Job Description
Job Title: Senior Payroll Manager & Administrator
Location: Long Island, NY (On-site, 5 days/week)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Compensation: Competitive salary + excellent benefits + strong growth opportunity
We are seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented, and experienced Payroll Manager & Administrator to manage weekly payroll operations across multiple construction companies and administer complex, multi-tiered union payroll for several different trade unions. This position is central to our ability to remain compliant, timely, and trusted in the eyes of our employees, our union partners, and our agency clients.
The successful candidate will take ownership of our entire payroll process—handling time entry, union benefits administration, certified payroll, and audit readiness—while also guiding the company's transition to digital solutions like ACH direct deposit and electronic paystubs. This role requires technical aptitude, excellent time management, and a team-first, flexible attitude.
Weekly Payroll Operations:
- Process weekly payroll for multiple entities.
- Enter time, expenses, and overtime for both field and office staff; verify entries against job cost codes and union classifications.
- Lead full-cycle payroll including check printing, direct deposit processing, and final check inspections.
- Field and address timecard discrepancies, working proactively with foremen and operations teams.
Union Benefit & Compliance Administration:
- Manage payroll across many distinct union locals—ensuring correct tracking and application of union-specific:
- Wages and overtime
- Vacation (VAC) accruals and overrides
- Union dues and deductions (custom % calculations)
- Apprentice/journeyman/foreman pay scales
- Shift differentials, work hour guarantees, and second-check eligibility
- Track and reconcile job-specific benefit caps or per-hour contributions.
- Prepare and submit all weekly union benefit reports, including complex data entry for multiple jobs and benefit codes.
- Ensure full compliance with union CBAs, city/state/federal reporting mandates, and Department of Labor audit requirements.
- Manage certified payroll submissions and reporting for public works projects.
Reporting & Compliance (weekly):
- Union and fringe reports.
- Verifications of Employment (VOEs).
- Loan processor and agency requests.
- Department of Labor submissions.
- Worker comp audits and ad hoc reporting as required.
- Maintain meticulous digital payroll records in server folders by company and week-ending.
Preparation & Forward Planning (weekly):
- Review time entries for accuracy and follow up on outstanding issues.
- Begin time entry for the next pay cycle to avoid next-week congestion.
- Investigate and resolve prior period corrections before the next cycle begins.
Technology Leadership:
- Lead our transition to ACH payroll and electronic paystub distribution to improve efficiency and reduce manual work.
- Help implement time tracking across projects to improve visibility, reduce errors, and streamline reporting.
- Coordinate with Tech, HR, and finance to maintain data integrity across all payroll systems and interfaces.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Oversee time and expense submissions and support field staff with accurate, on-time entries.
- Interface with Technology lead to ensure software entries are accurate and uploaded to books and records of the company accurately.
- Communicate effectively with internal and field staff on payroll issues—by email —to ensure clear, trackable documentation.
- Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling payroll-related requests and data.
- Submit Positive Pay files, direct deposit uploads, and work closely with accounting and bank partners to ensure secure transactions.
Qualifications:
- Minimum 5 years of payroll experience, ideally in a unionized construction environment.
- In-depth understanding of union payroll structures, including fringe benefits, wage differentials, apprenticeships, and multiple CBAs.
- Skilled in certified payroll reporting, public works compliance, and multi-entity payroll processing.
- Technologically confident—comfortable leading payroll transformation from checks to direct deposit and from paper to digital paystubs.
- Highly organized, efficient, and capable of handling high-volume weekly payroll with strict deadlines.
- Strong communication skills, especially written. Must be able to interact with field teams and management alike.
- Detail-obsessed with high ethical standards and respect for confidential information.
Personal Attributes:
- Must be flexible, adaptable, and ready to step in where needed.
- A team player who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
- Willing to take initiative and find solutions when faced with issues.
- Professional, approachable, and composed—even under pressure.
Work Environment:
- This role is fully in-person, 5 days per week at corporate headquarters on Long Island.
- Occasional weekend work may be needed depending on volume.
- Collaborative team setting with direct access to executives, operations managers, and field staff.
Join Us!
- Be a core part of one of New York’s most respected construction operations.
- Competitive compensation and great benefits package.
- Join during a transformative period and help shape the future of payroll for our company.
- Work with a team that values precision, communication, and people-first culture.
Clear opportunities for growth into leadership.