Client Payroll Manager

Position Overview

This role is designed for an experienced professional services payroll leader who brings deep technical expertise, strong people management skills, and a client-first mindset.

The Client Payroll Manager is responsible for the strategic oversight of client payroll operations, leading the payroll team, ensuring regulatory compliance, and serving as a trusted advisor to CPN Legal’s legal industry clients. This role plays a critical part in scaling payroll services while maintaining exceptional accuracy, compliance, and client experience. 

Key Responsibilities 

Leadership & Team Management 

• Lead, mentor, and develop the payroll team, ensuring consistent performance, accountability, and professional growth
• Oversee workload planning, deadline management, and quality control across all client payroll engagements
• Establish best practices, standardized procedures, and scalable payroll workflows

Client Payroll Oversight 

• Provide strategic oversight of end-to-end payroll processing for law firm clients
• Review and approve payrolls, payroll changes, and complex adjustments
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex payroll, compliance, tax, and benefits issues

Client Advisory & Relationship Management

•  Act as a trusted advisor to clients on payroll operations, compliance considerations, and process improvements
• Lead client onboarding to Gusto Payroll and CPN Legal’s internal systems
• Conduct regular client check-ins, identify risks and inefficiencies, and recommend solutions

Compliance & Risk Management 

• Ensure payroll setups and processes comply with federal, state, and local wage and hour laws
• Oversee audits of payroll configurations, benefits, garnishments, and tax filings
• Stay current on regulatory changes and proactively update internal policies and client guidance
•  Review and improve internal payroll policies and controls to mitigate risk 

Qualifications & Experience

• 7+ years of payroll experience, with experience in a CPA or professional services firm
• Proven experience managing payroll teams and complex, multi-client engagements
• Knowledge of payroll compliance, payroll taxes, benefits administration, and multi-state payroll
• Hands-on experience with Gusto Payroll strongly preferred
• Exceptional project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and
  deadlines
• Strong judgment, problem-solving ability, and executive-level communication skills
• High attention to detail with a strategic, process-improvement mindset
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field required
• Ongoing professional development in payroll, employment law and/or tax compliance expected 

This role does not require external sales.