Senior Payroll Specialist

Overview

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP, a dynamic, mid-sized Firm located in the heart of San Francisco's financial district, is seeking a full-time Senior Payroll Specialist to join its Accounting department.

The current pay range for this position is $51 to $72 per hour, equating to approximately $100,000 to $140,000 per year respectively. The compensation offered will be based on a number of factors, including the specific qualifications of the applicant, years of related experience, education, applicable licenses and certifications, and the geographical location from which the applicant will perform the job. 

The Senior Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate, timely, and compliant administration of payroll for a mid-sized San Francisco–based law firm with employees across multiple states. This role serves as the firm’s payroll subject matter expert, managing day-to-day payroll processing while also leading payroll strategy, compliance, and process optimization initiatives. With deep expertise in California wage and hour laws, multi-state compliance, and the complexities of partner draws and distributions, the Senior Payroll Specialist ensures payroll processes are accurate, efficient, and audit-ready.

In addition to overseeing payroll execution, this role partners closely with HR and firm leadership to assess payroll-related compliance risks, implement system enhancements, and deliver reporting and insights that inform business decisions. The Senior Payroll Specialist also drives continuous improvement by evaluating processes, identifying opportunities for automation, and ensuring the firm remains aligned with best practices and industry standards. Active participation in the American Payroll Association and ongoing professional development are expected to ensure knowledge of legislative changes, emerging technologies, and leading practices remains current.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Administer semi-monthly payroll for employees and partners, including partner draws and periodic distributions for self-employed partners
• Manage accurate and timely entry of data into ADP Workforce Now
• Ensure compliance with federal, multi-state, and local payroll regulations, including jurisdiction set-up and closure, and proactively advise leadership on compliance risks and legislative changes
• Conduct payroll orientation for new hires, covering pay schedules and timekeeping protocols
• Serve as primary point of contact to troubleshoot, investigate, and resolve employee inquiries for payroll-related matters while ensuring a high level of service 
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, and firm leadership to provide strategic guidance on payroll compliance
• Lead payroll-related initiatives such as system upgrades, vendor transitions, and integration with HRIS and other systems
• Evaluate payroll processes regularly, identifying and implementing automation and efficiency improvements to enhance accuracy, timeliness, and employee experience
• Oversee payroll system configuration and coding to ensure alignment with current policies, compliance requirements, and best practices
• Prepare a variety of ad-hoc and scheduled reports with earnings, deductions, taxes, and other payroll details
• Remit 401(k) deferrals and other benefit contributions in a timely manner, ensuring compliance with ERISA and plan requirements
• Support monthly bank reconciliations and serve as backup for daily cash and receipts reporting
• Complete payroll-related forms, including verification of employment and compliance filings
• Maintain and update payroll-related information on the Firm’s intranet to support employee self-service
• Maintain confidentiality of all employee and partner payroll and personal information

Other Duties

Please note this is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job, but rather to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this position. Incumbents may be required to perform other job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Knowledge and Abilities Required

• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive, direct payroll experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of California wage and hour laws and multi-state payroll compliance
• Experience in a law firm or professional services environment; experience processing payroll for self-employed partners strongly preferred
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification required
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration preferred

Experience and Education Required

• Advanced proficiency with ADP Workforce Now or equivalent payroll system
• Advanced Excel skills
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong communication skills with the ability to interact confidently at all levels of the organization, including staff, management, and partners
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism

Working Conditions

The ability to work remotely and as needed, the ability to work on-site in the San Francisco office.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit for long periods of time, come and go from workspace repeatedly throughout the day, use a computer and phone, talk, listen, read and understand documents, and move and lift up to 10 pounds. The physical demands described are representative of the requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Firm Information

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass, LLP is a top-tier law firm with deep roots in San Francisco and the surrounding communities, representing institutional and individual clients in real estate, litigation, technology, communications, securities, employment, nonprofit and estate planning. Please visit our website www.coblentzlaw.com for more information about the Firm. 

Firm Benefits

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass, LLP values skill and diversity and strives to foster a progressive, energetic work environment. We provide a platform for growth and development and the ability to see the impact of your contributions firsthand. The Firm offers competitive pay, a generous benefits and wellness package, and paid vacation. 

AAP/EEO Statement 

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.