Sr. Manager, Payroll

Weil seeks the best and brightest talent to join our Administrative Staff team. Our employees are the future of Weil so we invest in their training and development. Our environment embraces and encourages positive-minded professionals who seek to be challenged and acquire knowledge and skills in an atmosphere built on teamwork. Highly skilled and knowledgeable Administrative Staff assist our attorneys in successfully meeting and exceeding client needs and are vital to the overall success of the Firm.

Job Description

The Sr. Manager, Payroll manages and oversees all aspects of the Firm’s payroll function including resolving the most complex issues related to payroll operations and ensuring compliance with Federal and State regulations. The role provides technical expertise on Payroll tax and Payroll tax compliance-related issues. The position monitors, trains/educates, undertakes payroll transformation projects, provides insights, manages payroll risks, and adheres to local statutory requirements. The Sr. Manager, Payroll will collaborate with cross-functional teams while building and maintaining productive relationships with all stakeholders, clients and vendors.

Primary Responsibilities and/or Essential functions:  

• Oversee the daily workflow of the payroll department ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing and compliance with SOX requirements, the Firm’s policies, federal, state and local regulations. 
• Analyze payroll tax issues and provide recommendations for solutions including employee mobility, reciprocal taxation, employer provided fringe benefits, and local taxation. 
• Ensure that all federal, state, and local payroll taxes are correctly withheld, reported, paid, and filed in compliance with laws and regulations.
• Ensure the accurate, timely review and reconciliation of federal, state, and local taxable wages and withholding tax, unemployment tax, and disability insurance tax for multiple legal entities in the U.S. including the review of year-end balancing of W-2’s and related federal and state agency forms to the payroll system.
• Manage payroll and reporting for international payroll population including special taxation, fiscal year reporting ? by country and accurate W2/Annual Income statement preparation.
• Maintain all critical payroll controls to ensure the accuracy of payroll processing, including manual and automated input to the payroll system as well as output from the payroll system to other systems of the Firm
• Respond to complex questions from internal and external stakeholders regarding payroll issues when escalated from staff. 
• Provide strategic direction and expertise to the payroll function along with creating short-term and long-term strategies for continuous improvement in payroll operations. 
• Drive the transformation and modernization of the payroll function by leveraging technology to automate processes and reporting. 
• Manage, educate, develop and motivate the payroll team.
• Collaborate across teams and Firm’s departments including, Compensation, Benefits, Legal Personnel, Recruiting , external auditors, etc. 
• Generate and analyze payroll reports for management and accounting purposes and ensure accurate reporting of Payroll metrics
• Provide training and/or reports on regulatory information, Firm’s payroll practices, and payroll industry trends and practices 
• Any other responsibilities or special projects as assigned by management 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: 

• Minimum of seven years of experience in financial operations, including accounting and account reconciliation.
• Minimum of five years  of managerial experience leading accounting or financial operations teams prioritizing  exemplary customer service.
• Experience in and knowledge of Payroll regulations, federal and state laws, and taxation.
• Experience supervising and managing staff required. 
• Must have extensive knowledge of ADP Vantage applications and reporting.  Knowledge of Workday and Intapp desirable.
• Must be able to work independently while assisting and responding to the needs of various departments
• Must have strong analytical and problem solving skills and be able to respond to demanding and stressful situations
• Demonstrated expert knowledge of accounting principles and relevant federal regulations, including those specific to professional services organizations/ legal industry.
• Demonstrated, successful experience implementing and managing change within a large, complex and diverse organization.
• Ability to use discretion, tact, and good judgment working with sensitive and confidential information.
• A collaborative working style that can build interpersonal relationships and achieve consensus.
• Excellent