Payroll & Accounting Specialist

mPower Inc.; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

mPower, Inc. is seeking an experienced Payroll & Accounting Specialist to join our growing team in Bethesda, MD. This role focuses on accurate biweekly payroll processing across multiple contracts, while supporting general accounting, invoicing, and financial administration.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years of payroll and accounting experience, strong Excel skills, and meticulous attention to detail. You will collaborate with HR, contracts, and program management to ensure compliance and

Qualifications

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in payroll administration and accounting support.
• Strong understanding of payroll regulations and labor reporting.
• Proficiency with payroll and accounting software; Excel expertise.

Responsibilities

• Manage and process biweekly payroll for multiple contracts and departments.
• Review and reconcile timesheets, labor charges, leave balances, overtime, and payroll adjustments.
• Verify payroll information including new hires, terminations, and changes in compensation.
• Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies before processing.
• Coordinate with HR to ensure accurate employee data, deductions, and changes.

Skills

Payroll processing

Accounting support

Attention to detail

Excel proficiency

Effective communication

Education

Accounting/Finance degree

Tools

Deltek Costpoint

Unanet

Job description

mPower, Inc. is seeking an experienced, highly detail-oriented Payroll & Accounting Specialist to join our growing team. This position will be responsible for managing payroll operations while supporting accounting, invoicing, and other financial administrative activities across the organization.

The ideal candidate is a payroll professional who takes pride in accuracy, thrives in a deadline-driven environment, and is proactive in identifying discrepancies and improving processes.

This individual must be organized, dependable, and comfortable taking ownership of responsibilities while collaborating with HR, Contracts, program management, and accounting teams.

Experience supporting payroll and accounting functions in a federal government contracting environment is highly desirable.

Job Responsibilities:

• Manage and process accurate, timely biweekly payroll for employees across multiple contracts and departments.
• Review and reconcile employee timesheets, labor charges, leave balances, overtime, and payroll adjustments.
• Verify payroll information, including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, bonuses, deductions, and other employee transactions.
• Identify, research, and resolve payroll discrepancies prior to processing.
• Ensure accurate allocation of labor costs to appropriate contracts, projects, and indirect charge codes.
• Coordinate with HR to ensure employee information, benefit deductions, and payroll changes are accurately reflected.
• Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with company policies and applicable regulations.
• Support payroll-related audits, reconciliations, and year-end reporting activities.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, checklists, and internal controls to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Serve as a key point of coordination for day-to-day accounting and financial administrative activities.
• Support monthly accounting close activities by preparing, reviewing, and reconciling financial information and supporting documentation.
• Assist with accounts receivable activities, including invoice preparation, supporting documentation, payment tracking, and reconciliation.
• Coordinate with Contracts and program management to validate labor and other costs supporting customer invoices.
• Support accounts payable activities, including vendor invoice review, expense processing, and payment coordination.
• Review and reconcile employee expense reports, travel reimbursements, and corporate credit card transactions.
• Research and resolve accounting discrepancies in coordination with internal stakeholders and accounting partners.
• Maintain accurate financial records, trackers, and supporting documentation.
• Assist with financial reporting, audits, and other accounting-related activities as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and consistency of payroll and financial administrative processes.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, checklists, and quality-control measures.
• Support compliance with applicable payroll regulations, federal government contracting requirements, and company policies.
• Ensure sensitive payroll, employee, and financial information is handled with the highest level of confidentiality.
• Collaborate across departments to streamline workflows, improve communication, and resolve operational issues.

Required Qualifications:

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in payroll administration, accounting support, or a closely related field, including substantial hands‑on payroll processing experience.
• Demonstrated experience independently managing payroll processes with a high degree of accuracy.
• Strong understanding of payroll regulations, wage and hour requirements, payroll deductions, and labor reporting.
• Experience reviewing timesheets, reconciling payroll records, and resolving payroll discrepancies.
• Proficiency with payroll, timekeeping, and accounting software.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to analyze, reconcile, and validate data.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting payroll and accounting functions within a federal government contracting environment.
• Familiarity with DCAA timekeeping requirements and government contract labor charging practices.
• Experience with Deltek Costpoint, Unanet, or similar government contracting accounting systems.
• Knowledge of direct and indirect labor costs, contract billing, and financial reconciliations.
• Experience supporting accounts payable, accounts receivable, and month-end accounting activities.

$75,000 - $90,000 a year

mPower, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Qualified applicants or employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth or related condition), citizenship, familial status, mental or physical disability status, veteran status, genetic information, other non-disqualifying disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.