Senior Payroll Specialist

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way.  

Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong.  Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.   

Senior Payroll Specialist – JLL

What this job involves:

As a Senior Payroll Specialist at JLL, you will serve as a strategic payroll operations leader, managing complex multi-state US payroll processes while ensuring seamless compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This role is critical to supporting JLL's commitment to operational excellence and employee satisfaction. You will lead end-to-end payroll administration, drive process optimization initiatives, and provide expert-level guidance to internal stakeholders. Your analytical expertise and attention to detail will directly contribute to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and efficiency across JLL's payroll operations.

What your day-to-day will look like:

• Lead end-to-end payroll processes including complex data entry, calculations, and deductions across multiple states and jurisdictions while ensuring strict adherence to federal, state, and local tax requirements
• Serve as primary liaison with HR, Finance, Legal teams, and union representatives to resolve complex payroll issues, maintain accurate union deductions, and ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements
• Handle Tier 2-3 escalations from process partners and HR, providing root cause analysis and resolution plans to Team and Process Leads
• Conduct advanced analysis of payroll data to identify trends and anomalies, generate comprehensive reports for senior management, and lead detailed audits to validate system accuracy and integrity
• Own quality check processes on critical HR transactions, test payroll risk controls regularly, and identify opportunities to mitigate and remediate control gaps
• Champion process improvement initiatives to streamline payroll operations, enhance efficiency, and improve end-user experience while coordinating cross-functional projects with HR, Finance, and Legal teams
• Manage stakeholder calls with process owners, coordinate with payroll vendors and local HR teams, oversee process training sessions, and ensure all activities align with defined calendars and SLA commitments

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 7-8 years of progressive experience in payroll processing with demonstrated expertise in multi-state US payroll administration
• Advanced understanding of US labor laws, federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations, and compliance requirements
• Proven proficiency in payroll software systems, specifically SAP GV, ADP, and Workday

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) with strong Excel capabilities for data analysis and reporting
• Experience updating and reviewing SOPs and process maps based on regulatory changes and process improvements
• Proven track record of taking ownership of deliverables and making day-to-day processing decisions in the absence of management
• Experience managing process training programs including new hire sessions, knowledge transfer sessions, and process update sessions
• Demonstrated ability to challenge the status quo and implement strategic improvements that enhance operational efficiency
• Demonstrated ability to resolve complex Tier 2-3 payroll queries and handle escalations with strong root cause analysis capabilities
• Experience collaborating with union representatives and ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements and union contract terms
• Strong analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail and proven ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive payroll information
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to work effectively in fast-paced environments with tight deadlines

Location: Chicago, IL

At JLL, we are collectively shaping a brighter way — for our clients, ourselves and our fellow employees. We choose to take the more inspiring, innovative, and optimistic path on our journey toward success. What sets JLL apart is our culture of collaboration, locally and across the globe, which allows us to create transformative solutions for the real estate industry. We support each other's wellbeing and champion inclusivity and belonging across teams.

JLL is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion.

This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Expected compensation for this position:

Final compensation packages are determined by various considerations including but not limited to candidate qualifications, location, market conditions, and internal considerations.

Location:

If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet all the requirements.  We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!

Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:

JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your wellness, so we offer a supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes mental, physical and emotional health. Some of these benefits include:

• 401(k) plan with matching company contributions
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care
• Paid parental leave at 100% of salary 
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay

At JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing.

JLL Privacy Notice

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading global provider of real estate and investment management services. We take our responsibility to protect the personal information provided to us seriously. Generally the personal information we collect from you are for the purposes of processing in connection with JLL’s recruitment process. We endeavour to keep your personal information secure with appropriate level of security and keep for as long as we need it for legitimate business or legal reasons. We will then delete it safely and securely.

For more information about how JLL processes your personal data, please view our Candidate Privacy Statement.

For additional details please see our career site pages for each country.

For candidates in the United States, please see a full copy of our Equal Employment Opportunity policy here.

Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.  If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process – including the online application and/or overall selection process – you may email us at [email protected]. This email is only to request an accommodation. Please direct any other general recruiting inquiries to our Contact Us page > I want to work for JLL.

Pursuant to the Arizona Civil Rights Act, criminal convictions are not an absolute bar to employment.

Pursuant to Illinois Law, applicants are not obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest.

Pursuant to Columbia, SC ordinance, this position is subject to a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. Only job-related convictions will be considered and will not automatically disqualify the candidate.

California Residents only

If you are a California resident as defined in the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) please view our Supplemental Privacy Statement which describes your rights and disclosures about your personal information. If you are viewing this on a mobile device you may want to view the CCPA version on a larger device.

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, JLL will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with Criminal Histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Accepting applications on an ongoing basis until candidate identified.