Payroll Auditor Entry Level 2026

Withum; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 53,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Withum is seeking an Entry Level Payroll Auditor I to join our Employee Benefits Fund Audit team. No CPA or prior audit experience is required; through training, mentorship, and hands-on experience, you''ll develop the skills needed to build a successful career in payroll compliance auditing.

As a Payroll Auditor I, you''ll verify employer contributions, analyze payroll records, and help ensure accurate contributions to trust funds.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 4-year college degree.
• No CPA or prior audit experience required.
• Proficient in MS Excel, Word, and Adobe Acrobat.
• Willing to travel to client sites as needed; not remote.

Responsibilities

• Audit employer contributions to employee benefit plans for compliance.
• Communicate with employers to schedule audits and collect documentation.
• Conduct audits remotely or travel to employer locations as needed.
• Prepare payroll audit reports for management review.
• Provide timely status updates on assigned engagements.

Skills

Analytical

Effective communicator

Tech savvy

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Excel

Word

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Withum is a place where talent thrives - where who you are matters. It's a place of endless opportunities for growth. A place where entrepreneurial energy plus inclusive teamwork equals exponential results.

Explore different industries. Learn new skills. Connect with our diverse teams of professionals to gain insight into the career you envision. Your Career Starts with You.

Experience the Transformative Power of Withum Plus You - that's the Power in the Plus!

Job Description

Withum is seeking an Entry Level Payroll Auditor I to join our Employee Benefits Fund Audit team. No CPA or prior audit experience is required. Through comprehensive training, mentorship, and hands‑on experience, you'll develop the skills needed to build a successful career in payroll compliance auditing.

As a Payroll Auditor I, you'll work directly with employers to verify compliance with employee benefit plan requirements, analyze payroll records, and help ensure accurate employer contributions to trust funds. This role offers significant opportunities for professional growth, leadership development, and career advancement.

How You'll Spend Your Time

• Audit employer contributions made to employee benefit plans to verify compliance with contractual requirements
• Communicate with employers to schedule audits, request supporting documentation, and discuss audit findings
• Conduct audits remotely or travel to employer locations as needed
• Perform compliance testing, analyze payroll records, and reconcile payroll data with trust fund records
• Collaborate with managers and senior team members to address audit questions and resolve complex issues
• Prepare payroll audit reports for management review
• Provide timely and accurate status updates on assigned engagements

The Kinds of People We Want to Talk To

• Positive Thinker: an organized self-starter with a strong work ethic and eager to learn
• Effective Communicator: a professional in both written and verbal communication who can distill complex ideas into concise statements
• Ethically Responsible: ability to demonstrate resilience under pressure and passion to do the right thing placing personal and Firm integrity above all else
• Analytical: a resourceful critical thinker who can size up a situation, extract relevant information, and efficiently complete assignments
• Tech Savvy: proficient in MS Excel (logical formulas & pivot tables), Word, and Adobe Acrobat
• Flexible: comfortable traveling to employer locations, or performing audits remotely as needed (or hybrid of both)

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required
• Withum requires all Payroll Auditor I team members to have a 4-year college degree. Although auditors typically have a business administration background, many come to us from the social sciences having honed critical thinking and communication skills in these disciplines.

Additional Information

• This position is not remote
• Travel may be required based on client needs
• No sponsorship is available for this position

California & Washington Salary Range: $53,000 - $70,000

Final compensation is based on factors including location, skills, experience, and qualifications. Withum also offers a competitive benefits package and performance-based bonus opportunities for eligible employees.

Learn more about our careers and benefits at Withum Careers.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

WithumSmith+Brown, PC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, age, sex, (including pregnancy), genetic information, marital status, domestic partnership status, familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, national origin, disability or handicap, veteran status, weight, height, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.