Strive to Bring a Profound Difference to our Patients

At Avidity Biosciences, we are passionate about the impact of every employee in realizing our vision of improving people’s lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics. Avidity is revolutionizing the field of RNA with its proprietary AOCs, which are designed to combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide therapies to address targets and diseases previously unreachable with existing RNA therapies. If you are a committed, solution-oriented thinker, join us in making a difference and become part of our growing culture that is integrated, collaborative, agile and focused on the needs of patients. 

Avidity Biosciences, Inc.'s mission is to profoundly improve people's lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics - Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs™). Utilizing its proprietary AOC platform, Avidity demonstrated the first-ever successful targeted delivery of RNA into muscle and is leading the field with clinical development programs for three rare muscle diseases: myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Avidity is broadening the reach of AOCs with its advancing and expanding pipeline, including programs in cardiology and immunology through internal discovery efforts and key partnerships. Avidity is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information about our AOC platform, clinical development pipeline, and people, please visit www.aviditybiosciences.com and engage with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The Opportunity

The Sr. Payroll Analyst I will be responsible for the preparation, review, processing and management of multi-state payroll for our growing organization. This role will be responsible for all employee data requests, analysis, maintenance, and administration relative to the payroll systems. In this role, you will partner with the Director of Payroll to own and streamline payroll processes. This is a highly visible role and an amazing opportunity to help build out the payroll function. In addition to Finance partners, this position will consistently work cross-functionally with HR, Benefits and Talent partners.

What You Will Contribute

• Preparation and processing of semi-monthly multi-state payroll, ensuring accurate calculations and timely disbursement.
• Process off-cycle payrolls as needed related to adjustments, bonuses and/or equity transactions.
• Prepare preview payroll results for completeness and accuracy for final review and approval by the Director of Payroll.
• Audit payroll records to source data, ensuring all employee changes are correctly captured and approved.
• Assist in monthly, quarterly and annual payroll reconciliations, including W-2’s and 941’s.
• Provide support to active employees on all payroll-related inquiries.
• Use various work aids and tools to ensure accurate and consistent processes including follow up on outstanding items. (logs, trackers, checklists, etc)
• Ensure payroll is processed in accordance with established SOX key controls and in compliance with federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour laws and practices.
• Support system implementations and process improvements, and act as a key member on any system upgrades, configuration changes, and conversions including integrations when necessary.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies by collecting and analyzing data.
• Create and maintain organized payroll supporting files and records.
• Exercise good judgement, discretion, and confidentiality when handling sensitive employee pay information.
• Initiate new state and local setups, including Power of Attorney requirements.
• Assist with process documentation.
• Provide support during audits and assist in preparing documentation as required.
• Research current and pending regulations affecting payroll and recommend necessary actions and changes to meet new requirements.
• The Job Description is intended to be a general representation of the responsibilities and requirements of the job. However, the description may not be all-inclusive, and responsibilities and requirements are subject to change.

What We Seek

• 8+ years of hands-on, full cycle, multi-state payroll and payroll tax experience.
• Experience with Microsoft suite programs.
• Strong skill, comfort and agility working in Excel to create, maintain, audit and track data.
• Experience with ADP WFN (currently in implementation for Q2’25 go-live)
• Strong knowledge of Wage and Hour laws, Federal and State payroll regulations and requirements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of dealing with complex problems and presenting findings in a clear and concise manner.
• Analytical, with strong problem-solving abilities and creative resolution skills.
• Ability to leverage data in order to review, recommend and develop new or modified processes/procedures as required.
• Experience with payroll processing of equity related transactions. (NQ’s. RSU’s, PSU’s and ESPP)
• Ability to successfully balance competing priorities and effectively manage workload in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to remain organized, work autonomously, execute flawlessly, pay strict attention to detail and meet critical deadlines.

What We will Provide to You:

• The base salary range for this role is $93,500 - $103,300K. The final compensation will be commensurate with such factors as relevant experience, skillset, internal equity and market factors.
• Avidity offers competitive compensation and benefits which includes the opportunity for annual and spot bonuses, stock options and RSUs, as well as a 401(k) with an employer match. In addition, the comprehensive wellness program includes coverage for medical, dental, vision, and LTD, and four weeks of time off.
• A commitment to learning and development which includes a variety of programming internally developed by and for Avidity employees, opportunities for job-specific training offered by industry, and an education reimbursement program.