PAYROLL & COMPENSATION ANALYST (TEMPORARY)Location: Detroit, MIDuration: 6 to 8 WeeksSchedule: 100% Onsite
OVERVIEWOur client, a leading law firm, is seeking a Payroll & Compensation Analyst to support payroll administration, compensation planning, financial analysis, and reporting activities during a temporary leave coverage assignment.
This role requires a strong combination of payroll processing expertise, compensation administration, advanced Excel skills, and financial analysis capabilities. The ideal candidate will have experience supporting compensation forecasting, payroll reconciliations, and budget planning within a professional services, legal, or corporate environment.
RESPONSIBILITIES- Process full cycle payroll for employees and attorney populations while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
- Administer partner and attorney compensation programs, including draws, distributions, bonus payments, and special compensation arrangements.
- Process payroll changes including new hires, terminations, salary adjustments, deductions, and benefit changes.
- Maintain compensation agreements and ensure compliance with established payment structures.
- Prepare and manage payroll and compensation related reconciliations.
- Create compensation budgets and forecasts incorporating headcount planning and compensation adjustments.
- Prepare monthly variance analysis reports comparing actual results to budget and forecast.
- Analyze compensation and payroll trends to identify risks, opportunities, and cost drivers.
- Reconcile payroll tax liabilities and compensation related accounts within the general ledger.
- Partner with Finance, FP&A, Tax, Benefits, Retirement, and Accounting teams to ensure accurate reporting and compliance.
- Develop and improve payroll and compensation processes to increase efficiency and accuracy.
QUALIFICATIONS- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
- 5+ years of payroll processing or payroll administration experience.
- Experience with ADP or a comparable payroll platform.
- Advanced Excel skills including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP, VLOOKUP, reporting, reconciliations, and large data analysis.
- Budget forecasting, financial planning, or compensation forecasting experience.
- Strong analytical skills comparable to those found in an FP&A environment.
- Experience preparing variance analysis and management reporting.
- Strong understanding of accounting principles and general ledger reconciliations.
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS- Experience within a law firm
- Experience supporting attorney or partner compensation programs.
- Legal billing experience.
- Experience with process improvement and automation initiatives.
IDEAL BACKGROUNDCandidates may come from legal Firm Payroll, Compensation, Financial Analysis, Revenue Analysis, Law Firm Finance, Payroll Accounting, or Professional Services Finance backgrounds.