Payroll Specialist

Strategic Legal Practices; Laredo (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with Employer Match

Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Short-Term, Long-Term Disability & Life Insurance

Paid Parking

Generous Paid Time Off

Employee Referral Program

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Employee Discount Program

Coverage of bar dues and CLEs

Ongoing professional development opportunities

Job summary

Strategic Legal Practices in Laredo, Texas, is seeking a Payroll Specialist to manage end-to-end payroll processing. This role involves critical functions like auditing payroll, ensuring compliance with California labor law, and maintaining accurate salary records.

The ideal candidate should have at least 3 years of payroll processing experience, proficiency in ADP Workforce Now, and strong Excel skills. Competitive compensation ranging from $80,000 to $110,000 annually, along with a robust benefits package, is offered.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of payroll processing experience, preferably in a professional services or legal environment.
• Proficiency with ADP Workforce Now is required.
• Advanced Excel skills required, including multi-tab workbooks and formulas.
• Working knowledge of California wage and hour law.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple pay cycles.

Responsibilities

• Process semi-monthly payroll for attorneys and non-attorneys using ADP Workforce Now.
• Audit payroll registers against HR update notes prior to each payroll run.
• Calculate and process retroactive pay for salaried employees.
• Ensure payroll compliance with California labor law.
• Prepare payroll reports and maintain payroll records.

Skills

ADP Workforce Now

Advanced Excel skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Job description

About Strategic Legal Practices

Strategic Legal Practices, APC (SLP) is a leading plaintiff-side consumer protection and lemon law litigation firm headquartered in Century City. SLP fights for consumers against some of the nation's largest automakers, combining aggressive advocacy with cutting‑edge legal technology, including government‑grade AI tools, to deliver results at scale. We are growing rapidly and looking for talented professionals who want to do meaningful work in a dynamic, high‑performance environment.

Position Summary

The Payroll Specialist reports to the HR Manager and owns end‑to‑end payroll processing across salaried and hourly classifications, working closely with ADP and the firm’s HRIS. The ideal candidate is detail‑obsessed, thrives in a fast‑paced legal environment, and can independently manage complex payroll cycles with minimal supervision.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing

• Process semi‑monthly payroll for attorneys and non‑attorneys using ADP Workforce Now and IHH
• Audit payroll registers against HR update notes prior to each payroll run, verifying new hires, terminations, rate changes, retro pay, partial pay, bonuses, and leave statuses
• Calculate and process retroactive pay for salaried employees resulting from merit increases or corrections
• Ensure accurate payroll treatment for employees on modified schedules, LOA, or immigration‑tied work authorization
• Process final pay in compliance with California wage and hour law

Compensation & Data Integrity

• Maintain and audit salary data in ADP against the HR master workbook (Excel), flagging discrepancies for HR Manager review
• Administer year‑end merit review cycle inputs including rate changes and effective dates
• Reconcile compensation data for promotions, reclassifications, and internal transfers
• Track and audit deductions, garnishments, and benefit contributions each pay period

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure payroll compliance with California labor law, including meal break premiums, overtime calculations, and final pay obligations
• Support HR Manager on wage and hour audits, including meal break compliance communications
• Prepare payroll reports and summaries for leadership, finance, and benefits reconciliation
• Maintain payroll records in accordance with record retention requirements
• Assist with W‑2 processing and year‑end tax reconciliations

HR Operations Support

• Coordinate with HR Manager on onboarding and off‑boarding payroll actions
• Support benefits premium reconciliation between carrier invoices and payroll deductions
• Assist with HRIS data integrity audits (ADP vs. Active Directory vs. HR records)

Compensation: $80,000 - $110,000/per year

Required

• 3+ years of payroll processing experience, preferably in a professional services or legal environment
• Proficiency with ADP Workforce Now (required)
• Advanced Excel skills – comfortable working in multi‑tab workbooks, using formulas, and auditing data across large datasets
• Working knowledge of California wage and hour law
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy under time pressure
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple pay cycles, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously

Preferred

• Experience supporting a multi‑department employer in a professional services or legal environment
• Familiarity with payroll for employees on H‑1B, OPT, or other immigration‑tied work authorization
• Experience with benefits deduction reconciliation
• Prior work in a law firm or legal services environment
• FPC or CPP certification a plus

We’re committed to supporting the well‑being and success of our team through a robust and thoughtfully designed benefits package, including:

• 401(k) with Employer Match – Plan for your future with confidence and company support.
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance – Comprehensive coverage to keep you and your family healthy.
• Short‑Term, Long‑Term Disability & Life Insurance – Financial protection for life’s unexpected events.
• Paid Parking – Convenient and covered, so you can focus on your day.
• Generous Paid Time Off – Ample time to rest, recharge, and take care of personal matters.
• Employee Referral Program – Earn rewards for introducing talented individuals to our team.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Confidential resources for personal and professional support.
• Employee Discount Program – Access to exclusive savings on a variety of products and services.
• Coverage of bar dues and CLEs
• Ongoing professional development opportunities