Payroll Specialist

Job Title: Payroll Specialist

Job Description

The Payroll Specialist processes payroll and certified payroll in compliance with prevailing wage requirements, administers payroll-related benefits, manages accounts payable functions, and performs routine reconciliations. This role supports public works and construction accounting activities by ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll and accounts payable processing. The successful candidate demonstrates strong organizational skills, a high level of accuracy, and a commitment to confidentiality and regulatory adherence in a fast-paced, compliance-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly payroll accurately and on time in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations, including prevailing wage laws.
• Prepare, review, and submit certified payroll reports for public works projects in compliance with DIR, LCP Tracker, and contract requirements.
• Ensure accurate classification of labor, wage rates, fringe benefits, deductions, and job cost allocations for public works payroll.
• Maintain payroll records, timesheets, deductions, and employee data with strict attention to detail, confidentiality, and audit readiness.
• Administer payroll-related benefits, including benefit deductions and fringe benefit allocations, and reconcile benefits applied to certified payroll.
• Monitor compliance with wage determinations, union agreements, and public agency reporting requirements for payroll and certified payroll.
• Process vendor and subcontractor invoices, ensuring proper coding, approvals, retention handling, and compliance with public works requirements.
• Reconcile payroll, benefits, fringe, and general ledger accounts on a regular basis to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Assist with month-end and year-end close activities related to payroll, benefits, and accounts payable.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies related to payroll reports, certified payroll submissions, invoices, and account balances.
• Maintain accurate and well-organized financial documentation to support audits, public agency reviews, and compliance requests.
• Collaborate with accounting, HR, and project management teams to ensure accurate payroll reporting and financial compliance for public works projects.
• Maintain accurate employee, vendor, project, and account records within accounting and payroll systems.
• Assist with internal and external audits, labor compliance reviews, and public agency documentation requests related to payroll and accounting.

Essential Skills

• Experience processing payroll for at least 100 or more employees per week.
• Experience with multistate payroll processing and compliance with varying state regulations.
• Experience processing weekly payroll, including manual and project-based payroll calculations.
• Hands-on experience with payroll systems and payroll software platforms.
• Experience with certified payroll and prevailing wage requirements, particularly for public works or construction projects.
• Experience with DIR reporting and certified payroll reporting platforms, including LCP Tracker (preferred).
• 1–3 years of accounting experience with direct exposure to payroll and certified payroll for public works or construction projects preferred.
• Experience with accounts payable processing, including vendor and subcontractor invoice handling and coding.
• Experience reconciling payroll, benefits, fringe, and general ledger accounts.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and confidentiality in handling payroll and financial data.
• Ability to interpret and apply wage determinations, union agreements, and public agency reporting requirements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in construction or a similar industry, especially with payroll processing and prevailing wage, is preferred.
• Experience with certified payroll reporting platforms such as LCP Tracker is preferred.
• Experience with DIR reporting and public works compliance processes.
• Experience with accounting software, with Ajera experience preferred.
• Familiarity with project-based payroll and manual payroll adjustments.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills to support audits and compliance reviews.
• Ability to work collaboratively with accounting, HR, and project management teams.

Work Environment

This role operates in a professional office-based accounting and payroll environment that supports public works and construction projects. You will work primarily with payroll systems, certified payroll reporting platforms such as LCP Tracker, and accounting software including tools like Ajera, as well as Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications. The position involves regular, structured payroll cycles, including weekly and bi-week…