Remote Payroll Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Construction Payroll Manager

Job Summary
The Construction Payroll Manager will work under the direction of the Corporate Controller and be responsible for processing multi-state payroll ensuring all essential functions are completed timely and accurately.  This position regularly exercises discretion in the review, audit and maintenance of employee timesheets and payroll accounting records. Administers a variety of payroll adjustments and changes to employee payroll data, when necessary. Works to ensure accuracy of records, and ensures compliance with local, state and federal regulations. Serves as the Department of Industrial (DIR) and state specific Prevailing Wage (PW) subject matter expert.

This role can be hybrid or virtual within the state of California. 

Key Duties/Responsibilities
•    Lead and execute end-to-end weekly payroll processing for 100+ employees across union, non-union, PLA, and prevailing wage environments 
•    Oversee the review, validation, and approval of timekeeping data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance prior to processing
•    Manage the weekly payroll workflow, including preparation and validation in Sage and transmission to Dayforce for payroll execution 
•    Ensure accuracy and integrity of data flow between Sage (ERP/job costing) and Dayforce, including troubleshooting discrepancies and driving process improvements
•    Interpret and apply wage determinations, including California DIR, prevailing wage, and PLA requirements, ensuring full compliance across projects
•    Ensure payroll is processed in accordance with applicable wage determinations by accurately applying required rates, classifications, and fringe obligations
•    Oversee the calculation and administration of bona fide fringe benefits and ensure proper offsets on prevailing wage (PW) projects
•    Manage processing of wage garnishments, levies, and other court-ordered deductions in compliance with regulatory requirements
•    Direct employee data management activities, including onboarding, status changes, and terminations, ensuring accuracy and system integrity
•    Administer and optimize payroll and timekeeping systems (e.g., Sage 300, HH2), including configuration, maintenance, and process improvements
•    Ensure proper assignment of Workers’ Compensation class codes
•    Responsible for payroll reconciliations, variance analysis, and issue resolution; ensure timely and accurate payroll adjustments
•    Maintain payroll reporting and support financial, operational, and compliance reporting needs
•    Develop and maintain burdened labor rates using established assumptions to support operational cost estimating and financial planning
•    Apply and manage advanced knowledge of construction cost coding and accounting practices to ensure proper classification and reporting of labor costs
•    Prepare and submit weekly payroll-related liability journal entries for entry into the ERP system 
•    Ensure full compliance with California DIR regulations, federal labor standards, and applicable state laws by monitoring regulatory changes and implementing necessary process updates
•    Partner closely with the Certified Payroll Specialist to support audit activities (DOL, DIR, and other agencies), including assisting with preparation, documentation, and responses
•    Provide leadership-level support for employee payroll inquiries, including complex issues related to deductions, accruals, and fringe benefits
•    Identify and implement process improvements, controls, and best practices to enhance payroll efficiency, accuracy, and compliance
•    Ensure accurate and timely preparation, reconciliation, and filing of all payroll tax returns, including federal, state, and local requirements, and oversee the accurate year-end processing and issuance of Form W 2s.
•    Other duties as assigned

Required Skills/Abilities 
•    Comprehensive, hands-on knowledge with at least 12 years of experience in labor compliance within the California construction industry, specifically DIR, PW, DBA, PLA, and SCA frameworks
•    Exceptional analytical capacity to reconcile discrepancies between conflicting union rules, federal determinations, and internal project costing
•    Intermediate computer skills with proven understanding of payroll systems
•    Thorough understanding of the importance of confidentiality and non-disclosure according to the general standards set forth by HIPAA
•    Ability to exercise a high degree of diplomacy and tact, exhibiting excellent customer service and interpersonal communication skills both written and verbal
•    Collaborate effectively within the team and across departments to achieve shared goals 
•    Proficiency processing payroll within the construction industry
•    Experience with government contracts and familiarity with unions 
•    Highly organized professional with an attention to detail possessing a track record of meeting all deadlines 
•    Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
•    Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment
•    Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software
•    Cloud based payroll systems, preferably Ceridian Dayforce, Sage 300CRE, and HH2
•    Ability to work independently, multi-task in an organized manner daily with variable deadlines and shifting priorities 

Education and Experience
•    Minimum 12+ years of dedicated multi – state payroll experience explicitly within the commercial or heavy civil construction industry specializing in CA state 
•    Active CPP designation preferred 
•    Intermediate Excel skills (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, IF statements)

Working Conditions:
The physical and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands
•    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk, use hands to finger, handle objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; bending or crouching; talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 
•    Some lifting of files, opening cabinets. 
•    Bending or standing as necessary.

Work Environment: 
Position is sedentary with prolonged periods of standing, bending, sitting, kneeling

This description is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. It is intended to accurately reflect the activities and requirements of the position, but duties may be added, deleted, or modified, as necessary. This description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.