Accountant, Payroll

Preferred Travel Group; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

In-office 3 days per week

Culture of collaboration and mentoring

Job summary

Preferred Travel Group is seeking an Accountant, Payroll to ensure accurate, timely payroll operations for domestic and international populations. The role supports payroll processing, reconciliations, journal entries, tax activities, and audit support with a strong emphasis on confidentiality and service orientation.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree and 3–5 years of payroll experience, including hands-on use of ADP platforms and strong Excel skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent professional experience.
• 3–5 years of payroll and general accounting experience; international payroll experience preferred.
• Experience applying payroll accounting knowledge including journal entries and reconciliations.
• Proficiency with ADP payroll systems and strong data-entry accuracy.
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Process domestic and international payroll accurately and on schedule using ADP Comprehensive Services, ADP Celergo, and foreign payroll providers.
• Prepare, review, and audit payroll reporting (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end).
• Prepare payroll-related journal entries and reconcile payroll, benefit, insurance, vacation, sick leave, and related liability accounts.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and ensure documentation is complete and compliant.
• Administer payroll deductions, tax codes, garnishments, retirement plan deductions, and Form 5500 reporting.
• Monitor timecard compliance, enforce payroll deadlines, and calculate vacation/time-off accruals.
• Respond to payroll inquiries and coordinate with ADP and internal partners to resolve issues.
• Support compliance with payroll laws and improve processes and controls.

Skills

Payroll processing

ADP systems

Excel

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

ADP Comprehensive Services

ADP Celergo

ADP Workforce Now

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Accountant, Payroll

Full-time Regular Associate Chicago, IL, US

Who we are:

At Preferred Travel Group, we champion the power of travel to inspire meaningful connections and enrich lives around the world. As a global family of brands and programs representing the finest independent hotels and resorts, we are united by a shared belief in authenticity, collaboration, and the value of independent spirit. Our culture reflects our ideology in action: people first, relationships at the center, and a commitment to creating lasting impact for our partners, our global community, and one another. When you join Preferred, you become part of a purpose-driven organization where ideas are welcomed, growth is encouraged, and your work contributes to shaping the future of travel.

Why this role matters:

The Accountant, Payroll plays a critical role in ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll operations across domestic and international populations. This role supports payroll processing, account reconciliations, payroll-related journal entries, tax and audit activities, and employee-facing issue resolution with a high degree of accuracy, confidentiality, and service orientation.

What you’ll do:

• Process domestic and international payroll accurately and on schedule using ADP Comprehensive Services, ADP Celergo, and foreign payroll providers.
• Prepare, review, and audit payroll reporting, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end reports.
• Prepare payroll-related journal entries and reconcile payroll, benefit, insurance, vacation, sick leave, and related liability accounts.
• Maintain accurate payroll records, reconcile payroll registers to the general ledger, and ensure documentation is complete and compliant.
• Administer payroll-related deductions, tax codes, garnishments, retirement plan deductions, FSA funding, Form 5500 reporting, and audit support.
• Monitor timecard compliance, enforce payroll deadlines, communicate follow-up requirements to employees and supervisors, and calculate accurate vacation and time-off accruals.
• Respond to payroll inquiries and coordinate with ADP, foreign payroll providers, and internal partners to resolve issues promptly.
• Support compliance with payroll laws, company policies, and best practices while identifying opportunities to improve processes, controls, and reporting.

What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor’s degree and 3–5 years of payroll and general accounting experience, with international payroll experience preferred.
• Apply payroll accounting knowledge, including journal entries, account reconciliations, payroll reporting, and ADP payroll systems.
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail, accuracy, organization, analytical judgement, and ability to meet deadlines while managing multiple priorities.
• Maintain integrity, professionalism, discretion, accountability, and confidentiality with minimal supervision.
• Communicate effectively and provide responsive customer service in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.
• Use intermediate Excel skills to support payroll reporting, reconciliations, data review, and analysis.

What would make you stand out:

• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or a comparable enterprise accounting platform.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now and ADP Celergo.
• Experience supporting external audits, payroll compliance reviews, or year-end reporting processes.
• Hands-on international payroll experience, including coordination with foreign payroll providers.

Where you’ll thrive:

• Demonstrate accuracy, confidentiality, sound judgment, and attention to detail in a deadline-driven environment.
• Work effectively with payroll data, reconciliations, reporting, and process controls in a structured environment.
• Communicate clearly with employees, supervisors, internal partners, and payroll providers to resolve questions and issues promptly.
• Take ownership of recurring processes while remaining flexible and responsive to changing business needs.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, strengthen controls, and support a positive employee experience.

With our in-office philosophy, our associates are expected to be in the office at least three days per week, supporting a healthy balance between in-person collaboration and flexible remote work. We take pride in our vibrant and inclusive culture, which thrives on meaningful connection, shared purpose, and cross-functional teamwork. In-office engagement plays a vital role in fostering spontaneous collaboration, accelerating innovation, and strengthening relationships across teams. It also provides valuable opportunities for mentorship, professional development, and a deeper sense of community.

Please note: While the current expectation is a minimum of three days per week in the office, this may evolve over time in alignment with business needs and our continued commitment to culture-building.

Disclaimer:This description reflects the general nature and level of the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities or requirements

80,000 - 85,000, actual compensation within this range will be determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise.