Certified Payroll Specialist

About the role

The Payroll Specialist processes payroll and certified payroll in compliance with prevailing wage requirements, administers payroll-related benefits, manages accounts payable functions, and performs routine reconciliations. This role supports public works and construction accounting activities by ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll and accounts payable processing.

Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly payroll accurately and on time in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations, including prevailing wage laws.
• Prepare, review, and submit certified payroll reports for public works projects in compliance with DIR, LCP Tracker, and contract requirements.
• Ensure accurate classification of labor, wage rates, fringe benefits, deductions, and job cost allocations for public works payroll.
• Maintain payroll records, timesheets, deductions, and employee data with strict attention to detail, confidentiality, and audit readiness.
• Administer payroll-related benefits, including benefit deductions and fringe benefit allocations, and reconcile benefits applied to certified payroll.
• Monitor compliance with wage determinations, union agreements, and public agency reporting requirements for payroll and certified payroll.
• Process vendor and subcontractor invoices, ensuring proper coding, approvals, retention handling, and compliance with public works requirements.
• Reconcile payroll, benefits, fringe, and general ledger accounts on a regular basis to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Assist with month-end and year-end close activities related to payroll, benefits, and accounts payable.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies related to payroll reports, certified payroll submissions, invoices, and account balances.
• Maintain accurate and well-organized financial documentation to support audits, public agency reviews, and compliance requests.
• Collaborate with accounting, HR, and project management teams to ensure accurate payroll reporting and financial compliance for public works projects.
• Maintain accurate employee, vendor, project, and account records within accounting and payroll systems.
• Assist with internal and external audits, labor compliance reviews, and public agency documentation requests related to payroll and accounting.

Essential Skills

• Experience processing payroll for at least 100 or more employees per week.
• Experience with multistate payroll processing and compliance with varying state regulations.
• Experience processing weekly payroll, including manual and project-based payroll calculations.
• Hands-on experience with payroll systems and payroll software platforms.
• Experience with certified payroll and prevailing wage requirements, particularly for public works or construction projects.
• Experience with DIR reporting and certified payroll reporting platforms, including LCP Tracker (preferred).
• 1–3 years of accounting experience with direct exposure to payroll and certified payroll for public works or construction projects preferred.
• Experience with accounts payable processing, including vendor and subcontractor invoice handling and coding.
• Experience reconciling payroll, benefits, fringe, and general ledger accounts.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and confidentiality in handling payroll and financial data.
• Ability to interpret and apply wage determinations, union agreements, and public agency reporting requirements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in construction or a similar industry, especially with payroll processing and prevailing wage, is preferred.
• Experience with certified payroll reporting platforms such as LCP Tracker is preferred.
• Experience with DIR reporting and public works compliance processes.
• Experience with accounting software, with Ajera experience preferred.
• Familiarity with project-based payroll and manual payroll adjustments.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills to support audits and compliance reviews.
• Ability to work collaboratively with accounting, HR, and project management teams.

Work Environment

This role operates in a professional office-based accounting and payroll environment that supports public works and construction projects. You will work primarily with payroll systems, certified payroll reporting platforms such as LCP Tracker, and accounting software including tools like Ajera, as well as Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications. The position involves regular, structured payroll cycles, including weekly and bi-weekly processing, and requires careful coordination with accounting, HR, and project management teams. The work emphasizes accuracy, regulatory compliance, and thorough documentation to support audits and public agency reviews, in a setting that values organization, confidentiality, and consistent adherence to prevailing wage and public works requirements.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Sacramento, CA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $42.00/hr.

Requirements

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.