Demo

Payroll Accountant

Jefferson Lab
Newport, VA Full Time
POSTED ON 6/3/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 6/6/2026
At Jefferson Lab, you’ll champion cutting-edge science and operational excellence while shaping the future of discovery. Join us and make your mark – where excellence meets purpose, and great minds truly matter.

Salary Range: $60,000 - $94,500 (SA I)

What Your Job Will Be Like

Manage the day-to-day production of labor distribution, payroll, and leave accruals. Act as the primary interface to all personnel for payroll related matters. Manage incoming requirements from multiple sources to prioritize and process payroll related transactions with multiple and simultaneous deadlines. Responsible for the development of timekeeping and payroll desktop procedures. Responsible for contributing to all timekeeping and payroll processes, policies, and procedures.

In This Job You Will

  • Effectively manages the payroll, which includes review and validation of timekeeping through gross-to-net calculation and tax preparation for the Labs in-house managed payroll.
  • Monitors and tracks timesheet approval status; works with supervisors and employees to obtain signatures within schedule.
  • Audits timesheets to insure compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), the contract, and Jefferson Lab Policies and Procedures.
  • Processes and reviews corrections; insures corrections are completed timely and delivered to the Payroll Supervisor for edit.
  • Processing of leave accruals.
  • Development of proper journal entries.
  • 401(k) processing.
  • Processes and Remits Court Ordered deductions.
  • Manages, reconciles and processes all benefit payments and transmissions.
  • Reconciling general ledger accounts associated with payroll.
  • Prepares quarterly taxes (e.g. 941, VA-16s, and SUTA filing for Virginia).
  • Develop and update timekeeping/payroll desk manuals.

Experience

  • Required: 2 or more years of accounting or payroll experience.
  • Preferred: Government contract experience And
  • Preferred: Deltek Costpoint system experience And
  • Preferred: Cognos Impromptu or Enterprise Reporting experience And
  • Preferred: Deltek Time and Expense system experience

Education

  • Required: Bachelor's Degree in Accounting (or a related field)

Experience And Education Exchange

Education above the minimum may be substituted for experience.

Relevant experience may be substituted for education.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

  • Knowledge of Accounting practices and principles with the ability obtain in-depth knowledge of the workings of payroll.
  • General familiarity with the Circular-E and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
  • Competent in the use of a personal computer, automated accounting software, financial systems, spreadsheets and word processing software.
  • Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, and to effectively solve problems.
  • Analytical, planning, organization, and conflict resolution skills.
  • Ability to evaluate existing systems, look for efficiency, and offer recommendations for simplification and/or process enhancements.
  • Exceptional organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, with interruptions.

About Jefferson Lab

Join a community with a common purpose of solving the most challenging scientific and engineering problems of our time. The Jefferson Lab campus is located in southeastern Virginia amidst a vibrant and growing technology community.

A career at Jefferson Lab is more than a job. You will be part of “big science” and work alongside top scientists and engineers from around the world unlocking the secrets of our visible universe. Managed by SURATech, LLC, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is entering an exciting period of mission growth and is seeking new team members ready to apply their skills and passion to have an impact. You could call it work, or you could call it a mission. We call it a challenge. We do things that will change the world.

Total Rewards at Jefferson Lab

Benefits

At Jefferson Lab, we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Our benefits program includes, but is not limited to:

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Care Plans
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Paid Time-off and Leave Programs (Paid Parental, vacation, holidays, and sick leave) 
  • 401(k) Plan – 9% Lab Contribution; 100% vested
  • Flexible Work Arrangements

(Remote & Alternate Work Schedules available) 

  • Tuition Assistance, Training and Professional Development Programs 
  • Live near the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay region with access to nearby beaches,

mountains, and all major metropolitan centers on the East Coast

SURATech, LLC manages and operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab). SURATech is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  

SURATech is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities (unless doing so will result in an undue hardship). If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to recruiting@jlab.org or contact Human Resources by calling (757) 269-7100 and selecting option 1 between 8 am – 5 pm EST to provide the nature of your request.

Employment with SURATech is conditional upon DOE approval if at any time during your employment you are participating in a Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Program or Affiliated activity. Generally, such programs/activities include any foreign-state-sponsored attempt to acquire U.S.-funded scientific research through programs run or funded by the government that target scientists, engineers, students, academics, researchers, and entrepreneurs of all nationalities working or educated in the United States. This includes positions or appointments, both domestic and foreign, titled academic, professional, or institutional appointments whether or not remuneration is received and whether full-time, part-time or voluntary.

Salary : $60,000 - $94,500

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