Director, Global Payroll and Employment Tax

ABOUT ROCKET LAB

Rocket Lab is the end-to-end space company building rockets spacecraft and critical subsystems that keep the world connected protected expand humanitys reach to the Moon Mars and beyond. We move fast build real hardware for meaningful missions and make the impossible routine. Come shape the future with us.

FINANCE

Rocket Labs Finance team is responsible for all financial transactions for the company operating as a well-oiled machine to maximize the value of our work. Our Finance team are made up of planners analysts and accountants and manage our policies compliance and reporting. Theyre the ones who keep our financial operations in check always thinking ahead and taking care to meet all of our financial business and government obligations. Theyre attentive diligent and meticulous and are mission-critical to Rocket Lab.

DIRECTOR GLOBAL PAYROLL AND EMPLOYMENT TAX

Based onsite at Rocket Labs headquarters in Long Beach California the Director Global Payroll and Employment Tax owns the global payroll and employment-tax compliance architecture for a global workforce of 3000 employees across multiple U.S. and international locations. This role ensures accurate timely and compliant day-to-day payroll processing co-sourced through ADP. The Payroll Manager partners closely with HR Finance Accounting IT and cross-functional stakeholders to maintain payroll integrity streamline processes and drive continuous improvement across payroll systems and workflows.

WHAT YOULL GET TO DO:

• Oversee bi-weekly and semi-monthly payroll processing for salaried and hourly employees across multiple domestic and international locations.
• Ensure full compliance with federal state and international payroll regulations tax laws and reporting requirements.
• Lead mentor and develop the payroll accounting team including training coaching and performance management.
• Validate reconcile and audit payroll data to ensure accuracy in payments deductions reporting and historical records.
• Manage payroll operations related to new hires terminations pay changes and employee benefit and compensation programs (401(k) HSA ESPP stock-based compensation).
• Deploy ADP NZ ensuring compliance with the Holidays Act 2003 KiwiSaver/ESCT and IRD payday filing requirements.
• Manage shadow payroll day-count tracking and assignment documentation for staff working across multiple jurisdictions.
• Oversee the consolidation and integration activities for mergers and acquisitions.
• Own all payroll-cycle corporate and finance controls.
• Oversee manual and off-cycle check processing as needed.
• Investigate reconcile and resolve payroll benefit and tax discrepancies.
• Partner with People & Culture IT Finance and Accounting to ensure seamless integrations data integrity and efficient workflows.
• Drive process improvements and evaluate best practices to enhance payroll systems reporting automation and scalability.
• Support month-end close through journal entries reconciliations and required reporting.
• Stay current on global payroll regulations trends and compliance requirements.

YOULL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS:

• 12 years of multi-country payroll experience including APAC and EMEA compliance co-sourced payroll operations and ADP vendor management across the U.S. and international regions.
• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience (HS diploma & 16 years of work experience).
• Demonstrated experience managing and developing payroll teams.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. and international payroll compliance tax regulations and reporting requirements.
• Proficiency with payroll systems such as ADP Workday or similar platforms.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE:

• Experience with NZ and German payroll M&A payroll integration and mobility/shadow payroll processes.
• Knowledge of GovCon payroll Costpoint SOX compliance and holds or is pursuing the CPP certification.
• Strong analytical auditing and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to drive process improvements and implement scalable payroll solutions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across departments and locations.

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting standing walking computer work and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise dust and fumes in production areas.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Were on a mission to unlock the potential of space to improve life on Earth but thats not an easy task. It takes hard work determination relentless innovation teamwork grit and an unwavering commitment to achieving what others often deem impossible. Our people out-think out-work and out-pace. We pride ourselves on having each others backs checking our egos at the door and rolling up our sleeves on all tasks big and small. We thrive under pressure work to tight deadlines and our focus is always on how we can deliver rather than dwelling on the challenges that stand in the way.

Important information:

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN US OFFICES ONLY:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder) or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. Only messages left for this purpose will be considered. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING TO WORK IN NEW ZEALAND OFFICES ONLY:

For security reasons background checks will be undertaken prior to any employment offers being made to an applicant. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Under these Regulations you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia Japan New Zealand Switzerland the European Union or a country that is part of NATO or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality. For more information on these Regulations click here ITAR Regulations.