Senior Manager, Stock Administration and Payroll - Eikon Therapeutics

Position Summary

Eikon Therapeutics is seeking a Senior Manager, Stock Administration and Payroll to lead and scale the company’s equity administration and payroll functions during a period of significant growth and increased regulatory complexity. This role will oversee all aspects of stock administration and payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, operational excellence, and a strong employee experience as the company continues operating as a public company.

The Senior Manager will partner closely with senior leadership across Finance, Legal, Total Rewards, HR Operations, People Team, and external vendors to drive compliant, scalable, and efficient processes across equity and payroll administration. This role requires a strategic, detail-oriented leader who can operate in ambiguity, balance hands-on execution with operational leadership, and build strong controls and infrastructure to support a growing organization.

About You

You are a strategic, battle-tested stock administration and payroll leader who thrives in complex, fast-moving environments. You bring deep expertise in equity programs and payroll operations and understand the importance of precision, controls, compliance, and employee experience — particularly as companies scale toward or operate as public entities. You are comfortable partnering with senior leaders, reconciling differing stakeholder perspectives, and guiding decisions that have lasting impact on employees and the organization. You balance hands-on execution with strategic oversight and enjoy building scalable processes, strengthening operational controls, and continuously improving how equity and payroll programs are administered and communicated.

What You’ll Do

• Lead end-to-end payroll processing and operations, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payroll administration, including bonuses, commissions, equity transactions, leave of absence, terminations, relocations, and other complex employee events
• Oversee the company's stock administration function, including administration of stock options, RSUs, ESPPs, and all equity lifecycle activities such as grants, vesting, exercises, releases, cancellations, and terminations
• Partner closely with Finance, HR Operations, Legal, and external vendors to ensure accurate data inputs, reconciliations, reporting, accounting treatment, and compliance with internal controls, SOX requirements, SEC regulations, tax laws, and company policies
• Perform and support stock-based compensation accounting and analyses under ASC 718, including forecasts, modifications, repricing activities, and equity pool tracking, utilization, and forecasting
• Prepare and maintain audit-ready documentation, governance materials, reporting, and controls supporting payroll and equity administration processes
• Partner with senior leadership to support compensation and equity strategy execution, including refresh grants, employee programs, and operational scaling initiatives
• Oversee relationships with payroll providers, stock administration vendors, transfer agents, and external advisors to ensure strong service delivery, compliance, and data integrity
• Continuously improve payroll and equity processes, systems, controls, integrations, and workflows to support scalability, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation
• Stay current on payroll, tax, FASB, and SEC regulatory developments and partner with internal and external stakeholders to assess impact and support complex transactions and compliance requirements
• Provide responsive support and guidance to employees and leaders regarding payroll, taxation, and equity-related matters with a strong focus on accuracy, professionalism, and employee experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of experience, or a post-graduate degree in Finance, HR, or a related discipline with 10+ years of experience in stock administration, payroll, finance, HR operations, compensation, or related functions
• Strong payroll processing experience with comprehensive knowledge of payroll operations, payroll tax compliance, controls, and audit requirements
• Extensive experience administering equity compensation programs in a high-growth public company environment, with strong knowledge of equity vehicles, stock-based compensation accounting, tax implications, and regulatory requirements including SEC and SOX compliance
• Proven ability to navigate complex, ambiguous issues and translate business strategy into scalable operational processes and solutions
• Experience partnering with senior leadership and managing competing priorities across cross-functional stakeholders to drive business outcomes
• Strong communication, analytical, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively with executives, employees, auditors, vendors, and cross-functional partners
• Experience in biotech, life sciences, or another highly regulated industry preferred
• Experience with equity and HR/payroll platforms such as E*TRADE (Equity Edge Online) and SAP SuccessFactors preferred

The expected salary range for this role is $145,000 to $158,650 depending on skills, competency, and the market demand for your expertise.