors and ability to quickly adapt to new local payroll systems
- Ability to self-manage and prioritize projects to completion in a fast-paced environment
- Highly Proficient in Excel (xlookups, vlookups, pivot tables, and formulas)
NICE TO HAVES
- Experience with payroll system or vendor implementation
- Experience with NetSuite as well as creating and reconciling payroll journal entries
- Experience running America’s payroll
- Experience with Workday HCM
COMPENSATION
Notion is committed to providing highly competitive cash compensation, equity, and benefits. The compensation offered for this role will be based on multiple factors such as location, the role’s scope and complexity, and the candidate’s experience and expertise, and may vary from the range provided below. For roles based in San Francisco or New York City, the estimated base salary range for this role is $120,000-$135,000 per year.
By clicking “Submit Application”, I understand and agree that Notion and its affiliates and subsidiaries will collect and process my information in accordance with Notion’s Global Recruiting Privacy Policy and NYLL 144.
A NOTE ON AI
You don’t need deep AI expertise for every role, but we do expect every Notino to be intellectually curious, drawn to tinkering and discovery, and excited to use AI as a real collaborator in their work. For some roles, AI fluency is a core requirement — when that’s the case, we'll say so explicitly in the qualifications. People who thrive here don’t treat AI as a novelty. They use it to think better, and make their work easier for others to build on.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & ACCOMMODATIONS
We hire talented people from a wide range of backgrounds. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every bullet, we still encourage you to apply. Notion is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected characteristic. Consistent with applicable law, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Notion provides reasonable accommodations during the application process; if you need one, please let your recruiter know.
Notion is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Notion considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Notion is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.
INTRODUCTION
Who We Are
Notion is the collaborative AI workspace where teams and agents think together. We're building one place where your knowledge, projects, meetings, and AI tools live side by side, so work is faster, clearer, and less fragmented. Millions of individuals, small teams, and large companies run their work on Notion. Notinos (our employees) are customer zero in bringing this future of work to life. We care about craft, building things that last, and the belief that great work is still fundamentally human. Our goal isn’t to ship the next feature. Each and every team of Notinos is working to set the standard for how humans work together in the AI era. From building a business’s system of record to making and managing AI agents to automating away the busy work, we care deeply about giving our customers more time for their life’s work.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Own accurate, on-time EMEA payrolls and provide operational coverage for APAC. This role exists to keep a fast-growing international footprint compliant and dependable—while tightening the systems and workflows that make payroll feel effortless for employees. You’ll partner closely with Accounting, People Ops, and Benefits, and work day-to-day with local vendors across multiple countries. Expect hands-on processing work plus continuous improvement, with real accountability for precision and employee trust.
This role is based in one of San Francisco or New York City. We work from our offices on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (our Anchor Days) because we do our best thinking and building together in person. We’re looking for someone who’s excited to work alongside the team during those days.
WHAT YOU'LL ACHIEVE
- Prepare and reconcile the monthly EMEA and APAC payrolls using the HCM system and local payroll vendors across all regions (Ireland, India, Japan, Korea, Australia, Singapore, and EOR)
- Liaise in local time zone with the payroll support team to ensure the accuracy, compliance, and timely processing of payroll
- Collaborate closely with cross functional teams (People Ops, Benefits, and Accounting) and external payroll partners to identify and improve payroll workflows
- Provide excellent employee experience as the first point of contact for all EMEA and APAC payroll inquiries
- Process accurately and timely submission of all one-time payments (bonus, commissions, or severances), leave of absence amounts, fringe benefits, BIK, Bike to Work, and pension contributions
- Work closely with the International Corporate Accounting team to ensure payroll net pay, taxes, and pension payments are processed timely with the local bank and/or vendor
- Reconcile and prepare month end EMEA/APAC payroll journal entries produced by payroll vendors
- Assist with the preparation of payroll related month end balance sheet reconciliations
- Generate and analyze payroll reports using existing systems and data
- Serve as additional support to the APAC Payroll Analyst
- Complete ad-hoc tasks and other duties as assigned
SKILLS YOU'LL NEED TO BRING
- 4+ years of EMEA and/or APAC payroll processing experience for small to midsize organizations
- Strong knowledge of EMEA and/or APAC payroll compliance and understanding of local payroll tax and labor laws
- Proven experience managing vendors and ability to quickly adapt to new local payroll systems
- Ability to self-manage and prioritize projects to completion in a fast-paced environment
- Highly Proficient in Excel (xlookups, vlookups, pivot tables, and formulas)
NICE TO HAVES
- Experience with payroll system or vendor implementation
- Experience with NetSuite as well as creating and reconciling payroll journal entries
- Experience running America’s payroll
- Experience with Workday HCM
COMPENSATION
Notion is committed to providing highly competitive cash compensation, equity, and benefits. The compensation offered for this role will be based on multiple factors such as location, the role’s scope and complexity, and the candidate’s experience and expertise, and may vary from the range provided below. For roles based in San Francisco or New York City, the estimated base salary range for this role is $120,000-$135,000 per year.
