Payroll and Compensation Analyst (Legal Firm| Temporary)

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

PAYROLL & COMPENSATION ANALYST (TEMPORARY)Location: Detroit, MIDuration: 6 to 8 WeeksSchedule: 100% Onsite

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