Payroll Administrator

Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate is a detail-driven payroll professional with hands-on construction and union payroll experience who can independently manage a weekly payroll cycle from data entry through disbursement, reporting, and audit. He / She combines technical knowledge of payroll tax and prevailing-wage compliance with the organization and discretion required to handle sensitive employee and financial information in a fast-paced environment.

Role Summary

The Certified Payroll Administrator owns the end-to-end payroll process for LiveWire's union and non-union employees across all active projects. This position reports directly to the Controller.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Owns the full-cycle weekly payroll process for union and non-union employees, entering all data accurately and on time
• Processes all direct deposits and paper checks
• Maintains accurate payroll records for all employees, union and non-union
• Calculates, disburses, and remits payroll taxes and withholdings, including weekly payroll tax payments
• Monitors and pays 401(k) and health insurance accruals
• Processes wage garnishments, child support orders, and tax levies
• Maintains vacation, sick, and personal time records
• Prepares monthly new-hire reports
• Prepares and submits project payroll compliance (certified payroll) reports and apprentice certificates for prevailing-wage and publicly funded work
• Prepares and remits monthly union benefit reports, calculating all payments accurately
• Applies prevailing-wage rates, fringe benefits, and shift differentials in accordance with applicable wage determinations and collective bargaining agreements
• Completes end-of-year tax reporting, including W-2/W-3 and 1099/1096
• Prepares for and supports worker's compensation and union audits
• Maintains the confidentiality of all payroll and employee information

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years' experience as a Payroll Specialist or in a similar accounting role for a construction firm
• Experience with union payroll, union setup in accounting software, and monthly union reporting and payments
• Working knowledge of payroll laws and regulations, payroll tax, and government compliance
• Experience with construction accounting/payroll software such as Foundation or similar software
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word
• Strong organizational, time-management, and analytical skills, with the ability to prioritize and meet weekly deadlines
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
• Physical ability to perform prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Education and Experience

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Business Administration preferred
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation preferred
• Familiarity with certified payroll and prevailing-wage compliance (Davis-Bacon / Illinois Prevailing Wage Act) required

Compensation

Base salary: $69,000–$85,000 per year, commensurate with experience

Benefits

• Performance bonus
• Health, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid holidays and paid time off (vacation, personal, sick)
• Annual education and training stipend
• Employee Service Recognition Program