Senior Payroll Specialist

Job Description

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia that represents clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, intellectual property, and transactional and corporate matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation and government-facing matters, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Senior Payroll Specialist will support all aspects of global payroll as an integral part of a team that produces payroll for approximately 1,400 employees in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment. The Senior Payroll Specialist will work closely with teams across HR, Benefits, Compensation, and Accounting, as well as attorneys and staff. 

Job Responsibilities

• Administer the electronic time sheet process for varied FLSA classifications including verification of submission and accuracy of time sheets, reconciling hours submitted, oversee management approvals, review calculations, and create extract file for semi‐monthly processing. Perform compliance verification of state specific labor laws and regulations. Provide support to users.
• Reconcile federal, state, and local taxation expense, amounts withheld, and payments each payroll cycle, monthly, quarterly, and annually.
• Execute payroll payments in accordance with the documented control processes, including performing audits before completion.
• Work closely with international office management in payroll preparation and multi-currency ledger postings.
• Prepare taxable benefits for payroll inclusion in collaboration with Accounts Payable.
• Coordinate with Benefits on pay and deductions during absences.
• Manage federal, state, and local mandated leave programs.
• Perform new hire mandated reporting, social security verification, and quarterly multiple worksite reports. Review new hires and terminations for correct first and final payments.
• Develop training materials, participate in Q&A sessions and trainings by the Payroll Department for internal customers. Resolve difficult or technical problems or questions from internal customers.
• Work closely with HRIS to update and incorporate newly available system software upgrades.
• Assist with month-end close and payroll-related reconciliations.
• Perform periodic review of current payroll processes and procedures, provide innovative suggestions for improvement.
• Administer the annual global payroll close processes and reconciliations, including preparation for Form W-2 generation and distribution.
• Prepare various weekly and monthly reports, such as overtime, all purpose leave (APL), consecutive absences, and international pay slips, and ad-hoc reports as required.

Qualifications

Requirements:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work in an independent manner, ability to meet frequent deadlines and daily requirements, all with a high sense of urgency and accuracy.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with attorneys and staff. Maintains confidentiality of all matters in accordance with Firm policies.
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic accounting principles and the ability to track, organize, analyze and report financial data in a clear manner.
• Strong knowledge of MS Excel and Word, including the use of functions and pivot tables is preferred.
• Ability to use a cloud-based HR/Payroll suite of products.
• Ability to use a report writer to create, format data, reconcile, and prepare reports.
• Experience executing queries, preparing journal entries, and reconciling payroll to ledger data.

Education

The position requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or related field. Equivalent training and experience may substitute for education. A Fundamental or Professional Certification in Payroll preferred.

Experience

The position requires a minimum of six to eight years of experience processing payroll in a complex business environment with multiple payroll schedules and multistate taxation.

Additional Information

Crowell & Moring LLP offers a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package which includes progressive options such as back up child care, wellness programs, cultural events and social activities. We take great pride in our positive, friendly culture that rewards hard work and success, at the same time recognizing the importance of family and community service.

EOE m/f/d/v
Crowell & Moring LLP participates in the E-Verify program.