Payroll & Benefits Specialist

This role is an opportunity to:

• Join a rapidly growing national firm at a formative stage
• Make a visible, measurable impact on a rapidly growing business
• Grow your skills, responsibility, and influence as the firm scales
• Work alongside high-caliber, mission-driven teammates who care deeply about doing great work

We are looking for people who don’t just want a job, they want purpose and impact.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Manage and process biweekly payroll for TDL and TDT
• Indirectly oversee the GT payroll (Maddie handles this directly)
• Ensure compliance with state-by-state payroll tax laws
• • Withholdings, unemployment insurance, worker's comp, etc
• Answer employee questions regarding payroll issues
• Ensure the benefits enrollment process goes smoothly for the employees
• Field questions from employees on benefits topics
• Ensure benefit deductions are applied correctly to paychecks
• Review benefits statements from our vendors to ensure correct billing and approve payment
• Reach out to State Revenue Departments as needed to resolve payroll-related tax issues. Rippling will mostly handle this, but this person will need to interact with Rippling to hold them accountable.
• Oversee the administration of our 401(k) plan, ensuring compliance with annual testing and auditing
• Identifying opportunities to improve systems, processes, or outcomes—not just following existing playbooks

At TopDog Law, everyone is expected to think critically, communicate clearly, and take ownership of their work.

This role is critical to our success because it:

• Directly impacts [clients / revenue / case outcomes / team efficiency]
• Supports speed, quality, and consistency as we scale
• Helps protect and elevate the TopDog Law brand and client experience
• Strengthens the foundation needed to grow responsibly and sustainably

Within your first 6–12 months, success in this role looks like:

• You consistently deliver on commitments with minimal oversight
• You proactively identify issues and propose solutions
• Your work raises the bar for quality, clarity, and follow-through
• You are viewed as a reliable, trusted partner by teammates and leaders
• You contribute positively to team energy, morale, and momentum

Required:

• At least 5 years of hands-on payroll experience (in the trenches)
• Their most recent position must have been in payroll. We want a "career payroll" person.
• Rippling payroll experience
• Benefits administration experience
• An understanding of payroll tax laws
• An understanding of what an HDHP is versus a PPO
• An understanding of federal & state taxable income vs. social security taxable income vs medicare taxable income (i.e., intricate knowledge of payroll issues that employees will bring to them)
• 401(k) & HSA withholding limits, taxable vs Roth contributions, etc
• Knowledge of 401(k) annual audits and non-discrimination testing
• An understanding of form 940 and 941
• The process to issue amended W2s (but they shouldn't have a ton of experience in that!)
• Trustworthy and honest --- this person sees everything and handles one of the company's most important functions
• Strong communication skills—written and verbal
• Ability to think critically, prioritize effectively, and execute with speed

Nice to Have:

• Experience in a fast-growing or high-volume environment
• Comfort with ambiguity and evolving systems
• Experience in legal, professional services, or client-centric organizations

TopDog Law is a nationally scaling, fully-integrated, personal injury law firm built for impact, excellence, and growth. We own the client experience end-to-end, from marketing and intake through litigation, because we believe how we do the work matters just as much as what we achieve.

We are building a high-performance, high-trust, no-ego culture where talented people do meaningful work, grow quickly, and take pride in what they build together. This is not a legacy law firm. This is a rocket ship, and we’re assembling the team that will take it to the next level.

If you thrive in fast-moving environments, love taking ownership and being held accountable, and want to be part of something you can help shape, not just maintain, you’ll feel right at home here.

TopDog Law is not your typical law firm. We believe that world-class marketing, paired with exceptional legal talent and operations, creates better experiences and outcomes for clients and the business alike.

Over the past three years, we’ve grown 2–3x year over year, setting a new standard on the marketing side of the personal injury space and proving what’s possible when strategy, speed, and execution align. Now, we’re applying that same discipline and innovation to law firm operations, case management, and execution as we scale nationally and fully integrate.

We are intentionally building the infrastructure, systems, and teams needed to scale at a national level—without sacrificing quality, culture, or accountability. This is still the early stage of that journey, which means the people who join now have a real opportunity to help shape how the firm operates for years to come.

We don’t hire based on resumes alone. We hire for competence, character, and mindset.

You will thrive at TopDog Law if you:

• You have a growth mindset and seek continuous improvement
• You welcome feedback and adapt quickly
• You ask “What’s next?” rather than “That’s not my job”

• You care deeply about doing great work
• You have your teammates’ backs
• You’re here to build something meaningful and long-lasting

• You show up positive, professional, and solutions-oriented
• You enjoy the work and respect the people around you
• You leave drama, negativity, and ego at the door

• You do what you say you’ll do
• You follow through and communicate early when something’s off track
• You treat the business like it’s yours

• You move with urgency and sound judgment
• You prioritize progress over perfection
• You thrive in fast-paced, high-expectation environments
• You seek feedback, stretch assignments, and more responsibility
• You’re motivated by growth, impact, and building something bigger than yourself

• Real growth: As the firm grows, so do opportunities for advancement and leadership
• High standards, real support: Clear expectations, coaching, and accountability
• Culture that matters: Trust, respect, speed, and integrity, without sacrificing humanity
• Meaningful work: Helping people through some of the hardest moments of their lives

If you’re excited by ownership, accountability, growth, and the chance to help build something exceptional from the ground up - we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and help shape the future of TopDog Law.