Certified Payroll Specialist

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Certified Payroll Specialist to support payroll processing and compliance for employees working on federal, state, and locally funded construction projects. This position will be responsible for ensuring employees are paid accurately and in accordance with prevailing wage requirements, including Davis-Bacon and state-specific regulations.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with certified payroll in the construction industry, understands prevailing wage and fringe benefit requirements, and can manage multiple projects across different states. This role requires strong attention to detail, the ability to work through complex payroll issues, and a willingness to take ownership of problems through resolution.

Certified payroll experience is preferable but not a hard requirement for the role.

Job Details

• Onsite (Bridgetowne, Quezon City or Cebu)
• Monday to Friday, starting at 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM ET | 9:30 PM - 6:30 AM Manila Time
• Following Selected Philippine Holidays

Key Responsibilities

Certified Payroll & Prevailing Wage Compliance

• Prepare, review, and submit weekly certified payroll reports for federal, state, and locally funded projects.
• Ensure compliance with Davis-Bacon Act requirements, applicable state prevailing wage laws, and project-specific wage determinations.
• Review employee classifications, wage rates, fringe benefits, and overtime calculations to ensure compliance with applicable requirements.
• Maintain accurate records of employee hours, job classifications, wage rates, and fringe benefit contributions by project.
• Complete and submit required certified payroll documentation, including WH-347 forms and other agency-specific reports.
• Monitor changes in prevailing wage requirements and ensure payroll practices remain compliant.
• Respond to certified payroll inquiries, audits, and documentation requests from contractors, government agencies, and internal stakeholders.

Payroll Processing & Administration

• Support accurate and timely payroll processing for employees across multiple locations and states.
• Review and validate employee time records, job costing, pay rates, deductions, and adjustments.
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies, including issues involving prevailing wages, overtime, and fringe benefit calculations.
• Coordinate with field operations and project teams to ensure employee hours are accurately assigned to the appropriate jobs and classifications.
• Process payroll corrections and retroactive adjustments as needed.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements.

Compliance & Internal Coordination

• Partner with Payroll, HR, Finance, and Operations to resolve payroll and compliance issues.
• Work with project managers and field leadership to obtain missing or corrected payroll information.
• Support internal and external audits by providing payroll reports, supporting documentation, and reconciliations.
• Identify opportunities to improve certified payroll processes, reporting accuracy, and internal controls.
• Assist with payroll-related projects and other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of payroll experience
• Experience preparing and submitting payroll reports for construction projects.
• Experience processing payroll across multiple states and projects.
• Strong understanding of payroll calculations, reconciliations, and reporting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, lookups, and data reconciliation.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and competing priorities.
• Ability to work independently, investigate discrepancies, and follow issues through resolution.

Preferred Qualifications

Highly preferred:

• Working knowledge of the Davis-Bacon Act, prevailing wage requirements, fringe benefit calculations, and applicable overtime regulations preferred
• Direct certified payroll and prevailing wage experience for US employees
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with field operations and corporate teams.
• Experience with commercial construction, flooring, or other specialty contracting businesses.
• Experience with Paylocity or similar payroll systems.
• Experience with LCPtracker, eMars, or other certified payroll reporting platforms.
• Familiarity with union payroll, collective bargaining agreements, and union fringe benefit reporting.
• Experience supporting payroll for a large, multi-location organization.
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
• Experience with project-based payroll, job costing, and labor allocation.

Key Competencies

• Accuracy: Consistently produces accurate payroll records and reports with minimal errors.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of assigned work and follows issues through resolution.
• Problem Solving: Identifies the root cause of payroll discrepancies and develops practical solutions.
• Compliance: Understands regulatory requirements and recognizes potential payroll risks.
• Communication: Works effectively with field employees, project managers, and internal teams.
• Time Management: Meets strict payroll and reporting deadlines while balancing competing priorities.