Payroll Coordinator

Ensign Energy; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Ensign Energy is seeking a Payroll Coordinator to manage bi-weekly payrolls for salaried and hourly staff, including rig crews and field personnel, while ensuring timeliness and accuracy across multiple sites. You will review timekeeping data and maintain payroll records with a focus on compliance and data integrity.

The role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and collaboration with HR and finance to support onboarding, deductions, and reporting for audits and forecasting.

Qualifications

• Analytical thinker with strong math skills and confidentiality awareness.
• Experience in payroll processes, including timekeeping and deductions.
• Familiarity with payroll regulations (FLSA, SOX) and tax reporting.

Responsibilities

• Process bi-weekly payroll for salaried and hourly employees.
• Review and validate timekeeping data from remote sites and field operations.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws including FLSA.
• Handle payroll adjustments for per diems, hazard pay, overtime, and premiums.
• Maintain payroll records and ensure data integrity across systems.
• Prepare reports for audits, cost tracking, and financial forecasting.
• Collaborate with HR on onboarding, terminations, benefits, and time-off accruals.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Associate degree in accounting, finance, or business

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business (preferred)

Tools

Dayforce

Excel

Payroll reporting tools

Job description

Payroll Coordinator

A Payroll Coordinator role involves managing and overseeing the payroll processes for the company. Primarily, payroll coordinators ensure that employees' salaries are paid accurately and in a timely manner. They prepare, review and process all payroll-related documents. Coordinators may also track employee hours, and overtime to make sure it's all recorded correctly.

This role ensures accurate compensation, compliance with industry-specific labor regulations and laws, and coordination with HR and finance teams across multiple sites and jurisdictions.

INTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS

The Payroll Coordinator role interfaces with employees at all levels of the company, with a heavy focus on field operations personnel, such as rig crews, operations management, rotational and non-rotational personnel.

EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS

Interactions with state and local governments concerning child supports, garnishments and taxation issues.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Process bi-weekly payroll for salaried and hourly employees, including rig crews, field personnel, and corporate staff in a timely and accurate manner.
• Review and validate timekeeping data from remote sites and field operations.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws, including FLSA and prevailing wage regulations.
• Ensure all payroll transactions comply with tax laws and employment standards.
• Checking hours worked, pay changes, and post-tax deductions to employee paychecks.
• Manage payroll adjustments related to per diems, hazard pay, overtime, and premium rates.
• Maintain payroll records and ensure data integrity across systems.
• Prepare reports for audits, cost tracking, and financial forecasting.
• Handle employee inquiries and resolve payroll discrepancies promptly.
• Collaborate with finance on GL coding and labor cost allocations.
• Stay current on industry-specific payroll practices and regulatory changes.
• Process and issue employee tax forms, such as W-2s.
• Coordinate closely with HR on onboarding, terminations, benefit deductions and time-off accruals.

OTHER DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES* AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Administrative

• Consistently and actively comply with all Ensign policies and procedures such as:
• Business Ethics – Understands fully Ensign’s ethics policy and its application in all business dealings including contractual agreements and contract negotiations.
• Business Policies - Understands and agrees to follow all of Ensign’s Policy and Directives and procedures as set forth in the Ensign Company Policy and Basic Directives Handbook for Employees.
• Drug-free workplace - Conforms to a drug-free workplace, not be under the influence of mind-altering prescription or non-prescription drugs, including alcohol and other drugs of abuse.
• Occupational Health and Safety – Understands fully the Ensign Health and Safety policy and self-responsibility for own health and safety at work; Demonstrates responsibility to avoid adversely affecting the health and safety of others through any act or omission.
• Reports any hazardous situations arising in the workplace that cannot be self-corrected, or injury incurred during the course of work, no matter how minor.
• Avoids injury resulting from manual handling tasks, by use of risk assessment, correct mechanical handling equipment and correct manual handling techniques.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

• Familiarity with payroll systems such as Dayforce.
• Strong understanding of rotational schedules, and field-based compensation structures.
• Proficiency in Excel and payroll reporting tools.

BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES

• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage confidential information.
• An analytical mind with good math skills.
• A solid knowledge in payroll policies and procedures.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma required; associate or bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business preferred.
• 2+ years of payroll experience, preferably in oil & gas, energy, or industrial sectors.

QUALIFICATIONS

• An analytical mind with good math skills.
• Good knowledge of legislation relevant to accounting and payroll (such as Sarbanes-Oxley Act or FLSA).
• Diploma/BSc/ BA in accounting, finance or relevant field not required but is a PLUS.
• CPP or FPC certification a PLUS.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (If applicable, include physical / mental requirements, extreme weather conditions, etc.)

Work Environment: Office-based, fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with cross-functional collaboration.

Ensign’s operating entities in the United States are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. Ensign provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.