Payroll Manager

Theuniversityunion; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Excellent benefits

Wonderful work environment

Job summary

Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll LLP is seeking a Payroll Manager to oversee payroll operations, ensure accuracy, and ensure compliance with all applicable laws. The role emphasizes benefits administration, reporting, and year-end activities in a professional environment within a top-tier litigation firm.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of payroll management experience, strong analytical skills, and expertise with large-scale payroll systems such as UKG-Ready.

Qualifications

• Proven experience (5 years) as payroll manager or similar role.
• Strong knowledge of payroll processes, tax regulations, and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Execute end-to-end payroll processes with data entry and verification.
• Review changes in tax withholding, direct deposits, and deductions.
• Ensure compliance with payroll regulations at local, state, and federal levels.
• Collaborate with HR and other departments to resolve discrepancies.
• Lead payroll system implementations and drive process improvements.
• Maintain payroll records and ensure confidentiality of information.

Skills

Payroll management

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Payroll systems

Tools

UKG-Ready

Job description

• Location 1100 New York Ave. NW,Suite 800,Washington, DC, 20005,United States
• Base Pay $85,000.00 - $95,000.00 / Year
• Job Category Professional Staff
• Employee Type FT Exempt 100% - 40

Description

Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll LLP is one of the largest and most diversified plaintiff-side litigation firms in the country, with more than 100 attorneys in eight offices. We champion the causes of real people, workers, consumers, small business owners, investors, and whistleblowers - working to deliver corporate reforms and fair markets for the common good. Our firm has earned an international reputation by litigating complex, high-stakes cases, many of which have resulted in landmark decisions on previously untried issues involving antitrust, securities, consumer rights, civil rights, employee benefits, human rights, and other far-reaching matters.

We are seeking a Payroll Manager to join our Accounting Department. The Payroll Manager will oversee the firm’s payroll operations, ensuring that payroll is processed accurately, timely, and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. This role manages payroll administration, payroll tax compliance, reporting, reconciliations, year-end activities, and system maintenance. In addition, the Payroll Manager plays a key role in benefits administration, ensuring the accurate processing of employee benefit deductions, retirement plans, leave programs, and other payroll-related benefits activities. The ideal candidate possesses strong analytical skills, exceptional attention to detail, and extensive knowledge of payroll systems, benefits administration, and regulatory requirements.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Execute end-to-end payroll processes including data entry, computations, and verifying accuracy of payroll transactions.
• Review and process changes in employee tax withholding, direct deposit, and deductions.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal payroll regulations and tax laws.
• Collaborate with HR and other departments to resolve payroll discrepancies or issues.
• Experience leading payroll system implementations and driving process enhancements to improve accuracy, efficiency, compliance, and employee experience.
• Maintain payroll records and ensure confidentiality and security of sensitive information.
• Stay updated on changes in payroll regulations and implement necessary adjustments.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies and address employee inquiries regarding pay issues.
• Understand and implement proper taxation of employer paid benefits.
• Assist the production and validation of journal entries.
• Produce payroll-related reports and data analyses to support reporting, compliance, and organizational needs.
• Manage garnishment orders, ensuring proper calculation of withholdings and adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Manage quarterly and year-end payroll close processes, ensuring the accurate and timely reconciliation, preparation, filing, and distribution of payroll tax reports and Forms W-2 and W-2C in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on the payroll taxation of employer-sponsored benefits, ensuring accurate withholding, reporting, and compliance with applicable laws and regulation
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of company-sponsored benefit programs and their integration with payroll to ensure accurate deductions, employer contributions, taxation, and reporting.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven experience (5 years) as payroll manager or in a similar role.
• Strong knowledge of payroll processes, tax regulations, and compliance.
• Proficiency in UKG-Ready Software or other large-scale payroll systems.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

PROFESSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Professional maturity with the highest standards of ethics and trustworthiness.
• Customer-service orientation for internal audiences.
• Strategic thinker with good analytical skills and judgment and a results orientation.
• Positive and professional demeanor with a "can do" approach to work and an ability to adapt and change course when necessary.
• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial attitude and an ability to thrive in a fast paced, hands-on environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to execute effectively through others.
• Demonstrates the highest level of integrity, professionalism, and discretion when handling sensitive employee, payroll, and organizational information.

We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a wonderful work environment. The expected salary (excluding bonus) is $85,000-$95,000. Actual pay will be determined based on experience and other job-related factors. You will be eligible to receive a year-end bonus, the issuance and amount of which are discretionary and dependent upon the Firm's profitability.

Cohen Milstein does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy), nationality, religion, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristics when making hiring, promotion, or other employment decisions. We are committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application process. We believe that our different perspectives and experiences enhance the quality of service we provide to clients and make the Firm a more vibrant and fulfilling place to work.