By clicking “Submit Application”, I understand and agree that Notion and its affiliates and subsidiaries will collect and process my information in accordance with Notion’s Global Recruiting Privacy Policy and NYLL 144.
A NOTE ON AI
You don’t need deep AI expertise for every role, but we do expect every Notino to be intellectually curious, drawn to tinkering and discovery, and excited to use AI as a real collaborator in their work. For some roles, AI fluency is a core requirement — when that’s the case, we'll say so explicitly in the qualifications. People who thrive here don’t treat AI as a novelty. They use it to think better, and make their work easier for others to build on.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY & ACCOMMODATIONS
We hire talented people from a wide range of backgrounds. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every bullet, we still encourage you to apply. Notion is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected characteristic. Consistent with applicable law, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Notion provides reasonable accommodations during the application process; if you need one, please let your recruiter know.
Notion is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Notion considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Notion is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.
See All 12 Payroll Analyst Jobs in California
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Find Payroll Analyst JobsPayroll Analyst Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Payroll Analyst Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Whatnot4
- PsiQuantum2
- Notion1
- Prime Healthcare Services1
- Rtx Corporation1
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software5
- Retail4
- Artificial Intelligence2
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces2
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in payroll analyst jobs across California.
- Proficiency in Workday, ADP Workforce Now, or Ceridian Dayforce payroll systems
- Working knowledge of California wage and hour laws, including overtime and meal-break rules
- Experience processing multi-state payroll for large California-based employee populations
- Associate or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field
- Familiarity with equity compensation payroll, including RSU and ESPP processing
- FPC or CPP certification from the American Payroll Association preferred by many California employers
Payroll Analyst Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a payroll analyst in California?
Most payroll analyst roles in California require at least an associate degree in accounting, business, or finance, though a bachelor's degree is increasingly preferred at larger employers. California does not issue a state-specific payroll license, so candidates build credibility through the American Payroll Association's Fundamental Payroll Certification or Certified Payroll Professional designation. Employers in California place particular weight on hands-on experience with California-specific wage and hour rules.
How much do payroll analysts make in California?
Payroll analysts in California earn a median of about $65,340 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $46,120 for the lowest 10% to over $92,080 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire payroll analysts in California?
Employers hiring payroll analysts in California right now include Whatnot, PsiQuantum, and Notion, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of large technology firms, healthcare systems, and entertainment studios creates consistent, year-round demand for payroll professionals across seniority levels.
Which California cities have the most payroll analyst jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Palo Alto have the most payroll analyst openings in California. Los Angeles drives volume through its entertainment, healthcare, and logistics employers, San Francisco and San Jose reflect the dense concentration of technology headquarters that require specialists in equity compensation payroll, and other metros such as Sacramento and San Diego add openings through state government and defense-related organizations.
Are there remote payroll analyst jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields, because payroll analysis is fundamentally a desk-based, software-driven role. About 58% of payroll analyst openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how comfortably the work translates to distributed teams. The tasks most commonly performed remotely include payroll processing, compliance audits, and system configuration, while on-site presence is more often required for new implementations or cross-departmental rollouts.
How can I get hired as a payroll analyst in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a junior payroll analyst or payroll coordinator role from an adjacent position such as accounts payable specialist, HR coordinator, or general accounting assistant. Large California employers including Kaiser Permanente and county government agencies regularly hire at the coordinator level and train from within. Earning the American Payroll Association's Fundamental Payroll Certification before applying signals commitment and gives candidates without direct experience a concrete credential to reference.
Where can I find and apply to payroll analyst jobs in California?
You can find and apply to payroll analyst jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated on an ongoing basis. Find roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to the employer through each listing.
See All 12 Payroll Analyst Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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