Senior Payroll Specialist

Overview

This role involves end-to-end processing of all U.S. payrolls, including multi-state compliance, year-end reporting, and payroll reconciliations.

Title: Senior Payroll Specialist
Industry: Legal / Professional Services
Location: Fully remote (must reside in a firm-approved U.S. state)
Work week: 37.5 hours
Exempt status: Nonexempt and overtime eligible
Compensation: $63,680 to $90,000, with a discretionary annual bonus
Other: 20% fee, contingency

Responsibilities

• Manage full-cycle payroll processing across multiple states, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Review and approve tax elections, direct deposit changes, deductions, final pay, and PTO payouts.
• Analyze payroll data to identify and resolve discrepancies before processing.
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax and wage laws.
• Support payroll audits and maintain audit-ready records and internal controls.
• Prepare payroll workpapers, uploads, and reconciliations each cycle.
• Partner with HR on salary changes, leave administration, onboarding, and terminations.
• Coordinate with Benefits on deduction accuracy and with Accounting on GL posting.
• Maintain payroll tracking tools, including manual check logs.
• Respond to payroll inquiries with clarity and a service mindset.
• Complete employment verifications and stay current on wage and hour law (FLSA).

Requirements / Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive payroll experience; multi-state required.
• Law firm or professional services background strongly preferred.
• CPP preferred; FPC accepted.
• Proficiency with UKG (Kronos/Ultimate) or comparable enterprise payroll/HRIS platform.
• Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data validation, CSV/template creation).
• Strong understanding of gross-to-net calculations, payroll accounting, and journal entries/reconciliations.
• Discretion handling confidential information.
• Flexibility during peak and year-end cycles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

• $63,680 to $90,000
• 37.5 hour work week
• Nonexempt and overtime eligible
• Discretionary annual bonus