Payroll Manager

• Oversee the hands-on, day-to-day execution of the firm’s entire payroll process to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time
• Handle payroll processing for assigned US offices
• Process end-to-end payroll for US employees across all states where Cooley has workers, including remote workers in states without a Cooley office
• Audit new employee tax setup and review pre-processed payroll registers
• Transmit semi-monthly payroll direct deposit and tax files
• Review off-cycle departure employee final check calculations
• Oversee verification of new hires, salary changes, terminations, tax status and employee information in the payroll system
• Manage Workday employee timelog approval workflows and provide direction to HR on manual adjustments
• Administer insurance benefits deductions in the payroll system
• Process overtime meal and transportation reimbursement requests and bill clients for reimbursed amounts
• Process PTO overdrawn deductions, special pay adjustments, leave-of-absence integration calculations and miscellaneous pay requests
• Manage variable-hour employee hour breakdown approvals and record hours in HR accrual spreadsheets
• Oversee garnishment order approval workflows and third-party vendor setup
• Oversee direct deposit processing and resolve issues with financial institutions and employees
• Provide employment verification and respond to government agency, lending institution and employee inquiries
• Include non-cash fringe benefits in income calculations and prepare journal entries
• Coordinate with the UK payroll team on secondee UK taxes and national insurance
• Prepare manual journal entries for payroll taxes, HSA funding and foreign currency difference write-offs
• Review and sign off quarterly payroll tax filings, reconciliations, audits and year-end activities
• Ensure timely and accurate payroll tax returns and payments
• Resolve tax notices and follow up on pending tax refunds with government agencies
• Participate in Workday time-tracking system testing and upgrades
• Review monthly Asia payroll files and audit journal entries
• Support the Asia Finance team with payroll inquiries and report requests
• Supervise and mentor direct reports
• Manage staffing coverage, time logs and time-off requests
• Support professional and continued educational development opportunities
• Participate in hiring, performance appraisals, counseling, termination and other employee lifecycle events
• Perform other assigned duties

• 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
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or similar certification preferred
• Am Law 50 law firm payroll experience preferred
• Supervisory experience preferred
• 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

Demonstrates extensive knowledge of multi-state payroll processing, compliance with federal, state, and local tax laws, and proficiency in enterprise HRIS/Payroll platforms. Exhibits strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to lead and mentor teams effectively.

• Multi-State Payroll Experience
• Workday Proficiency
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
• Wage and Hour Regulations Knowledge
• Supervisory Experience

• Payroll Processing
• Tax Compliance
• Journal Entry Preparation
• Payroll Tax Filings
• Spreadsheet Proficiency Database Application Proficiency
• Employee Verification
• Garnishment Order Approval
• Overtime Calculation
• PTO Management

• Attention to Detail
• Interpersonal Communication
• Problem Solving
• Organizational Skills
• Team Collaboration

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)

• Payroll Compliance
• Wage and Hour Regulations
• Employee Lifecycle Events
• Am Law 50 Experience
• Confidentiality Management

• Workday
• Ascentis
• ADP Workforce Now
• UKG Pro
• Microsoft Office Suite