Senior Payroll Accountant

Requisition ID

28474

Country

United States of America

Location type

Remote

State / Province

California

City

Los Angeles

Application Deadline

9 October 2026

About Us

Korn Ferry is a global consulting firm that powers performance. We unlock the potential in your people and unleash transformation across your business - synchronizing strategy, operations, and talent to accelerate performance, fuel growth, and inspire a legacy of change. That's why the world's most forward-thinking companies across every major industry turn to us - for a shared commitment to lasting impact and the bold ambition to Be More Than.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, our over 17,000 colleagues globally serve clients from more than 130 offices across the globe. We offer five core capabilities that span the full talent lifecycle:

• Organizational Strategy
• Assessment and Succession
• Talent Acquisition
• Leadership and Professional Development
• Total Rewards

Job description

OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE YOUR CAREER - It's about exceeding your potential.

Korn Ferry is seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Accountant to join our Payroll team. This position plays a key role in the accurate and timely processing of a complex, high-volume, multistate payroll environment.

The ideal candidate will have strong payroll knowledge, hands-on experience with ADP Workforce Now, advanced Excel skills, and a solid understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliations, internal controls, and federal and state payroll requirements. This individual should be highly organized, analytical, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple

priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

The Senior Payroll Accountant will work closely with Payroll, Accounting, Human Resources, Benefits, Compensation, and other internal teams to ensure payroll transactions are processed accurately, and payroll-related issues are researched and resolved timely.

This is a fully remote position. Candidates located in the Pacific Time Zone are preferred to support the team's operating hours and payroll processing schedule.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the accurate and timely processing of high-volume, semi-monthly, multi-state payrolls.
• Review and process payroll transactions, including new hires, terminations, leaves of absence, salary changes, bonuses, commissions, incentive payments, severance, garnishments, benefit deductions, 401(k) contributions, stock-related compensation, and other payroll adjustments.
• Review payroll data and preliminary payroll reports for accuracy and completeness and research and resolve discrepancies prior to payroll submission.
• Perform payroll audits and reconciliations to ensure payroll transactions are complete, accurate, properly supported, and appropriately recorded.
• Prepare and review payroll-related account reconciliations and assist with the reconciliation of payroll registers and general ledger accounts.
• Process and review manual and off-cycle payroll payments, including final wage payments, in accordance with applicable federal and state requirements.
• Research and resolve complex payroll issues, including employee pay discrepancies, taxation questions, deductions, earnings, and system-related issues.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll and wage-and hour requirements and assist in ensuring payroll processes remain compliant.
• Maintain appropriate payroll documentation and support internal control requirements, including documentation related to payroll reviews, approvals, and reconciliations.
• Assist with internal and external audit requests and provide supporting payroll documentation as needed.
• Partner with HR, Compensation, Benefits, Accounting, Finance, and other internal teams to research and resolve payroll-related matters.
• Provide support and guidance to other members of the Payroll team and serve as a resource for complex payroll matters.
• Assist with special projects and other payroll and accounting responsibilities as assigned.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

• 4+ years of progressive payroll experience, preferably within a complex, high-volume, multi-state payroll environment.
• Hands-on experience with ADP Workforce Now strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations and payroll tax requirements.
• Experience processing and reviewing payroll for a large employee population with multiple earnings and deduction types.
• Strong payroll accounting and reconciliation experience, including experience reconciling payroll registers and payroll-related general ledger accounts.
• Strong understanding of payroll controls and experience working in an environment with established internal controls; SOX experience preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including practical experience working with and analyzing large payroll-related data sets using VLOOKUP and PivotTables.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to independently research discrepancies and identify appropriate resolutions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict payroll and financial close deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail with a strong commitment to accuracy.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively across
• Payroll, HR, Benefits, Compensation, Accounting, and Finance.
• Ability to handle confidential employee and compensation information with appropriate discretion.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant payroll experience will also be considered.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred but not required.

Salary Range

$60,000.00 - $75,000.00

Salary range represents the compensation Korn Ferry expects to pay to a candidate with the requirements for the job posted. Korn Ferry offers competitive compensation and benefits commensurate with experience.

Korn Ferry may use AI as part of its recruitment process, but all hiring decisions are made by humans.

Korn Ferry Benefits

The Korn Ferry Cares Wellbeing Platform offers Employees health benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment), Critical Illness, Accident Injury, Hospital Indemnity, and Legal Insurance. Employees are eligible to enroll in Korn Ferry's Tax Deferred Savings plan 401(k). Employee Stock Purchase Program is available to all permanent employees who work 20 hours or more after 6 months of service.

Employees are eligible to receive a total of 15 days vacation annually plus paid time off for 16 company holidays. Full time eligible employees will accrue sick time commencing on the first date of employment at the rate of 3.33 hours per pay period for an annualized maximum of 80 hours.

Internal Mobility at Korn Ferry

If you currently work for Korn Ferry or one of our affiliates, you must be eligible to apply for a different position within Korn Ferry to use the Careers Site. If you accept such a position, your benefits programs and Human Resources policies may change. Please consult with your HR contact for the new position concerning application eligibility, including any immigration/visa needs, benefit programs, and HR policies applicable to that position.

Korn Ferry is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

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Reference Job Id: 28474

Background Check Disclaimer

The successful candidate will need to complete background checks as part of our recruitment process, this may include criminal, education credentials, employment history, and other background information relevant to your employment qualifications