Payroll Manager

Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Dental/Vision plans

Life and Disability Insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off; Hybrid schedule (Tue-\u

Hybrid schedule (Tue-Thu)

Job summary

Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles seeks a Payroll Manager to lead our payroll operations with emphasis on accuracy, compliance, and internal controls. You will oversee semi-monthly payroll processing, timekeeping, deductions, and tax reporting while partnering with HR, Benefits, and Finance.

You will drive process improvements, oversee ADP Workforce Now and Workday integrations, and manage the payroll team to deliver timely, reliable payroll and auditable records.

Qualifications

• Experience leading payroll operations for a large organization.
• Strong knowledge of ADP and Workday payroll systems.
• Ability to design payroll controls and audit procedures.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and manages all payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing of semi-monthly payrolls.
• Directs payroll activities related to salaries, bonuses, supplemental compensation, benefits deductions, expense reimbursements, garnishments, taxes, retirement contributions, and other payroll-related transactions.
• Reviews and approves payroll registers, audit reports, and reconciliations prior to payroll transmission.
• Ensures timely and accurate processing of payroll changes, including new hires, terminations, promotions, compensation changes, leaves of absence, tax and retirement elections, and other payroll related transactions.
• Oversees timekeeping administration and ensures accurate reporting of hours worked, overtime, vacation, sick and leave balances, as applicable.
• Maintains payroll records and documentation in accordance with applicable legal, regulatory, and Firm requirements.
• Manages payroll audits, tax notices, inquiries, and internal and external reporting requirements.
• Develops, implements, and maintains payroll controls and audit procedures to safeguard and minimize risk.
• Designs and maintains complex payroll analysis, reconciliations, and reporting models utilizing advanced Excel functionality including VLOOKUP, formulas and pivot tables.
• Prepares payroll-related analyses relating to compensation, taxes, benefits, headcount, and labor costs.
• Partners with Finance to ensure timely and accurate payroll journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Supports budgeting, forecasting, and compensation-related reporting activities.
• Provides payroll-related schedules, reports, and support for audits and reviews.
• Serves as the primary system owner and subject matter expert for ADP Workforce Now, ADP Workforce Manager, and related payroll technologies.
• Partners with Human Resources and other stakeholders to support and optimize Workday integrations and payroll-related system functionality.
• Oversees payroll system configurations, testing, upgrades, enhancements, implementations, and change management initiatives.
• Ensures data integrity between payroll, HRIS, timekeeping, benefits, and accounting systems.
• Identifies opportunities for automation, process improvements, and enhanced process efficiencies and practices to increase efficiency and reduce risk.
• Develops and maintains standard operating procedures and payroll process documentation.
• Leads, develops, coaches, and evaluates payroll staff through performance management, mentoring, training, and professional development.
• Establishes departmental goals, priorities, service standards, and performance expectations.
• Allocates work across the payroll team to ensure efficiency, accuracy, timely service delivery, and employee development.
• Creates cross-training opportunities and succession plans to ensure continuity of payroll operations.
• Serves as the primary escalation point for complex payroll-related issues and inquiries.
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships with Human Resources, Benefits, Finance, and external payroll vendors.
• Maintains a high level of confidentiality and professionalism when handling sensitive employee information.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Manager

Workday

Excel

Job description

Munger, Tolles & Olson (MTO) has topped The American Lawyer’s A-List a record twelve times and maintains the highest average A-List ranking in the history of the award.

We strive to hire only the most qualified and creative lawyers. We believe that clerkships provide valuable experience. In this regard, nearly 75% of our lawyers and over 80% of our litigators served as law clerks to federal or state judges and sixteen attorneys were clerks to U.S. Supreme Court Justices. We recruit and retain the best professional talent to support our Attorneys with a focus on service and excellence. We have a full spectrum of functional positions including Information Technology, Information Security, Accounting, Human Resources, Legal Support, and Marketing.

Job Summary:

The Payroll Manager is responsible for the leadership, administration, compliance, and continuous improvement of the Firm’s payroll operations. Reporting to the Director of Finance, the Payroll Manager oversees all payroll activities ensuring accurate and timely processing, regulatory compliance, and adherence to internal controls.

The Payroll Manager serves as the Firm’s subject matter expert for payroll administration, payroll taxation, timekeeping, payroll systems, and related compliance matters. This role leads the Payroll team and partners closely with Human Resources, Benefits, Finance, and external vendors to ensure operational excellence and exceptional employee service.

In partnership with Finance and Human Resources, the Payroll Manager drives process improvement initiatives, leverages technology and reporting tools to increase efficiency and accuracy, develops and maintains effective internal controls, minimizes organizational risk, and provides strategic payroll support to Firm leadership.

