Payroll Specialist

Slater Slater Schulman LLP; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Slater Schulman LLP in New York seeks an experienced Payroll Specialist to own the end-to-end payroll process for hourly, salaried, and partner-track staff. The role emphasizes compliance with Federal and NY wage laws, audits, and accurate data management within the payroll/HRIS system.

You will collaborate with Finance and HR to reconcile deductions, benefits, and year-end reporting, ensuring timely, accurate compensation while maintaining strict confidentiality.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of direct payroll processing experience; law firm or professional services experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Execute end-to-end payroll processing for all hourly, salaried, and partner track employees.
• Conduct comprehensive audits of payroll registers, earnings, deductions, and tax withholdings prior to final submission.
• Manage time and attendance entry systems, tracking overtime, leaves, and PTO accruals.
• Maintain deep knowledge of Federal, New York State, and local laws governing payroll practices.
• Ensure regulatory compliance regarding worker classification, overtime exemptions, and statutory benefits.
• Oversee year-end reporting, including the reconciliation, verification, and distribution of W-2 forms.
• Maintain accurate data within the primary payroll/HRIS platform.
• Generate payroll reports, GL exports, and custom spreadsheets for leadership and finance teams.
• Secure payroll records and confidential employee files in alignment with privacy laws and firm policies.
• Serve as the primary contact for employee questions regarding paychecks, deductions, withholding changes, and direct deposit.
• Partner with finance and HR teams to reconcile payroll data with benefits deductions, retirement contributions, and insurance premiums.

Skills

Payroll processing

Multi-state payroll

Paychex/ADP

Advanced Excel

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business Administration

Tools

Paychex

ADP

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Slater Schulman LLP is a growing, national law firm with a head office in Melville, NY. We are seeking a detail-oriented, high-integrity Payroll Specialist to own our payroll processing administration. You will manage the end-to-end payroll cycle to ensure accurate and timely compensation for our expanding multi-state team.

Position Overview

The Payroll Specialist will manage all aspects of payroll administration, time tracking, tax compliance, and payroll-related benefits reporting. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role suited for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and possesses deep knowledge of payroll regulations.

• Requirement: Must have 3–5 years of dedicated experience in multi-state payroll processing.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing & Administration

• Execute end-to-end payroll processing for all hourly, salaried, and partner track employees.
• Conduct comprehensive audits of payroll registers, earnings, deductions, and tax withholdings prior to final submission.
• Manage time and attendance entry systems, tracking overtime, leaves, and paid time off (PTO) accruals.

Tax & Compliance

• Maintain deep knowledge of Federal, New York State, and local laws governing payroll practices.
• Ensure regulatory compliance regarding worker classification, overtime exemptions, and statutory benefits.
• Oversee year-end reporting, including the reconciliation, verification, and distribution of W-2 forms.

Systems & Record Keeping

• Maintain accurate data and absolute data integrity within the primary payroll/HRIS platform.
• Generate payroll reports, general ledger (GL) exports, and custom spreadsheets for leadership and finance teams.
• Secure payroll records and confidential employee files in alignment with privacy laws and firm policies.

Employee Support & Collaboration

• Serve as the primary contact for employee questions regarding paychecks, deductions, withholding changes, and direct deposit.
• Partner with finance and HR teams to reconcile payroll data with benefits deductions, retirement contributions, and insurance premiums.

Qualifications

• Experience: 3–5 years of direct payroll processing experience; law firm or professional services experience preferred.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Software Skills: Proven experience running payroll via Paychex, ADP, or a similar platform. High proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables) is required.
• Compliance Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of Federal, NY State, and multi-state wage and hour laws.
• Core Traits: Exceptional attention to detail, strict adherence to confidentiality, and strong analytical skills.