Accountant, Payroll (Chicago)

Accountant, Payroll

Location: Chicago, IL

Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Company

Our client is a successful, growing organization with a diverse domestic and international workforce. The company is committed to maintaining a collaborative, professional, and people-focused culture while delivering high-quality services to its customers and business partners.

This is an excellent opportunity to join an established organization where employees are encouraged to contribute ideas, improve processes, and grow professionally.

Position Overview

The Accountant, Payroll plays an important role in ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll operations for both domestic and international employees.

This position combines payroll administration with accounting responsibilities, including payroll processing, account reconciliations, journal entries, reporting, tax and audit support, and employee issue resolution. The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented, organized, discreet, and comfortable managing confidential information and multiple deadlines.

Key Responsibilities

• Process domestic and international payroll accurately and on schedule using ADP and third-party payroll providers.
• Prepare, review, and audit weekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end payroll reports.
• Prepare payroll-related journal entries and reconcile payroll, benefits, insurance, vacation, sick leave, and other payroll liability accounts.
• Reconcile payroll registers to the general ledger and ensure payroll records and supporting documentation are accurate and complete.
• Administer payroll deductions, tax codes, garnishments, retirement plan deductions, FSA funding, and other payroll-related transactions.
• Assist with Form 5500 reporting and other payroll and benefit compliance requirements.
• Monitor timecard compliance and payroll deadlines while communicating required follow-up to employees and managers.
• Calculate and maintain accurate vacation and paid-time-off accruals.
• Respond to employee payroll questions and resolve discrepancies in a timely and professional manner.
• Coordinate with payroll providers, benefits partners, and internal departments to research and resolve payroll-related issues.
• Support internal and external audits, payroll compliance reviews, and year-end reporting activities.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of employee compensation and other sensitive payroll information.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, reporting, controls, and overall efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with applicable payroll laws, regulations, company policies, and established internal controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 3–5 years of progressive payroll and general accounting experience.
• Experience with payroll accounting, including journal entries, account reconciliations, payroll reporting, and liability account analysis.
• International payroll experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working with ADP or comparable payroll systems.
• Strong attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and consistently meet strict payroll deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a customer-service mindset.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion, integrity, and professionalism.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while also collaborating effectively with internal teams.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to analyze payroll data, perform reconciliations, and prepare reports.

Preferred Experience

Candidates with any of the following experience will be particularly attractive:

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or another enterprise accounting/ERP system.
• ADP Workforce Now, ADP Celergo, or similar payroll platforms.
• International payroll administration and coordination with overseas payroll providers.
• External audit support, payroll compliance reviews, and year-end payroll reporting.
• Experience working with multi-state and/or multi-country payroll environments.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will:

• Consistently deliver accurate payroll within established deadlines.
• Maintain reliable payroll records and reconciliations.
• Demonstrate sound judgment when handling sensitive employee and compensation information.
• Communicate effectively with employees, managers, payroll providers, and internal business partners.
• Take ownership of recurring payroll and accounting processes.
• Proactively identify discrepancies and resolve issues before they become larger problems.
• Look for ways to improve processes, strengthen controls, and increase payroll efficiency.
• Adapt effectively to changing business requirements while maintaining a high level of accuracy and service.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This position offers the opportunity to join an established and growing organization in a role that combines payroll, accounting, compliance, and financial reporting . The successful candidate will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on payroll operations while working with a professional and collaborative team.