New

Accounting Associate II - Payroll

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
401(k)
United States, Illinois, Northbrook
330 Pfingsten Road (Show on map)
Sep 27, 2025
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) relies on the talent and dedication of essential corporate support functions to deliver exceptional service to our external clients and support for our project managers amidst the demands of a fast-paced work environment. We have an opportunity for a highly motivated, customer service-oriented, and well-organized payroll professional to grow their career as a Payroll Associate within our Accounting team, located at our company headquarters in Northbrook, Illinois. WJE employs extraordinary people-people with exceptional talent and outstanding character with a willingness to excel as members of the WJE team. WJE encourages people to be innovative, supports professional development, and provides a competitive compensation and benefits package. Technical Skills Preferred: Experience with Workday, especially Time and Expense (T&E) modules Proficient in Microsoft Excel, including working with formulas and knowledge of or willingness to learn pivot tables, and data validation Experience or familiarity with data uploads and data integrations Payroll & Compliance Support Assist with regular and off-cycle payroll processing, including tracking changes (hires, terminations, adjustments, bonuses, etc.) Run and review post-payroll reports to support reconciliation Provide administrative support for audits and compliance-related documentation Support time and expense processing Communication & Collaboration Respond to employee payroll and T&E inquiries in a timely and professional manner Work cross-functionally with HR and other Accounting teams to ensure accurate data flow and resolve discrepancies Help ensure process consistency and adherence to internal controls Soft Skills Strong analytical skills and a high level of attention to detail Ability to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and handle multiple assignments Be able to effectively communicate with employees on payroll and expense deadlines Discreet and professional when handling confidential employee and company information Willingness to learn and grow within the payroll/accounting function Requirements: Associate degree in accounting, finance, or related field with 2-3 years of experience in accounts payable or related roles or bachelor's degree with at least 1 year of related experience. Familiarity with financial systems and ERP software. Ability to analyze data and identify process improvements. Strong interpersonal skills for collaboration across departments. Culture, Compensation, and Benefits: Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) is a global firm of engineers, architects, and materials scientists. Clients worldwide seek our expertise to solve the most significant, interesting, and challenging problems in the built world. Our applied experience from more than 175,000 projects combined with unparalleled laboratory and testing capabilities have made WJE a leader in providing innovative yet practical solutions to the clients we serve. Working at WJE is a team endeavor characterized by a culture of trust and personal responsibility. We encourage open communication, continuous learning, innovative thinking, ongoing mentoring, and free-flowing collaboration. We seek highly talented and hard-working individuals who want to be challenged, who want hands-on work, who want to set a higher standard, and who want to be mentored by the industry's most accomplished experts. People with outstanding Character, unwaveringCommitment to our core and culture, strongExpertise, and genuineEnthusiasm for their work. Learn more about the Extraordinary People we hire at WJE at www.wje.com/careers WJE offers a robust, total compensation structure, where the hourly rate is just one component of an employee's annual earnings. Additionally, employees may be eligible to receive overtime and variable compensation based on personal and company performance, often resulting in above-market annual earnings. Actual hourly rate will be based on several factors including consideration for a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role while remaining mindful of our commitment to internal equity. A good faith estimate of the starting hourly rate (gross) for this position is in the following range: $23.08 - $34.62 This non-exempt position is also eligible for WJE's industry-leading, total rewards package which enables our employees to grow and thrive with comprehensive health and financial benefits including: Robust and affordable health plans for employees and their families, including HSA as well as low and high-deductible PPO options Generous 401(k) matching of 110% for the first 6% of eligible pay vesting immediately Time off to care for yourself and others Investments in employees' educational assistance and professional development Learn more about WJE's total rewards package here. WJE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants to apply including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans (VEVRAA federal contractor). WJE will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of Fair Chance Ordinances.