Payroll and Benefits Manager

Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) with profit sharing

Generous paid time off

Holiday leave

Job summary

Swift Currie is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Manager to oversee end-to-end biweekly payroll for ~300 employees, including Partners, and to strategically manage the firm’s benefits package. You will serve as the primary contact for pay and perks, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and strict confidentiality.

Responsibilities include open enrollment, retirement plan administration, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll and benefits experience, preferably within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Accounting, Business, or a related field.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or SHRM-CP/SCP preferred.
• Law Firm experience a plus

Responsibilities

• Execute accurate biweekly payroll for ~300 employees (including Partners, Associates, admin staff).
• Ensure payroll compliance with federal/state/local regulations and tax filings.
• Generate monthly, quarterly, and year-end labor reports for Firm Leadership and Accounting.
• Lead year-end payroll audits and distribution of W-2s and tax docs.
• Manage retirement contributions and communication with the TPA.
• Oversee group medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plan administration.
• Lead annual open enrollment and coordinate with vendors.
• Educate new hires on benefits and assist with enrollment.
• Oversee 401(k) plan contributions, testing, and employee education.
• Serve as SME for FMLA, PFL, and firm leave policies.
• Support 1095-C process and plan document compliance.
• Maintain payroll/HRIS data integrity (ADP/Paylocity/UKG).
• Provide prompt, empathetic support for pay discrepancies and benefits coverage questions.

Skills

Excel proficiency

FLSA knowledge

Discretion with confidential data

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Accounting/Business

CPP or SHRM-CP/SCP preferred

Tools

ADP/Paylocity/UKG HRIS

Job description

The Payroll & Benefits Manager is responsible for the end-to-end administration of the firm’s biweekly payroll and the strategic management of our comprehensive benefits package. This role serves as the primary point of contact for all employees regarding pay and perks, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and a high level of confidentiality.

Responsibilities

Payroll Administration

• Full-Cycle Payroll: Execute accurate biweekly payroll for approximately 300 employees, including Partners (K-1 distributions), Associates, and administrative staff.
• Compliance: Ensure all payroll practices comply with federal, state, and local regulations, including tax filings and wage garnishments.
• Reporting: Generate monthly, quarterly, and year-end labor reports for Firm Leadership and Accounting.
• Audit Support: Lead year-end payroll audits and manage the distribution of W-2s and tax-related documentation.
• Retirement Services: manage the contribution process to ensure information is routed to and received from the TPA.

Benefits Management

• Plan Administration: Manage the day-to-day operations of group medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• Open Enrollment: Lead the annual open enrollment process, including vendor coordination, employee communications, and system updates.
• New Hire Orientation/Initial Enrollment: Educate new employees regarding firm benefit offerings, assist with initial enrollment, including vendor coordination, employee communications, and system updates.
• Retirement Services: Oversee the 401(k) plan, including contributions, annual testing support, and employee education.
• Leave Management: Act as the subject matter expert for FMLA, PFL, and firm-specific leave policies.
• Audit Support: Manage 1095-C process, ensure plan documents are in compliance and conduct FSA non-discrimination testing.

Employee Relations & Tech

• HRIS Management: Maintain the integrity of the payroll/HRIS database (e.g., ADP, Paylocity, UKG, etc.).
• Inquiry Resolution: Provide prompt, empathetic support to staff and attorneys regarding pay discrepancies or benefits coverage questions.

Required Skills and Abilities

• High proficiency in Excel (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables) and experience with mid-market HRIS platforms.
• Strong understanding of FLSA regulations and the nuances of law firm compensation (e.g., draw vs. distribution).
• Discretion in handling sensitive partner compensation data with absolute confidentiality.
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to explain complex benefit structures to both a first-year associate and a senior partner.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll and benefits experience, preferably within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Accounting, Business, or a related field.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or SHRM-CP/SCP preferred.
• Law Firm experience a plus

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift and move equipment during installation and maintenance.

Expected Hours of Work

• Full-time position with a 40-hour work week
• Workdays are Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Occasional, infrequent evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand

Travel

• Occasional, infrequent daytime travel may be required

Why Swift Currie

At Swift Currie, we recognize that talented people are essential to our success, enabling us to provide exceptional service to our clients. Our professional team works collaboratively within a dynamic and welcoming environment.

Swift Currie offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with profit sharing, generous paid time off, and holiday leave. We believe that building a successful legal practice requires the contributions of everyone, and we are committed to fostering a culture of excellence across our organization.

More About Swift Currie

With offices in Atlanta, Savannah, and Birmingham, Swift Currie is nationally known for defending clients in significant litigation. This reputation has helped us become the largest law firm in Georgia focused exclusively on litigation. To learn more about our firm, visit us at www.swiftcurrie.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Swift Currie is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including related medical conditions), gender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, or any other protected status, in compliance with all applicable laws.

This position is based in Atlanta, GA 30309.