Payroll Manager

Kforce has a client that is seeking a Payroll Manager in Garden Grove, CA. Summary: Our client is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead payroll operations for a growing Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) organization. This individual will oversee the accurate and timely processing of payroll while ensuring compliance with federal, state, local, union, and prevailing wage regulations. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience supporting complex payroll environments involving multi state employees, certified payroll, project-based labor allocations, and construction industry compliance requirements. Responsibilities:

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for salaried and hourly employees
• Oversee weekly, biweekly, and special payroll cycles
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately and on schedule
• Review payroll audits, exceptions, adjustments, and reconciliations prior to payroll submission
• Manage payroll related journal entries and account reconciliations
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations
• Oversee certified payroll reporting and prevailing wage compliance
• Manage union payroll reporting, fringe benefits, and dues remittance where applicable
• Coordinate quarterly and annual payroll tax filings
• Oversee year end activities including W-2 processing and distribution
• Maintain labor costing structures and allocate payroll expenses to projects
• Support project accounting teams with payroll reporting and labor cost analysis
• Ensure accurate tracking of employee labor by project, phase, and cost code
• Partner with operations leaders to address labor compliance requirements
• Lead, mentor, and develop payroll team members
• Evaluate and improve payroll processes, controls, and efficiencies
• Participate in payroll system implementations, upgrades, and integrations
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external payroll audits

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field preferred
• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience
• 3+ years of payroll leadership or management experience
• Experience processing payroll in a construction, engineering, government contracting, or project-based environment
• Strong knowledge of: Multi state payroll; Payroll tax compliance; Certified payroll; Prevailing wage requirements; Union payroll administration; Labor allocations and job costing
• Advanced Excel skills

Preferred:

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP or CCP) certification
• Experience with one or more of the following: Workday; Dayforce; UKG; Viewpoint Vista; CMiC; Deltek Costpoint; Oracle; JD Edwards