Construction Payroll Specialist (Union & Non-Union)

JR Merit, Inc.; Vancouver (WA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Discretionary merit bonus

Paid holidays

PTO program

Long-term disability coverage

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

JR Merit, Inc. is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to own full-cycle payroll for union and non-union staff supporting our Vancouver, WA operations.

You will ensure timely, accurate payroll, maintain comprehensive records, and collaborate with field teams to resolve discrepancies. The role requires handling certified payroll, fringe reporting, and compliance with prevailing wage rules while safeguarding confidential information and quality reporting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll experience, ideally in construction, industrial contracting, public works, or a union environment.
• Hands-on experience processing payroll for both union and non-union employees.
• Familiarity with certified payroll, prevailing wage requirements, payroll taxes, garnishments, and labor compliance regulations.
• Strong Excel skills and confidence working with payroll reports, reconciliations, and detailed data.
• A detail-oriented, organized, and confidential approach to payroll work.

Responsibilities

• Own accurate and timely full-cycle payroll processing for JR Merit's union and non-union workforce, helping ensure employees are paid correctly and on schedule.
• Maintain reliable payroll records, including pay rates, taxes, deductions, benefits, union classifications, and job cost allocations, to support compliance and clean reporting.
• Partner with employees, field teams, and internal departments to review timekeeping records, resolve discrepancies, and strengthen payroll accuracy.
• Prepare certified payroll reports, union reports, fringe benefit reporting, and related compliance documentation that support complex industrial construction projects.
• Help protect the business by supporting prevailing wage, collective bargaining agreement, and payroll regulatory compliance.
• Manage payroll tax activities, garnishments, year-end reporting, and W-2 processing to ensure timely and accurate employee and agency reporting.
• Reconcile payroll, labor, tax, and job cost data to support accurate financial reporting and informed decision-making.
• Contribute to payroll audits, reporting, system maintenance, and process improvement initiatives that make payroll operations more efficient and effective.

Skills

Payroll experience

Union environment

Excel skills

Attention to detail

Education

CPP or FPC certification

Tools

Viewpoint/Vista

Job description

JR Merit, Inc. is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to own full-cycle payroll for union and non-union staff supporting our Vancouver, WA operations.

You will ensure timely, accurate payroll, maintain comprehensive records, and collaborate with field teams to resolve discrepancies. The role requires handling certified payroll, fringe reporting, and compliance with prevailing wage rules while safeguarding confidential information and quality reporting.