Certified Payroll & Compliance Lead

Fireline; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible dress code

People-focused culture

Health and wellness

Retirement planning

Life insurance

Job summary

Encore Fire Protection seeks an experienced Certified Payroll/Prevailing Wage specialist to own and optimize the certified payroll function across multi-state projects. You will interpret federal, state, and local requirements, oversee WH-347 reporting, and coordinate with Operations, Project Management, and Payroll to ensure compliance from project kickoff to closeout.

The role demands deep knowledge of Davis-Bacon, wage determinations, and classification rules, with hands-on experience in

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll experience with direct Certified Payroll/Prevailing Wage experience.
• Proficiency in Excel including formulas, pivot tables, and organized data management.
• Sage 300 CRE experience preferred.
• Dayforce experience preferred, particularly experience supporting system implementation, testing, or prevailing wage configuration.
• Clear and professional communication skills with the ability to guide employees and internal teams.
• A proactive, accountable mindset with the desire to improve processes and maintain high accuracy.
• Familiarity with AIA contracts/billing and construction project documentation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Strong hands-on experience with Certified Payroll and Prevailing Wage compliance.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll compliance requirements, particularly in a multi-state environment.
• Knowledge of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, state and local prevailing wage requirements, wage determinations, employee classifications, base wage rates, fringe benefit requirements, and overtime calculations.
• Lead the review of new projects and jobs to identify applicable prevailing wage, certified payroll, reporting, and documentation requirements.
• Partner closely with Operations, Project Management, Contracting, and Payroll to ensure compliance requirements are identified and addressed at the beginning of a project.
• Oversee the preparation, review, and timely submission of certified payroll reports, including WH-347 and other federal, state, local, customer, or project-specific reports.
• Manage certified payroll requirements across multiple states, projects, and reporting platforms.
• Hands-on experience with Elation Systems, EMARS, LCPtracker, and/or similar certified payroll compliance platforms.
• Research, interpret, and resolve complex wage, fringe, classification, reporting, and documentation issues.
• Manage rejected reports, corrections, missing documentation, compliance notices, and other outstanding items through resolution.
• Provide day-to-day guidance and support to team members involved in certified payroll activities, including reviewing work and helping prioritize deadlines, while also serving as the escalation point for complex certified payroll & prevailing wage questions.
• Develop and maintain standardized procedures, documentation, controls, and tracking to support an effective and scalable certified payroll process.
• Support audits and requests from government agencies, general contractors, customers, and internal stakeholders.

Job description

At Encore Fire Protection, we are proud to be the east coast's largest full-service fire protection company, serving over 90,000 customers from Maine to Louisiana. With a team of over 2,200 dedicated employees, we provide innovative, customized fire suppression, fire sprinkler, and fire alarm solutions that protect lives and properties every day.

Our goal is to deliver superior experience to those who trust us to safeguard what matters most. We are passionate about continuous growth, innovation, and maintaining a culture that thrives on success and commitment to safety. Our mission? To be the best fire protection company the industry has ever seen.

The Opportunity

The primary focus of this role is taking ownership of the Certified Payroll and Prevailing Wage function, while also supporting broader payroll compliance. The ideal candidate will be a subject matter expert in the regulatory requirements and underlying compliance principles associated with certified payroll, going beyond just preparing and submitting reports. This role requires someone who can interpret requirements, identify potential compliance risks, and ensure payroll practices and documentation consistently meet applicable federal, state, and local regulations. The person we hire will serve as the primary resource for complex prevailing wage and certified payroll matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Strong hands-on experience with Certified Payroll and Prevailing Wage compliance.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll compliance requirements, particularly in a multi-state environment.
• Knowledge of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, state and local prevailing wage requirements, wage determinations, employee classifications, base wage rates, fringe benefit requirements, and overtime calculations.
• Lead the review of new projects and jobs to identify applicable prevailing wage , certified payroll , reporting, and documentation requirements.
• Partner closely with Operations, Project Management, Contracting, and Payroll to ensure compliance requirements are identified and addressed at the beginning of a project.
• Oversee the preparation, review, and timely submission of certified payroll reports, including WH-347 and other federal, state, local, customer, or project-specific reports.
• Manage certified payroll requirements across multiple states, projects, and reporting platforms.
• Hands-on experience with Elation Systems, EMARS, LCPtracker , and/or similar certified payroll compliance platforms.
• Research, interpret, and resolve complex wage, fringe, classification, reporting, and documentation issues.
• Manage rejected reports, corrections, missing documentation, compliance notices, and other outstanding items through resolution.
• Provide day-to-day guidance and support to team members involved in certified payroll activities, including reviewing work and helping prioritize deadlines, while also serving as the escalation point for complex certified payroll & prevailing wage questions.
• Develop and maintain standardized procedures, documentation, controls, and tracking to support an effective and scalable certified payroll process.
• Support audits and requests from government agencies, general contractors, customers, and internal stakeholders.

What You Bring To The Table

• 5+ years of payroll experience with direct Certified Payroll/Prevailing Wage experience, preferably in a construction, service-based or multi-state environment.
• Proficiency in Excel including formulas, pivot tables, and organized data management.
• Sage 300 CRE experience preferred.
• Dayforce experience preferred, particularly experience supporting system implementation, testing, or prevailing wage configuration.
• Clear and professional communication skills with the ability to guide employees and internal teams.
• A proactive, accountable mindset with the desire to improve processes and maintain high accuracy.
• Familiarity with AIA contracts/billing and construction project documentation preferred.

What Will Make You Stand Out?

• You have a bachelor’s degree in Business , HR, Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Previous experience leading a team, and/or process ownership experience.
• You have experience working in a private equity-backed environment or within a scaling, growth-oriented business.

Salary commensurate with experience with opportunity for a results-driven bonus based on personal output and effectiveness in role. Expected salary range between $85,000 - $95,000 per year.

Beyond the Paycheck

• Competitive Salary : Compensation commensurate with your experience, with the opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses tied to your personal effectiveness and contributions to the team.
• Purpose-Driven Work Environment : We believe in working smarter, not harder. You’ll be part of a culture that values results, and we empower our team to focus on impactful work.
• Flexible Dress Code : Upon joining, you’ll receive branded Encore swag, and we believe in dressing for the objective , not the occasion. Most days, you can enjoy a casual work environment, but we’ll dress up when the situation calls for it.
• People-Focused Culture : We know our greatest strength is our people. That’s why we’ve built a culture that encourages experimentation, learning, and improving together. You’ll have the space to share your ideas and help shape a company that is constantly growing.
• Tools for Success: Access to leading-edge web-based productivity tools.
• Health and Wellness : Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your family healthy.
• Retirement Planning : Participation in our Fidelity 401(k) plan with a company match, helping you save for your future.
• Life Insurance : Company-paid life insurance policy of $50,000 to give you peace of mind.

EEO Statement

Encore Fire Protection is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Encore Fire Protection is an E-Verify Employer.

As an EEO/AA employer, Encore Fire Protection considers applicants for employment without regard to, and does not discriminatebased ongender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, race, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.