Payroll Manager

Job Description

Payroll Manager – Hybrid | Law Firm

Our client, a highly respected and growing law firm, is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to join its Accounting & Finance team in a hybrid work environment. This is an outstanding opportunity for a payroll professional who enjoys leading complex payroll operations, improving processes, and partnering with firm leadership to ensure accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll administration.

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the Payroll Manager will oversee the complete payroll function for approximately 400 employees across multiple U.S. offices. The ideal candidate will bring extensive payroll expertise, strong leadership skills, and hands-on experience with ADP payroll platforms within a law firm or professional services environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the complete end-to-end payroll process for approximately 400 attorneys and professional staff across multiple U.S. offices and the firm's London office.
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately and on schedule while maintaining compliance with all federal, state, local, and international payroll regulations.
• Administer multi-state payroll and oversee payroll tax compliance for remote employees across multiple jurisdictions.
• Partner with ADP and external vendors to coordinate payroll tax payments, resolve tax-related issues, and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Prepare and review quarterly and annual payroll reports, year-end reconciliations, and W-2 processing.
• Drive continuous improvement of the firm's payroll operations by maximizing the functionality of ADP Workforce Now and identifying opportunities for automation and process enhancements.
• Partner with ADP to implement system improvements that strengthen payroll controls, accuracy, reporting, and overall operational efficiency.
• Support annual financial audits by providing payroll documentation and responding to auditor requests.
• Collaborate closely with Human Resources, People Operations, and Benefits to ensure accurate onboarding, employee data maintenance, and payroll-related documentation.
• Coordinate background checks for new hires and ensure all required payroll documentation is completed in a timely manner.
• Work with managers to ensure employee timecards and payroll approvals are submitted accurately and on schedule.
• Develop and communicate payroll policies, procedures, and best practices while providing guidance and training to managers and employees.
• Assist with compensation analysis, budgeting, workforce planning, and other strategic payroll initiatives.
• Maintain the highest level of confidentiality while handling sensitive employee compensation and payroll information.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the firm's payroll operations while ensuring exceptional accuracy, compliance, and customer service.
• Develop efficient payroll processes that support the firm's continued growth.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll systems, reporting, and operational workflows.
• Partner with firm leadership on payroll strategy, compliance, and workforce planning initiatives.
• Foster a collaborative environment while serving as the firm's payroll subject matter expert.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of eight years of progressive payroll experience, including at least two years in a supervisory or management role.
• Law firm or professional services payroll experience is strongly preferred.
• Extensive experience with ADP Workforce Now, ADP Vantage, or other ADP payroll platforms is required.
• Demonstrated experience processing complex multi-state payrolls.
• Strong knowledge of payroll tax regulations, wage and hour laws, payroll compliance, and reporting requirements.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to analyze payroll data and prepare reports.
• Excellent analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving abilities.
• Outstanding organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting strict payroll deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality and professionalism.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a proactive and detail-oriented payroll leader who enjoys balancing day-to-day payroll operations with strategic process improvement initiatives. They are highly analytical, thrive in a deadline-driven environment, and possess exceptional communication skills. This individual is passionate about leveraging technology to improve payroll efficiency, ensuring compliance, and providing outstanding service to employees and firm leadership.

Location: Hybrid (Minimum of three days per week in the office)

Industry: Legal / Law Firm

If you're an experienced Payroll Manager looking to join a collaborative law firm where you can make a meaningful impact while leading a sophisticated payroll function, we'd love to hear from you. Please email your MS Word resume to jmartinos@friedmanwilliams.com and call James at 732-965-1094 to discuss this opportunity and other confidential accounting and finance positions we are currently recruiting for.