Payroll Analyst

Latham & Watkins LLP; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare, life and disability

401k plan

11+ paid holidays

PTO 23 days/year

Well-being programs

Professional development

Employee discounts

Affinity groups

Job summary

Latham & Watkins LLP is seeking a Payroll Analyst in Downtown Los Angeles to support payroll processing, data coordination across offices, and budgeting system maintenance. The role combines in-office presence with a flexible hybrid schedule.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years of payroll experience, a degree in Accounting/Finance, and familiarity with PeopleSoft and ADP. The team offers a competitive compensation package and extensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• Certified Payroll Qualification preferred
• Minimum three (3) years of payroll processing experience with high employee volume
• Minimum five (5) years cumulative experience
• Experience developing analyses and producing reports
• PeopleSoft and ADP experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Support bi‑weekly and semi‑monthly payroll processes, including off‑cycle checks and uploads
• Assist leadership with payroll data processing and reporting
• Maintain payroll data in budgeting and forecasting systems
• Enter and update payroll data (salaries, bonuses, benefits, headcount)
• Protect and maintain highly sensitive information
• Collaborate with teams to ensure timely, accurate processing and responses

Skills

Payroll processing

Data coordination

Interdepartmental collaboration

Budget data processing

Confidential information handling

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Certified Payroll Qualification

Tools

PeopleSoft

ADP

Job description

About Latham & Watkins

Latham & Watkins is one of the world’s leading global law firms advising the businesses and institutions that drive the global economy. We are the market leaders in major financial and business centers around the world. Our investment in people, commitment to innovation, and focus on the future empower you to build an incredible career and thrive as an exceptional professional in a supportive culture. If you aspire to be the best, and work with the best, this is where you belong.

About the Role

The Payroll Analyst is an integral part of Latham’s Global Finance team. This role will be responsible for supporting payroll processing, coordinating payroll data and transactions across offices and departments, and maintaining payroll-related information in the budget and financial planning systems, while supporting the daily operations of the payroll team by validating, organizing, and processing payroll data to help ensure department objectives and goals are met timely and accurately. This role will be located in ourGlobal Services Office in Downtown Los Angeles. Please note that this role may be eligible for a flexible working schedule that allows for a hybrid and in-office presence.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

Other key responsibilities include:

• Providing accurate and timely completion of assignments and responses to inquiries; ensuring that all tasks and duties completed are done within the firm’s set guidelines and policies
• Assisting leadership with the efficient completion of the bi-weekly and semi-monthly payroll process, including off-cycle checks and uploads
• Contributing to projects which may include benefits, retirement and payroll adjustments, analyzing external regulations to create, and executing and maintaining effective practices
• Supporting the Financial Planning team by preparing, processing, validating, and reporting of payroll and compensation related budget data
• Entering, updating, and maintaining payroll-related data (salaries, bonuses, benefits, headcount changes) in budgeting and forecasting systems
• Protecting and maintaining any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information that Latham & Watkins retains

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Demonstrate well-developed and professional interpersonal skills, including excellent written and verbal communication and the ability to interact with people at all organizational levels
• Possess the ability to take initiative and work both independently and in a team environment with a customer-service focus
• Display organizational skills to manage time well, prioritize effectively, and handle multiple deadlines

And have:

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• A Certified Payroll Qualification, preferably
• A minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience processing and assisting with complex payroll processes with high employee volume
• A minimum of five (5) years of cumulative experience
• Experience developing analysis and producing reports, preferably
• PeopleSoft and ADP experience, preferably

Benefits & Additional Information

Successful candidates will not only be provided with an outstanding career opportunity and welcoming environment, but will also be provided with a generous total compensation package with bonuses awarded in recognition of both individual and firm performance. Eligible employees can participate in Latham’s comprehensive benefit program which includes:

• Healthcare, life and disability insurance
• A generous 401k plan
• At least 11 paid holidays per year, and a PTO program that accrues 23 days during the first year of employment and grows with tenure
• Well-being programs (e.g. mental health services, mindfulness and resiliency, medical resources, well-being events, and more)
• Professional development programs
• Employee discounts
• Affinity groups, networks, and coalitions for lawyers and staff

Latham & Watkins is an equal opportunity employer. The Firm prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status (including veterans of the Vietnam era), gender expression, marital status, or any other characteristic or condition protected by applicable statute.

Latham & Watkins LLP will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO).

Pay Range

USD $95,000.00 - USD $110,000.00 /Yr.