Manager, Payroll & Equity Administration

About Celldex

Celldex is pioneering new horizons in immunology to deliver life-changing therapies. We are relentless in our pursuit of novel antibody-based treatments that engage the human immune system and directly affect critical pathways to improve the lives of patients with allergic, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. We have built a culture where innovative and talented people thrive-focusing a significant effort on attracting and retaining passionate and motivated employees who want to play a role in helping people with serious health conditions and who see this effort as personally rewarding. In our highly entrepreneurial environment, employees are empowered and the opportunity for professional development occurs every day.

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing public biotech company focused on developing important therapies for patients with unmet medical needs. We are seeking an experienced Manager, Payroll & Equity Administration, to oversee key employee-related finance operations, including payroll and equity administration, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant execution of processes that support the Company’s growing workforce. This role will serve as a key liaison between Finance, Human Resources, and external service providers to oversee payroll activities, administer the Company’s equity programs, maintain accurate records, and support related reporting and compliance requirements. The ideal candidate will have strong attention to detail, experience with payroll and equity administration processes within a public company environment, and the ability own and execute critical processes in a dynamic, growing organization.

This role is based onsite 4x week out of our Needham, MA or Hampton, NJ office

Responsibilities

• Own and process bi-weekly payroll through ADP Workforce Now, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing, including the review and processing of employee changes such as new hires, terminations, compensation changes, benefit deductions, direct deposits, and tax withholding updates.
• Partner with Human Resources and external payroll providers to maintain accurate employee records, resolve payroll-related issues, and respond to employee inquiries regarding payroll, deductions, taxes, and time reporting.
• Prepare payroll-related accounting entries, including bonus, vacation, and other payroll accruals, and support payroll account reconciliations, month-end close, and year-end close activities. Maintain payroll records and headcount reports to support Finance and business needs.
• Support year-end payroll processes, including W-2 preparation and reporting requirements.
• Administer and maintain the Company’s project time reporting system, including project / user setup and maintenance, PTO administration, system-related updates and reporting to support project accounting and financial close activities.
• Work closely with Project Managers to ensure accurate and timely project timesheet submission.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations and support audits, payroll tax inquiries, SOX/internal control testing, and other payroll-related compliance activities.
• Support year-end payroll processes, including W-2 preparation and reporting requirements.
• Administer the Company’s equity programs, including onboarding and maintaining employee records, processing equity grants and terminations, managing market value inputs, and supporting option grants, valuations, exercises, exercise coverage, and ESPP issuances.
• Coordinate equity-related tax withholding and payroll integration for equity transactions.
• Support equity administration activities, including opening and closing trading windows, supporting employee communications, and partnering cross-functionally to maintain compliance with Company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Identify opportunities to enhance efficiency and accuracy, including evaluating processes, systems, and automation opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; Associate’s degree or equivalent relevant experience considered.
• 5+ years of payroll administration experience, preferably within a public company or similarly regulated environment.
• Experience processing payroll using ADP Workforce Now required.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, wage and hour requirements, and federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements.
• Experience with payroll accounting, reconciliations, and month-end close processes.
• Experience with Business Central or similar ERP, Unanet, and Equity Edge preferred.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and demonstrated ability to analyze and reconcile data.
• Exceptional attention to detail, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills with the ability to independently manage multiple priorities.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is a plus.

Compensation Statement

The expected base salary for this position is: $116156.00 to $150852.00. We are committed to compensating employees equitably based on several factors including experience, education, licensure/certifications, skill level, location of the position, and availability of similar talent in a competitive market. Subject to eligibility and applicable plan terms, compensation includes base salary, annual discretionary bonus, long term incentive, 401(K) plan with employer contribution, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of our benefits can be found on our careers page Celldex is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that strives to foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to promoting a diverse environment through development, recruiting and community outreach.