What are the responsibilities and job description for the Payroll + Staff Accountant position at Howard CDM?
Title: Payroll Staff Accountant
Location: Bellflower, CA
Industry: Commercial Construction, Real Estate Development, Hospitality
Reports To: Senior Accounting Manager
Salary Range: $71,000 – $80,000 per year
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Overview
The Payroll Staff Accountant supports a fast-paced, multi-entity organization involved in commercial construction, real estate development, hospitality, and property management. This role focuses primarily on payroll administration, while also supporting financial reporting, job-cost accounting, and intercompany reconciliations across multiple operating entities.
The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented, organized, and comfortable working in a dynamic environment with multiple business lines. Experience processing payroll in construction environments, including prevailing wage and certified payroll, is highly preferred.
Key Responsibilities
Payroll Administration (Primary Focus)
Howard CDM determines pay for positions using local, national, and industry-specific survey data. We evaluate external equity and the cost of labor/prevailing wage index in the relative marketplace for jobs directly comparable to jobs within our company. Our posted salary range is based on national data and may be refined for a candidate's region/town/cost of living.
For new hires, we strive to make competitive offers allowing the new employee room for future growth. Salaries will be based on the applicant’s location, level of experience, education, and specialized knowledge and skills. Additionally, we consider the external market rate, the amount we have budgeted internally, and internal equity within the company for the same position. An employee/candidate with a stronger skill set will receive higher pay.
Howard CDM is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Howard CDM is governed on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, any other legally protected status, or any combination of those characteristics or statuses.
All offers of employment at Howard CDM are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check, drug screen, and your ability to provide proof of eligibility to work in the US.
Employment with Howard CDM is at will. This means your employment is for an indefinite period of time and it is subject to termination by you or Howard CDM, with or without cause, with or without notice, and at any time. Nothing in this policy or any other policy of Howard CDM shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way, the at-will employment status of Howard CDM employees.
Location: Bellflower, CA
Industry: Commercial Construction, Real Estate Development, Hospitality
Reports To: Senior Accounting Manager
Salary Range: $71,000 – $80,000 per year
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Overview
The Payroll Staff Accountant supports a fast-paced, multi-entity organization involved in commercial construction, real estate development, hospitality, and property management. This role focuses primarily on payroll administration, while also supporting financial reporting, job-cost accounting, and intercompany reconciliations across multiple operating entities.
The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented, organized, and comfortable working in a dynamic environment with multiple business lines. Experience processing payroll in construction environments, including prevailing wage and certified payroll, is highly preferred.
Key Responsibilities
Payroll Administration (Primary Focus)
- Process weekly and bi-weekly payroll for multiple entities.
- Ensure compliance with California labor laws, wage-and-hour requirements, and prevailing wage / certified payroll reporting.
- Maintain accurate employee records including job classifications, time tracking, benefits deductions, garnishments, and payroll adjustments.
- Prepare payroll-related tax payments, journal entries, and reconcile payroll liabilities monthly.
- Partner with HR to support onboarding, offboarding, and payroll updates.
- Assist in monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statement preparation for multiple entities.
- Prepare journal entries, maintain accounting registers, and reconcile general ledger accounts.
- Support budgeting, forecasting, and special financial reporting requests.
- Assist the Senior Accounting Manager with ad-hoc analysis and special projects.
- Maintain GAAP-compliant accounting practices and internal controls.
- Track revenues and departmental costs across operating entities.
- Assist with POS-to-general-ledger reconciliations and cash control procedures.
- Maintain accurate intercompany transactions and balance sheet reconciliations.
- Support internal controls, audit preparation, and financial documentation.
- Assist with documentation requests from lenders, auditors, insurance providers, and tax preparers.
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field.
- 3–5 years of accounting or payroll experience; construction industry experience preferred.
- Strong understanding of GAAP and payroll fundamentals.
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, data analysis).
- Experience with QuickBooks, Yardi Breeze and Sage 300 CRE required.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and confidentiality.
- Full-time, Monday-Friday hours of 8am–5pm
- Onsite at Bellflower HQ
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- 401(k) retirement plan with Company Match
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Wellness and professional development opportunities
Howard CDM determines pay for positions using local, national, and industry-specific survey data. We evaluate external equity and the cost of labor/prevailing wage index in the relative marketplace for jobs directly comparable to jobs within our company. Our posted salary range is based on national data and may be refined for a candidate's region/town/cost of living.
For new hires, we strive to make competitive offers allowing the new employee room for future growth. Salaries will be based on the applicant’s location, level of experience, education, and specialized knowledge and skills. Additionally, we consider the external market rate, the amount we have budgeted internally, and internal equity within the company for the same position. An employee/candidate with a stronger skill set will receive higher pay.
Howard CDM is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Howard CDM is governed on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, any other legally protected status, or any combination of those characteristics or statuses.
All offers of employment at Howard CDM are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check, drug screen, and your ability to provide proof of eligibility to work in the US.
Employment with Howard CDM is at will. This means your employment is for an indefinite period of time and it is subject to termination by you or Howard CDM, with or without cause, with or without notice, and at any time. Nothing in this policy or any other policy of Howard CDM shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way, the at-will employment status of Howard CDM employees.
Salary : $71,000 - $80,000