Payroll Manager

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to take full ownership of payroll operations in a fast-paced construction environment. This is a highly visible, hands-on role reporting directly to the Controller, responsible for ensuring payroll accuracy, compliance, and efficiency across a complex, multi-union workforce.

This role is primarily focused on payroll, with additional support in HR administration. The ideal candidate brings a strong command of payroll processes, understands the urgency of weekly deadlines, and is confident managing issues, discrepancies, and compliance matters independently.

This is an opportunity for someone who wants to own the payroll function, improve processes, and serve as a key resource across accounting, HR, and field operations.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll (Primary Focus)

• Process weekly payroll for ~200 employees (union and non-union; hourly and salaried)
• Manage multi-union payroll, including wages, fringes, and union-specific requirements
• Review and audit timecards, overtime, shift differentials, and cost coding for accuracy
• Ensure compliance with federal, state (California), and union wage requirements
• Maintain accurate payroll records, including deductions, garnishments, and benefit contributions
• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll-related questions
• Prepare and submit weekly certified payroll reports via LCPTracker and DIR, ensuring full compliance with prevailing wage requirements
• Support prevailing wage reporting, audits, and year-end processes (W-2s)
• Partner with field supervisors to resolve timekeeping issues quickly and efficiently
• Build and maintain payroll calendars, controls, and internal processes
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce errors
• Support or lead payroll-related system improvements, including participation in ERP implementations or process enhancements

HR Administration (Secondary Support)

• Support onboarding and offboarding, including payroll setup and final pay processing
• Maintain and update employee records and HRIS data with a focus on accuracy and compliance
• Assist with benefits administration and reconciliations
• Process manpower requests, union documentation, and HR forms
• Respond to employee inquiries related to payroll, timecards, and HR policies
• Support general HR operations, documentation, and compliance initiatives

Qualifications

• 5 years of payroll experience, with strong preference for construction and union environments
• Experience processing multi-union payroll and understanding union rules/CBAs
• Strong knowledge of California wage & hour laws
• Experience with certified payroll and prevailing wage, including LCPTracker and DIR reporting
• Proficiency in Excel and all Microsoft Office applications
• QuickBooks experience strongly preferred
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and confidentiality
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across departments
• A self-starter who quickly assesses situations, takes ownership, and executes with minimal direction
• Ability to identify, investigate, and resolve payroll discrepancies with urgency and accuracy, escalating details to the Controller while independently managing resolution
• Experience with payroll system implementations or ERP transitions, including process improvement and system optimization, is highly desirable

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or related field
• FPC or CPP certification is a plus

Why This Role?

• High-impact role with direct visibility to leadership
• Opportunity to own and improve payroll processes in a growing company
• Exposure to both payroll and HR operations
• Fast-paced environment with real operational influence

Compensation:

$100,000 – $120,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications. The top of the range is reserved for candidates who bring extensive relevant experience and demonstrate a strong match across the key responsibilities and requirements of the role.

This is a full-time, in-office position based in Cypress, CA. Candidates must be able to reliably commute to this location. This role is not eligible for remote or hybrid work.