What You Will Do:

PAYROLL OPERATIONS

• Oversees and manages all aspects of the Firm’s payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing of semi-monthly payrolls.
• Directs payroll activities related to salaries, bonuses, supplemental compensation, benefits deductions, expense reimbursements, garnishments, taxes, retirement contributions, and other payroll-related transactions.
• Reviews and approves payroll registers, audit reports, and reconciliations prior to payroll transmission.
• Ensures timely and accurate processing of payroll changes, including new hires, terminations, promotions, compensation changes, leaves of absence, tax and retirement elections, and other payroll related transactions.
• Oversees timekeeping administration and ensures accurate reporting of hours worked, overtime, vacation, sick and leave balances, as applicable.
• Maintains payroll records and documentation in accordance with applicable legal, regulatory, and Firm requirements.

COMPLIANCE & RISK MANAGEMENT

• Manages payroll audits, tax notices, inquiries, and internal and external reporting requirements.
• Develops, implements, and maintains payroll controls and audit procedures to safeguard and minimize risk.
• Conducts periodic reviews of payroll processes to identify compliance concerns, control weaknesses, and operational risks.

REPORTING, ANALYTICS & FINANCE SUPPORT

• Designs and maintains complex payroll analysis, reconciliations, and reporting models utilizing advanced Excel functionality including VLOOKUP, formulas and pivot tables.
• Prepares payroll-related analyses relating to compensation, taxes, benefits, headcount, and labor costs.
• Partners with Finance to ensure timely and accurate payroll journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Supports budgeting, forecasting, and compensation-related reporting activities.
• Provides payroll-related schedules, reports, and support for audits and reviews.

SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATION & PROCESS IMPROVEMENT

• Serves as the primary system owner and subject matter expert for ADP Workforce Now, ADP Workforce Manager, and related payroll technologies.
• Partners with Human Resources and other stakeholders to support and optimize Workday integrations and payroll-related system functionality.
• Oversees payroll system configurations, testing, upgrades, enhancements, implementations, and change management initiatives.
• Ensures data integrity between payroll, HRIS, timekeeping, benefits, and accounting systems.
• Identifies opportunities for automation, process improvements, and enhanced process efficiencies and practices to increase efficiency and reduce risk.
• Develops and maintains standard operating procedures and payroll process documentation.

LEADERSHIP & TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Leads, develops, coaches, and evaluates payroll staff through performance management, mentoring, training, and professional development.
• Establishes departmental goals, priorities, service standards, and performance expectations.
• Allocates work across the payroll team to ensure efficiency, accuracy, timely service delivery, and employee development.
• Creates cross-training opportunities and succession plans to ensure continuity of payroll operations.

CUSTOMER SERVICE & BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP

• Serves as the primary escalation point for complex payroll-related issues and inquiries.
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships with Human Resources, Benefits, Finance, and external payroll vendors.
• Maintains a high level of confidentiality and professionalism when handling sensitive employee information.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.

Tools:

• ADP Products (ADP Workforce Now, ADP Workforce Manager, GLI) and Workday
• Financial and accounting systems
• Microsoft Office Suite including advanced Microsoft Excel

About You:

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills, with the ability to adapt your approach and effectively engage individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to navigate complexity and deliver results in demanding situations.
• Ability to build trusted partnerships and work collaboratively with others to achieve shared goals and objectives.
• Strong customer focus, with the ability to build effective relationships and deliver responsive, customer-centric solutions.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities, demonstrate resilience and identify opportunities to improve processes and increase efficiency.

What MTO Offers:

At MTO, we believe our success stems from our collective efforts, and we are committed to providing well-rounded support and resources for our employees. In addition to a competitive compensation plan, MTO offers a comprehensive benefits program for employees to thrive both inside and outside of work. Eligible employees can enjoy a wide range of benefits, including:

• A variety of medical, dental, and vision benefit plans
• Company paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) savings plan, with company match
• Comprehensive paid time off, including: vacation days, 10 - 12 designated holidays, sick time, and bereavement leave
• Hybrid Flexible – 3 days in office typically Tuesday to Thursday; working hours range between 8 AM (PST) to 6 PM (PST)

Actual base salary considers several factors including but not limited to geography, job-related knowledge, experience, and budget. At MTO, base pay is one part of the total compensation package. This role may be eligible for bonus pay in addition to base salary. The anticipated base salary range for the position in Los Angeles* is $140,000 - $160,000.

*For all positions based in the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices, residency within the state of California and within a reasonable commutable distance to the assigned office is required depending on the firm's discretion and the nature of the role.

For full details of the position and for information on other job opportunities, please visit our website at www.mto.com