Payroll Specialist

About Strategic Legal Practices

Strategic Legal Practices, APC (SLP) is a leading plaintiff-side consumer protection and lemon law litigation firm headquartered in Century City. SLP fights for consumers against some of the nation's largest automakers, combining aggressive advocacy with cutting-edge legal technology, including government-grade AI tools, to deliver results at scale. We are growing rapidly and looking for talented professionals who want to do meaningful work in a dynamic, high-performance environment.

Position Summary

The Payroll Specialist reports to the HR Manager and owns end-to-end payroll processing across salaried and hourly classifications, working closely with ADP and the firm's HRIS. The ideal candidate is detail-obsessed, thrives in a fast-paced legal environment, and can independently manage complex payroll cycles with minimal supervision.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Processing

•        Process semi-monthly payroll for attorneys and non-attorneys using ADP Workforce Now and IHH

•        Audit payroll registers against HR update notes prior to each payroll run, verifying new hires, terminations, rate changes, retro pay, partial pay, bonuses, and leave statuses

•        Calculate and process retroactive pay for salaried employees resulting from merit increases or corrections

•        Ensure accurate payroll treatment for employees on modified schedules, LOA, or immigration-tied work authorization

•        Process final pay in compliance with California wage and hour law

Compensation & Data Integrity

•        Maintain and audit salary data in ADP against the HR master workbook (Excel), flagging discrepancies for HR Manager review

•        Administer year-end merit review cycle inputs including rate changes and effective dates

•        Reconcile compensation data for promotions, reclassifications, and internal transfers

•        Track and audit deductions, garnishments, and benefit contributions each pay period

Compliance & Reporting

•        Ensure payroll compliance with California labor law, including meal break premiums, overtime calculations, and final pay obligations

•        Support HR Manager on wage and hour audits, including meal break compliance communications

•        Prepare payroll reports and summaries for leadership, finance, and benefits reconciliation

•        Maintain payroll records in accordance with record retention requirements

•        Assist with W-2 processing and year-end tax reconciliations

HR Operations Support

•        Coordinate with HR Manager on onboarding and offboarding payroll actions

•        Support benefits premium reconciliation between carrier invoices and payroll deductions

•        Assist with HRIS data integrity audits (ADP vs. Active Directory vs. HR records)

Compensation: $80,000 - $110,000/per year

Requirements

Required

•        3+ years of payroll processing experience, preferably in a professional services or legal environment

•        Proficiency with ADP Workforce Now (required)

•        Advanced Excel skills — comfortable working in multi-tab workbooks, using formulas, and auditing data across large datasets

•        Working knowledge of California wage and hour law

•        Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy under time pressure

•        Ability to handle confidential information with discretion

•        Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple pay cycles, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously

Preferred

•        Experience supporting a multi-department employer in a professional services or legal environment

•        Familiarity with payroll for employees on H-1B, OPT, or other immigration-tied work authorization

•        Experience with benefits deduction reconciliation

•        Prior work in a law firm or legal services environment

•        FPC or CPP certification a plus

Benefits

We’re committed to supporting the well-being and success of our team through a robust and thoughtfully designed benefits package, including:

• 401(k) with Employer Match – Plan for your future with confidence and company support.
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance – Comprehensive coverage to keep you and your family healthy.
• Short-Term, Long-Term Disability & Life Insurance – Financial protection for life’s unexpected events.
• Paid Parking – Convenient and covered, so you can focus on your day.
• Generous Paid Time Off – Ample time to rest, recharge, and take care of personal matters.
• Employee Referral Program – Earn rewards for introducing talented individuals to our team.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Confidential resources for personal and professional support.
• Employee Discount Program – Access to exclusive savings on a variety of products and services.
• Coverage of bar dues and CLEs
• Ongoing professional development opportunities