Payroll & Compensation Administrator

P AYROLL AND COMPENSATION ADMINISTRATOR / FINANCIAL SERVICES JOB SUMMARY

The Payroll and Compensation Administrator plays a crucial role in managing end-to-end payroll processing and compensation analysis for both employee and attorney populations. This position collaborates closely with the Tax Department and Financial Planning & Analysis group to ensure accurate financial management and strategic compensation planning.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Payroll Management Manage full-cycle payroll processing for diverse populations including employees and attorney partners, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Administer and oversee partner compensation programs including monthly draws, periodic distributions, and special compensation arrangements. Process and validate all payroll changes including new hires, terminations, salary adjustments, and benefit deductions with meticulous attention to detail. Monitor and maintain partner compensation agreements, ensuring strict compliance with guaranteed payments and agreed bonus structures. Execute mid-month contract payments with precision and accuracy. Develop and maintain comprehensive audit trails for all payroll transactions and reconciliations. Coordinate cross-functionally with Tax, Retirement, Benefits, and Accounts Payable teams to ensure accurate withholdings and proper accounting treatment. Ensure compliance with federal and state payroll and compensation laws. Compensation Analysis Create detailed compensation budget and forecasts incorporating headcount plans and compensation adjustments. Partner with FP&A team to integrate compensation forecasts into overall company budgeting and planning processes. Prepare monthly variance analysis reports explaining deviations from budget/forecast. Analyze historical compensation trends to identify patterns in pay practices, promotion rates, and salary growth. Perform routine audits to ensure accuracy between payments, payroll system and general ledger. Reconcile tax liability accounts in the general ledger to ensure that all taxes and other compensation withholdings are deducted and settled accordingly. Develop policies and procedures to enhance processes. Automate procedures to achieve efficiencies Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field. Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in payroll management. Proven expertise with ADP or comparable payroll processing systems. Advanced proficiency in Excel and strong working knowledge of MS Office suite. Solid understanding of accounting principles and financial management. Demonstrated experience in process automation and efficiency improvement. Strong analytical mindset with exceptional attention to detail. Project management expertise with ability to manage multiple deadlines. Excellence in written and verbal communication across all organizational levels. Advanced problem-solving skills with ability to work independently. Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities. Professional discretion in handling confidential compensation information. Strong working knowledge of federal and state payroll and compensation laws.