Senior Payroll Specialist

JLL; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

JLL in Chicago, IL is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to lead end-to-end payroll operations across multiple states, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. You will partner with HR, Finance, and Legal to resolve complex issues and drive process improvements that enhance accuracy and efficiency.

The role requires deep payroll expertise, strong analytical skills, and the ability to manage escalations, audits, and cross-functional projects while maintaining

Qualifications

• Minimum 7-8 years of progressive payroll experience across multi-state US payroll.
• Advanced knowledge of US labor laws, federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations.
• Proven proficiency with SAP GV, ADP, and Workday payroll systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll processes across multiple states and jurisdictions.
• Serve as primary liaison with HR, Finance, Legal, and union representatives to resolve payroll issues.
• Handle escalations (Tier 2-3) and provide root-cause analyses and remediation plans.
• Conduct audits and data analysis to identify trends and ensure system accuracy.
• Own quality checks on HR transactions and test payroll risk controls.
• Drive process improvements to streamline payroll operations and user experience.
• Coordinate with payroll vendors and local HR teams and ensure calendars and SLAs are met.

Skills

Multi-state payroll

Regulatory compliance

Process optimization

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

CPP certification

Tools

SAP GV

ADP

Workday

Job description

Senior Payroll Specialist – JLL

What this job involves: As a Senior Payroll Specialist at JLL, you will serve as a strategic payroll operations leader, managing complex multi-state US payroll processes while ensuring seamless compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This role is critical to supporting JLL's commitment to operational excellence and employee satisfaction. You will lead end-to-end payroll administration, drive process optimization initiatives, and provide expert-level guidance to internal stakeholders. Your analytical expertise and attention to detail will directly contribute to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and efficiency across JLL's payroll operations.

What your day-to-day will look like:

• Lead end-to-end payroll processes including complex data entry, calculations, and deductions across multiple states and jurisdictions while ensuring strict adherence to federal, state, and local tax requirements
• Serve as primary liaison with HR, Finance, Legal teams, and union representatives to resolve complex payroll issues, maintain accurate union deductions, and ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements
• Handle Tier 2-3 escalations from process partners and HR, providing root cause analysis and resolution plans to Team and Process Leads
• Conduct advanced analysis of payroll data to identify trends and anomalies, generate comprehensive reports for senior management, and lead detailed audits to validate system accuracy and integrity
• Own quality check processes on critical HR transactions, test payroll risk controls regularly, and identify opportunities to mitigate and remediate control gaps
• Champion process improvement initiatives to streamline payroll operations, enhance efficiency, and improve end-user experience while coordinating cross-functional projects with HR, Finance, and Legal teams
• Manage stakeholder calls with process owners, coordinate with payroll vendors and local HR teams, oversee process training sessions, and ensure all activities align with defined calendars and SLA commitments

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 7-8 years of progressive experience in payroll processing with demonstrated expertise in multi-state US payroll administration
• Advanced understanding of US labor laws, federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, and compliance requirements
• Proven proficiency in payroll software systems, specifically SAP GV, ADP, and Workday

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) with strong Excel capabilities for data analysis and reporting
• Experience updating and reviewing SOPs and process maps based on regulatory changes and process improvements
• Proven track record of taking ownership of deliverables and making day-to-day processing decisions in the absence of management
• Experience managing process training programs including new hire sessions, knowledge transfer sessions, and process update sessions
• Demonstrated ability to challenge the status quo and implement strategic improvements that enhance operational efficiency
• Demonstrated ability to resolve complex Tier 2-3 payroll queries and handle escalations with strong root cause analysis capabilities
• Experience collaborating with union representatives and ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements and union contract terms
• Strong analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail and proven ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive payroll information
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to work effectively in fast-paced environments with tight deadlines

Location: Chicago, IL

At JLL, we are collectively shaping a brighter way — for our clients, ourselves and our fellow employees. We choose to take the more inspiring, innovative, and optimistic path on our journey toward success. What sets JLL apart is our culture of collaboration, locally and across the globe, which allows us to create transformative solutions for the real estate industry. We support each other's wellbeing and champion inclusivity and belonging across teams.

JLL is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion.