Payroll and Compensation Analyst (Legal Firm | Temporary)

PAYROLL & COMPENSATION ANALYST (TEMPORARY)

Location: Detroit, MI

Duration: 6 to 8 Weeks

Schedule: 100% Onsite

OVERVIEW

Our 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 BACKGROUND

Candidates may come from legal Firm Payroll, Compensation, Financial Analysis, Revenue Analysis, Law Firm Finance, Payroll Accounting, or Professional Services Finance backgrounds.