Payroll Manager

Payroll Manager

Cooley is seeking a Payroll Manager to join the Accounting and Finance Team.

Position Summary: The Payroll Manager oversees the hands-on, day-to-day execution of the firm's entire payroll process to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time. This role will also be responsible for directly handling payroll processing for some assigned US offices. Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Position Responsibilities:

Responsible for end-to-end payroll processing for US employees across all states where we have workers (including remote workers in states where Cooley does not have an office).

Audit new employee tax set up, review pre-processed payroll register for accuracy and transmit the semi-monthly payroll direct deposit and tax files; review off-cycle departure employee final check calculations

Oversee the verification process for updates of new hires, salary changes, terminations, tax status, and all employee information in the payroll system; ensure accurate employee payroll records

Review and manage the approval process for employee timelogs in Workday; provide direction to HR for timelog edits that require manual adjustments in accordance with state labor code or firm policy

Administer the setup of insurance benefits deductions in the payroll system (medical, dental, life insurance, FSA, LTC, HSA, etc.)

Process overtime meals and transportation reimbursement requests: verify receipts and eligibility to ensure compliance with overtime reimbursement policy; bill clients for overtime meals and transportation amount reimbursed to employees

Process PTO overdrawn deductions, special pay adjustments, SDI/WC/PFL integration calculations for LOA employees and miscellaneous pay requests

Manage approvals for precalculated breakdowns of hours to be paid on paper timesheet/invoice for variable hour employees and record total hours worked/paid on HR's vacation/time off accrual spreadsheet

Oversee the approval workflow for processing garnishment orders according to state/federal laws and communicate to employees on timing and amount of payroll deduction; set up third party vendors in the payroll system.

Oversee the direct deposit process, ensure that direct deposit transmission deadlines are met, and trouble-shoot as needed with financial institutions and employees

Provide government agencies and lending institutions, when requested: employment verification, state unemployment benefit audit and other employee inquiries

Responsible for inclusion of income for all non-cash fringe benefits: gift cards, relocation reimbursement, patent tuition loan forgiveness, Progyny etc. including preparation of journal entries

Coordinate with UK payroll team on secondee's UK income taxes and national insurance to deduct from employee's US paychecks

Prepare manual journal entries for payroll taxes payment, HSA funding for staff and partners and small foreign currency difference write offs for Asia employees paid in USD and US employees on UK shadow payroll

Oversee/review/sign off quarterly payroll tax filings, reconciliations, audits, and year-end activities (W2, amendments, etc.); ensure all payroll tax returns are filed timely and tax payments are made to governmental tax agencies correctly and timely; work with governmental tax agencies directly to resolve any tax due notices received and follow up with pending tax refunds

Participate in Workday time-tracking system testing when changes are made to existing calculation rules or due to system upgrade

Review monthly Asia payroll files prior to funding; audit journal entries prior to posting to 3E; provide support to Asia Finance team with payroll related inquiries and report requests

Serve as direct supervisor and mentor to direct reports

Provide day-to-day supervision of direct reports, ensure compliance with assigned work hours and monitor for compliance with all firm and department policies. Manage staffing coverage, review and process time logs/time off request

Support business professional development and continued educational development opportunities

In collaboration with immediate supervisor and central HR, participate in hiring, performance appraisals, counseling, termination and other employee lifecycle events

All other duties as assigned or required

Skills and experience:

Required:

After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications

Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours

Ability to travel, as required

5+ years of progressive multi-state payroll experience

Extensive knowledge of wage and hour regulations, federal, state and local tax laws including multi-state and reciprocity rules and compliance requirements

Hands-on experience with enterprise HRIS/Payroll platforms: Ascentis, Workday, ADP Workforce Now or UKG Pro

Proficient in spreadsheet and database application

Preferred:

Bachelor's degree

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or similar certification

Am Law 50 law firm payroll experience

Supervisory experience

Competencies:

Entrepreneurial by nature

Excellent attention to detail

Exceptional interpersonal communication skills with ability to facilitate and solve problems

Ability to organize, prioritize and coordinate multiple activities often under tight timelines

Ability to drive projects to completion and achieve goals

Strong judgment

Team-player with collaborative spirit

Unwavering ability to handle and maintain confidentiality regarding firm information, projects and client data

High level of professionalism at all times

Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines; resourceful and self-reliant

Responsive and reliable with a strong sense of urgency

Ability to lead through influence and develop talent

Proactive, analytical mindset

Effective presentation skills

Cooley offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices. EOE.

The expected hourly pay range for this position with a work schedule of 40 hours per week is $130,000-$175,000. Please note that final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience and skillset of the candidate. Senior level candidates may be considered for this position and would be eligible for a higher salary range based on experience.

We offer a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults and other parental support benefits. In addition to elective benefit options, benefited employees receive firm-paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short term medical benefits as well as 21 days of Paid Time Off ("PTO") and 10 paid holidays each year.

We provide generous parental leave and fertility benefits.

• 5+ years progressive multi-state payroll experience with extensive knowledge of wage/hour regulations and tax laws
• Hands-on experience with enterprise HRIS/Payroll platforms (Ascentis, Workday, ADP Workforce Now, UKG Pro)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, spreadsheet/database applications, ability to work extended hours and travel as required