Payroll Manager

Vedder's Chicago office is seeking a Payroll Manager. The Payroll Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for the Firm’s domestic and international payroll functions, including payrolls in the United States, United Kingdom, and Singapore. This position is accountable for accurate, timely, secure, and compliant payroll delivery across multiple entities, pay groups, and processing cycles; effective internal controls and audit readiness; payroll systems and data integrity; and the leadership and development of the Payroll team. The Payroll Manager serves as the primary escalation point for complex payroll matters, advises management on regulatory and operational risks, and maintains appropriate records, reconciliations, reporting, and continuous process improvement.

Management & Leadership

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Payroll function and oversee payroll delivery across domestic and international offices.
• Establish the payroll calendar, assign team responsibilities, monitor workflow, and ensure payroll cycles and related activities are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Direct, coach, mentor, and develop Payroll team members; review team output, provide timely feedback, maintain cross-training and coverage, and promote a collaborative, responsive, and solutions-oriented service culture.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex payroll inquiries, policy questions, and regulatory matters; ensure timely and professional resolution while avoiding individual tax advice.

Payroll Operations & Processing Oversight

• Oversee end-to-end payroll operations for the United States, United Kingdom, and Singapore across multiple entities, payroll groups, and processing frequencies.
• Review and approve payroll transactions, including new hires, separations, compensation changes, retroactive adjustments, deductions, exemptions, benefits, leave, disability, nontaxable wages, job changes, and department transfers.
• Perform final validation and authorization of payroll before transmission, including review of earnings, taxes, deductions, direct deposits, checks, and payroll funding requirements.
• Oversee manual and off-cycle payments, payment corrections, and wire requests, ensuring documented approval, segregation of duties, and appropriate controls.
• Determine and oversee payroll-related liabilities, including employee and employer taxes, statutory contributions, unemployment, workers’ compensation, and other required payments.
• Ensure statutory payments and year-end payroll activities are completed accurately and on schedule.

Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and international payroll, tax, wage-and-hour, and employment requirements, including relevant U.K. and Singapore obligations.
• Monitor regulatory developments, assess their operational impact, and advise management on required actions.
• Oversee statutory filings and year-end reporting, including applicable Forms W-2, P60, IR8A, and other jurisdictional reports, coordinating with internal stakeholders and external providers as needed.
• Maintain required payroll records and retention practices in accordance with legal, regulatory, and organizational requirements.

Internal Controls, Audit & Data Security

• Maintain audit-ready records and effective payroll controls, including documented approvals, reconciliations, exception review, segregation of duties, and access controls.
• Lead preparation of payroll documentation and responses for internal and external audits; assess findings, remediate control gaps, and monitor corrective actions.
• Safeguard payroll and employee information and ensure strict adherence to confidentiality and data security standards.
• Own and update payroll policies, procedures, process maps, calendars, and control documentation at least annually or when regulatory, system, or business changes occur.

Financial Reporting, Analytics & Reconciliation

• Generate and analyze payroll reports and operational metrics; identify trends, anomalies, service issues, and financial or compliance risks and communicate them to management.
• Partner with Accounting to reconcile payroll accounts, payroll reports, funding activity, and source data; investigate and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Support accurate financial reporting by ensuring payroll records, liabilities, funding activity, and related accounting information are complete and aligned.

Systems, Technology & Process Improvement

• Maintain accurate payroll data and effective use of UKG, ADP, time and attendance, and related HRIS platforms.
• Oversee system access, data integrity, interfaces, testing, upgrades, and payroll-related process changes.
• Evaluate workflows and lead approved process improvements, automation, and system enhancements to strengthen accuracy, efficiency, scalability, controls, and employee service.
• Manage vendor relationships and service performance for payroll and related systems, escalating issues and ensuring timely resolution.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Employee Service

• Partner with Human Resources, Tax, Benefits, Finance, Accounting, and business leaders on compensation changes, employee data, mobility matters, timekeeping, and other payroll-related initiatives.
• Maintain effective stakeholder communication and ensure payroll questions and service issues are addressed promptly and professionally.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external providers to support payroll compliance, reporting, funding, and employee service requirements.

• Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. multi-state and international payroll compliance, including payroll tax, wage-and-hour, statutory contribution, benefits, workers’ compensation, and employment requirements relevant to the United States, United Kingdom, and Singapore.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, develop, and hold a payroll team accountable while maintaining appropriate service levels and cross-functional partnerships.
• Strong analytical, financial reporting, reconciliation, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to identify trends, anomalies, control gaps, and compliance risks.
• High attention to detail and a consistent commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, data security, and effective internal controls.
• Ability to manage multiple payrolls, projects, and competing priorities in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and project-management capabilities, including the ability to lead process and system changes.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels of the Firm and with external providers.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented approach with a focus on continuous improvement, scalability, and employee service.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including XLOOKUP, VLOOKUP, PivotTables, SUMIFS, and related data-analysis functions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Minimum of six to eight years of progressively responsible payroll experience, including at least two years leading, supervising, or formally mentoring payroll staff.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-state and international payrolls in a multi-entity environment, including multiple payroll groups and processing frequencies.
• Hands-on experience processing and approving payroll in UKG is required; experience with ADP or another international payroll platform is strongly preferred.
• International payroll experience involving the United Kingdom and Singapore is strongly preferred.
• Experience in a professional services or law firm environment is preferred.
• Experience supporting payroll audits, account reconciliations, year-end reporting, internal controls, and process or system improvements is required.
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is a plus.
• Ability to work under pressure, exercise sound judgment, and meet strict and recurring deadlines.

Vedder Price P.C. is an equal opportunity employer. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability (where applicant is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations), medical condition, protected veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We participate in E-verify.

Applicants who are interested in applying for a position and require special assistance or an accommodation during the process due to a disability should contact the Vedder Recruiting Team at recruiting@vedder.com.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be proficient in the following software:

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook.
• Proficiency in UKG payroll and HRIS functionality is required.
• Experience with ADP or another international payroll platform is strongly preferred.
• Experience with time and attendance systems, including Workforce Management or a comparable platform, is preferred.
• Ability to work with payroll interfaces, reporting tools, system testing, and data validation processes.