Payroll Manager

Liberty Personnel Services, Inc.; Baltimore (MD); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A payroll management firm in Baltimore is seeking a Payroll Manager to lead payroll functions with a competitive salary range of $125-160k. The manager will oversee payroll processing, ensure compliance with tax regulations, and optimize payroll systems. Ideal candidates will have over 7 years of payroll experience, particularly in a law firm environment, along with a bachelor's degree and proficiency in payroll software. This hybrid role offers a collaborative environment with strong leadership opportunities.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership capacity.
• Previous experience within a law firm environment is required.
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end processing of multi-state payrolls.
• Manage partner compensation complexities including draws and tax distributions.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations.
• Lead the maintenance of payroll systems and integration with HRIS platforms.
• Conduct regular internal audits for data integrity.

Skills

Expert-level proficiency in payroll software

Advanced Microsoft Excel skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field

Tools

ADP

Workday

Dayforce

UKG

Job description

Payroll Manager - Law Firm - $125-160k - Hybrid

The Payroll Manager will lead the strategic execution, compliance, and administration of the firm’s payroll functions. This role ensures all legal and non-legal staff are paid accurately and on time while maintaining strict adherence to multi-state and international tax regulations. The Manager acts as a key advisor to leadership regarding partner distributions, associate base-pay adjustments, and the integration of complex bonus structures within a legal environment.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Strategy & Execution: Oversee the end-to-end processing of multi-state payrolls for all attorneys, administrative staff, and partners.

Partner Distributions: Manage the unique complexities of partner compensation, including draws, tax distributions, and K-1 related withholdings.

Compliance & Tax Management: Ensure firm-wide compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations, including payroll tax filings, W-2/1099 production, and "nexus" issues related to traveling attorneys.

System Optimization: Lead the maintenance and enhancement of the firm’s payroll systems, ensuring seamless integration with time-entry and HRIS platforms.

Audit & Reporting: Conduct regular internal audits to ensure data integrity. Lead the preparation of payroll-related reports for the Finance, Tax, and Benefits departments.

Associate Cycles: Partner with the Compensation team to execute annual lockstep increases, ensuring precise adjustments for associate classes and bonus payouts.

Policy Development: Establish and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) for payroll to ensure continuity and risk mitigation.

Required Qualifications

Experience: A minimum of 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership capacity.

Industry Knowledge: Previous experience within a law firm environment is required. Candidates must understand partner capital accounts, associate lockstep models, and professional services billing structures.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.

Technical Skills: Expert-level proficiency in payroll software (such as ADP, Workday, Dayforce or UKG) and advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, and data modeling.

Certification: CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) is strongly preferred.

To apply, please send your resume and references to [e-mail].

Liberty Personnel Services, Inc.
1001 Conshohocken State Rd, Suite 2-410