Director, Payroll

Company: IDEAYA Biosciences
Location: South San Francisco
Posted on: March 7, 2026

Job Description:

Non-Solicitation Policy and Notice to Agencies and Recruiters: IDEAYA's Non-Solicitation Policy strictly prohibits agencies and recruiters from any contact and communication with IDEAYA employees, managers, and leaders to submit unsolicited candidate resumes and/or to solicit business partnerships . Submission of unsolicited candidate resumes by agencies or recruiters with or without a contract in place with IDEAYA Biosciences Inc. will not create any implied obligation. Failure to comply with this policy will result in disqualification from current and future business opportunities with IDEAYA Biosciences. All recruiting and talent agency decisions are strictly managed by the internal IDEAYA Human Resources function. All communication by external agencies and recruiters must be directed to humanresources@ideayabio.com. We ask that you only email your interest once. Job Summary About IDEAYA Biosciences: IDEAYA is a precision medicine oncology company committed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of transformative therapies for cancer. Our approach integrates expertise in small-molecule drug discovery, structural biology and bioinformatics with robust internal capabilities in identifying and validating translational biomarkers to develop tailored, potentially first-in-class targeted therapies aligned to the genetic drivers of disease. We have built a deep pipeline of product candidates focused on synthetic lethality and antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs, for molecularly defined solid tumor indications. Our mission is to bring forth the next wave of precision oncology therapies that are more selective, more effective, and deeply personalized with the goal of altering the course of disease and improving clinical outcomes for patients with cancer. When you're at IDEAYA, you will be in the midst of brilliant minds working on precision medicine therapies to help cancer patients. We are passionate and committed about being on the forefront of oncology medicine, which means we all have a high internal drive that is at the very core of every person at IDEAYA. We are inquisitive, ask deep questions, and are data-driven innovators who like to collaborate and use team work to move science forward. For more information, please see www.ideayabio.com. Location: South San Francisco Position Summary: We are seeking a Payroll Director to build and lead IDEAYA’s payroll function as we transition from a clinical-stage to a commercial-stage biosciences company. This role is responsible for the end-to-end payroll operating model—ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant pay delivery—while establishing scalable governance, robust internal controls (including SOX compliance), and execution across multi-jurisdictional requirements. Reporting to the Senior Finance Director, the Payroll Director will oversee all aspects of payroll processing and reporting, including payroll policy administration, wage and hour compliance, and payroll tax management. As the primary owner of ADP Workforce Now, the Payroll Director will optimize system configuration and reporting, strengthen data integrity, and drive seamless integration across HR, IT, and Finance systems, including equity compensation reporting and taxation. This position is based in our South San Francisco headquarters and requires being onsite four days per week per company policy. Reporting to: Senior Finance Director Job Description What you’ll do: Define and execute a long-term payroll strategy aligned with IDEAYA’s evolving workforce needs, commercial growth, and broader Finance objectives Lead end-to-end payroll operations to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely pay delivery across all employee populations Own ADP Workforce Now as the platform subject matter expert, including system configuration, database governance, access management, and continuous optimization Manage integrations and data flows across HRIS, Accounting, IT, and equity systems; develop advanced custom reporting to support financial integrity and decision-making Oversee federal, multi-state, local, and foreign tax compliance; ensure consistent adherence to applicable regulations and internal standards Maintain and evolve SOX-compliant internal controls for payroll; prepare documentation, testing support, and audit-ready evidence for internal and external stakeholders Lead and respond to external payroll audits, and support 401(k) and Workers’ Compensation audits Administer and ensure accurate payroll treatment of bonuses, equity-based compensation (stock options, ESPP), paid time off, benefits, imputed income, and other compensation elements Partner closely with Stock Administration to process option grants and exercises and ensure correct reporting and taxation of equity events Identify and implement automation and process improvements to reduce manual effort, mitigate risk, improve accuracy, and enhance the employee experience Lead payroll system implementations, upgrades, and vendor evaluations, including project management, change management, and stakeholder alignment Take a leadership role in commercial-stage readiness initiatives, including administering incentive compensation plans, impacting payroll process, controls, and reporting Collaborate closely with Finance & Equity, HR, IT, and Legal to ensure timely execution, accurate reporting, and strong governance across payroll processes Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration; MBA or advanced degree preferred 10–15 years of progressive payroll experience, including at least 5 years in a director-level role within a publicly held company Proven experience in a public company, including experience supporting a clinical-to-commercial transition Advanced, hands-on expertise with ADP Workforce Now is essential, including reporting, SmartCompliance, general ledger interface, time/attendance modules, and access management Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation highly preferred Deep understanding of multi-state tax regulations, wage/hour laws (FLSA), and payroll-related legal and compliance requirements Experience building and scaling international payroll operations, including managing global payroll vendors and ensuring country-specific compliance (employment, tax, and statutory requirements) Experience with equity compensation and related tax implications Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build trust and credibility across all levels of the organization A proactive, high-energy approach with a demonstrated track record of driving continuous improvement Self-starter with strong people leadership, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to operational excellence All employees are expected to act with integrity and in full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and IDEAYA policies, including IDEAYA’s Code of Conduct. Employees must demonstrate good judgement and ethical behavior in all business activities, maintain patient and product safety as a top priority, and report any suspected violations of law or Company policy through appropriate channels Total Rewards Along with our inspiring mission, and highly collaborative and inclusive environment, IDEAYA offers a competitive total rewards package that reflects our pay-for-performance philosophy where employees are eligible to be considered for merit-based salary increases, company discretionary short-term incentive plan participation, and company discretionary stock option awards (based on board approval). Our comprehensive benefits package includes, but is not limited to, medical/dental/vision coverage (100% company paid for employees and 90% company paid for dependents), 401k, ESPP, and wellness programs. The expected salary range for the roleof Director, Payroll is $196,000 - $243,000. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will depend on several factors that may include but are not limited to the office location where this open position is located, the final candidates’ experience within their profession, experience in the disease areas we are striving to make an impact in as a company, length of time within the industry, educational background, and performance during the interview process. The Company complies with all laws respecting equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate against applicants with regard to any protected characteristic as defined by federal, state, and local law. This position requires you to work onsite in the office at the Company’s facilities for training & meetings, with work-from-home flexibility, and the Company requires that all employees working in its facilities be fully vaccinated (except as required by applicable law). Therefore, this position requires you to be fully vaccinated from COVID-19, subject to reasonable accommodations for medical or religious reasons, and/or as otherwise required by applicable law. The Company considers you fully vaccinated once 14 days have passed since you received either the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine must have been FDA approved, have emergency use authorization from the FDA, or, for persons fully vaccinated outside of the U.S., be listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization. IDEAYA is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, IDEAYA does not discriminate in hiring or otherwise in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. EOE/AA/Vets.

Keywords: IDEAYA Biosciences, Lodi , Director, Payroll, Accounting, Auditing , South San Francisco, California