Overview
Payroll Specialist Jobs in Los Angeles, CA at Strategic Legal Practices, APC
Title: Payroll Specialist
Company: Strategic Legal Practices, APC
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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)
- Provide backup support for I-9 and employment verification processes as needed
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