Senior Payroll Specialist

San Francisco, CA or Los Angeles, CA

Summary

An Am Law top 50 law firm with offices worldwide, has an opening for a Senior Payroll Specialist within their Financial Operations Department in their San Francisco or Los Angeles office.

The Opportunity 

The Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day and off-cycle payroll operations for assigned pay cycles.  This individual ensures compliance with established procedures for the accurate and timely preparation, documentation, maintenance and disbursement of payroll checks, payroll taxes, vacation, PTO, and leave of absence records for assigned pay cycles.  The Senior Specialist performs payroll tasks as assigned, which may include assisting and providing backup for other Payroll team members, identifying and troubleshooting issues, and assisting in the development and implementation of procedures to optimize processes.

• Verify reasonability of all information received, including information received from other teams and systems (e.g., Workday (HCM), Thompson Reuters 3E, WorkForce, etc.)
• Update Ascentis payroll database for any changes which are not part of interfaces.
• Ensure all appropriate tax related forms (Payroll and Partnership Questionnaire, W-4, etc.) are received, properly completed, and implemented within the payroll system.
• Ensure the payroll system reflects the appropriate wage reporting and tax withholding for all personnel (considering visa, citizenship, assignment, work location, pay method, etc.)
• Demonstrate in depth understanding of policies and calculations for all pay groups.  Communicate and apply said policies.
• Ensure overtime hours, expenses, and various benefits are paid and categorized appropriately within the payroll systems according to federal and state wage and hour regulations and Firm’s policies.
• Calculate payments and maintain Leave of Absence tracking for assigned payroll. Understand, apply, and communicate leaves of absences policies which may involve complex calculations and the application of multiple Firm policies.
• Process non-cash benefits, per schedule or out of cycle as appropriate.
• Accurately process all components of regular payroll cycle and off cycle checks, including auditing, reporting and filing.

Ideal Candidate       

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or related field and six years multi-state, global payroll payroll experience. Equivalent work experience may be substituted for degree.
• In depth knowledge of payroll and related federal, state, and local regulations including wage and hour.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of multi-state and remote work tax reporting and withholding requirements. Familiarity with expatriate payroll processing preferred.
• APA Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or other relevant professional certification preferred.
• Knowledge of integrated, cross-functional business systems.  Experience with Ascentis Payroll, WorkForce Software, and Workday HCM preferred.
• Working knowledge of GDPR, California, other relevant data privacy requirements.

*Where required by law, salary ranges are stated below. Additional compensation may include a discretionary bonus, overtime as applicable, health/welfare benefits, retirement contributions, paid holidays, and PTO. The range displayed is specifically for positions performed in those cities/states and may vary based on factors including but not limited to the following: local market data and ranges; an applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience; and certain degrees, licensing, and certifications. 

San Francisco salary range: $70k to $104K, plus overtime and bonus

Los Angeles salary range: $65k to $98K, plus overtime and bonus

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