Manager I, Payroll Accounting Specialist

At Bristol Myers Squibb, we are creating innovative medicines for patients who are fighting serious diseases. We are also nurturing our own team with inspiring work and challenging career options. No matter our role, each of us makes a contribution. And that makes all the difference.

Manager I, Payroll Accounting Specialist is a senior individual contributor responsible for end-to-end US payroll accounting with deep technical expertise across payroll GL accounting, payroll taxes, fringe benefits, and equity compensation (RSUs). This role serves as a subject matter expert (SME) within Controllership, ensuring accurate accounting, strong controls, and compliant financial reporting, while partnering closely with Payroll, HR, Tax, and Corporate Accounting teams.

Qualifications & Experience

• CA / CPA / CMA / MBA (Finance) or equivalent qualification.
• Minimum 3+ years of experience as a Payroll Accounting Specialist, with demonstrated SME-level expertise.
• Strong end-to-end US payroll accounting experience, including:
• Payroll GL accounting
• Payroll taxes (federal, state, local)
• Fringe benefits accounting
• Equity compensation / RSU accounting
• Solid understanding of US GAAP and controllership requirements.
• Experience with SAP S4 Hana and leading payroll platforms (e.g., ADP, Workday) preferred.

Key Responsibilities and Major Duties:

Payroll Accounting & Close Ownership

• Own end-to-end US payroll accounting including journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and monthly close deliverables.
• Ensure accurate accounting and reporting of earnings, deductions, employer taxes, benefits, and equity compensation in the general ledger.
• Perform and review balance sheet and P&L reconciliations, investigate variances, and ensure timely resolution.
• Support quarter-end and year-end close activities, including audit support and statutory requirements.

Payroll Taxes, Benefits & Equity Accounting

• Oversee accounting for federal, state, and local payroll taxes, including accruals, settlements, and reconciliations.
• Account for fringe benefits, including healthcare, retirement plans, imputed income, and other employee-related benefits.
• Manage accounting for equity compensation, including RSU vesting, forfeitures, and related tax impacts, in accordance with US GAAP.

SME, Controls & Compliance

• Act as a payroll accounting SME, providing technical guidance on complex payroll accounting matters.
• Ensure strong internal controls and SOX compliance across payroll accounting processes.
• Partner with Internal Audit, External Audit, and Corporate Accounting to support reviews, audits, and issue remediation.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Process Excellence

• Partner closely with Payroll Operations, HR, Tax, FP&A, and Technology teams to ensure data accuracy and end-to-end alignment.
• Drive process standardization, documentation, and continuous improvement, including automation and simplification initiatives.
• Support payroll-related transformations, system enhancements, and transition activities as a key SME.

Relationship management and teaming

• Holds self and others to timelines, quality, and accuracy

Risk management

• Articulates material risks and opportunities and takes an active role in designing and executing response or contingency plans