Associate Director, Payroll

Deciphera, a member of Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing important new medicines and providing hope to people living with cancer, neurologic and autoimmune disease. Deciphera is leveraging its proprietary switch-control kinase inhibitor platform and deep expertise in kinase biology to develop a broad portfolio of innovative medicines. In addition to advancing multiple product candidates from Deciphera’s platform in clinical studies, QINLOCK® (ripretinib) is Deciphera’s switch-control kinase inhibitor approved in many countries including the European Union and the United States for the treatment of adult patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who have received prior treatment with 3 or more kinase inhibitors, including imatinib. ROMVIMZA® (vimseltinib) is a kinase inhibitor approved in the United States for adult patients with symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) for which surgical resection will potentially cause worsening functional limitation or severe morbidity, and in the European Union for adult patients with TGCT associated with clinically relevant physical function deterioration and in whom surgical options have been exhausted or would induce unacceptable morbidity or disability.

The spirit of collaboration that has brought medications to life continues to guide how we operate, grow, and discover new breakthroughs. We cultivate an inclusive culture that values curiosity, creativity, and shared accountability—empowering individuals to challenge the unknown together.

Deciphera offers competitive compensation, including equity-based compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance and a flexible spending account for either health care and/or dependent care.

The Associate Director of Payroll is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of payroll operations in the US and Europe to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across the organization. This role oversees payroll systems, policies, audits, tax compliance, and reporting, while partnering closely with HR, Finance, Accounting, and external vendors. The Associate Director will drive process improvements, support strategic initiatives, and ensure a high standard of employee service and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee end-to-end payroll processing for multi-state and multi-entity operations; Collaborate with international team with multi-country payroll processing leveraging an external vendor for support and processing; Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll laws, tax regulations, wage and hour requirements, and reporting obligations; Manage payroll calendars, reconciliations, tax filings, garnishments, deductions, bonuses, commissions, and year-end processing (W-2s, audits, etc.); Partner with HR, Benefits, Finance, and Accounting teams to ensure data integrity and alignment across systems and processes; Collaborate with team members to support company long-term incentive programs; Supporting member for the company’s 401k, including committee membership and annual audit; Oversee payroll systems administration, upgrades, implementations, integrations, and vendor relationships; Develop and maintain payroll policies, procedures, controls, and documentation, including documentation related to J-SOX controls; Analyze payroll metrics and reporting to identify trends, discrepancies, and opportunities for operational improvement; Support the close to report process, including general ledger accounting entries and reconciliations, related to the payroll accounts; Support internal and external audits by preparing required documentation and responding to inquiries; Ensure confidentiality and security of employee payroll data; Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on automation, efficiency, compliance, and employee experience; Serve as escalation point for complex payroll issues and employee concerns; Partner with Ono Headquarters on payroll related matters as needed

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; 10+ years of progressive payroll experience; Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, tax compliance, and wage and hour laws; Experience managing payroll for large or multi-state organizations; Proficiency with payroll systems such as Workday, ADP, Oracle, or similar platforms; Advanced Excel and payroll reporting skills, including the preparation of accounting entries and reconciliations; Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities; Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

Nice to have

Experience with multi state and international payroll; Experience with payroll system implementations or process transformation initiatives; Experience in healthcare, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, or other high-volume workforce environments

Benefits

Competitive salary and annual bonus.; Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, and more.; Generous parental leave and family planning benefits.; Outstanding culture and opportunities for personal and professional growth.