Payroll Manager

J2T Recruiting; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with 4% match

Unlimited PTO

Medical, dental and vision

Life and disability coverage

Job summary

J2T Recruiting is seeking a hands-on Payroll Manager for a multi-state operation in Cedar Rapids, IA. You will lead a regional team of timekeepers and payroll specialists, owning end-to-end payroll for hourly, salaried, and certified payrolls on government-funded projects.

You'll collaborate with Accounting, HR and Operations to drive process improvements, maintain compliance with Davis-Bacon requirements, and implement automation across timekeeping and labor allocations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive, multi-state payroll experience in a complex environment.
• 2+ years supervising or leading a payroll team.
• Hands-on expertise with certified payroll and prevailing wage.
• Strong foundational knowledge of the accounting side of payroll, including reconciliations and internal controls.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/HR or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for a complex multi-state workforce of hourly craft, field and salaried employees.
• Lead, mentor and develop a regional team of timekeepers and payroll specialists.
• Manage certified payroll setup, reporting and compliance for government-funded and prevailing wage projects, including Davis-Bacon requirements.
• Partner with Accounting to handle payroll-related journal entries, accruals, reconciliations and month-end close.
• Analyze current payroll systems to identify and implement process improvements, automation and stronger internal controls.
• Collaborate with Operations, HR and project teams to ensure accurate timekeeping, job coding and labor allocations.
• Manage payroll-related audits and ensure audit readiness.

Skills

Multi-state payroll

Team leadership

Process improvement

Internal controls

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/HR

Tools

Viewpoint

ADP

UKG

Workday

Job description

• Trusted, long-term construction lifecycle partner supporting critical infrastructure across the U.S.
• Fast-paced, project-based environment where you are empowered to truly own your function and step out of silos.
• A newly created seat in a region that's growing fast, with a team of your own to lead.
• A collaborative culture grounded in integrity, teamwork, excellence and purpose.

Why This Job - Payroll Manager

This isn't a straightforward corporate payroll gig. It's a complex, multi-state operation where you will partner with corporate leaders and lead a dedicated regional team of timekeepers and specialists. The company has grown from 1,000 people to 8,700 in under two years and just took its finance team regional, and this seat is new.

We need a hands-on leader to manage salaried and hourly field employees, certified payrolls and prevailing wages. You'll bridge the gap between Operations, HR and Accounting, driving process improvements and automation to support continuous growth. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and have a history of owning your processes from start to finish, this is the perfect role for you.

What You'll Actually Do:

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for a complex multi-state workforce of hourly craft, field and salaried employees.
• Lead, mentor and develop a regional team of timekeepers and payroll specialists.
• Manage certified payroll setup, reporting and compliance for government-funded and prevailing wage projects, including Davis-Bacon requirements.
• Partner directly with Accounting to handle payroll-related journal entries, accruals, reconciliations and month-end close.
• Analyze current payroll systems to identify and implement process improvements, automation and stronger internal controls.
• Collaborate across Operations, HR and project teams to ensure accurate timekeeping, job coding and labor allocations.
• Manage payroll-related audits and ensure internal, external and government audit readiness.

To Be Successful in This Role, You Will Need:

• 5+ years of progressive, multi-state payroll experience in a complex environment (heavy hourly or field workforce preferred).
• 2+ years of experience supervising or leading a payroll team.
• Hands-on expertise with certified payroll, prevailing wage, union payrolls and multi-rate pay structures.
• Strong foundational knowledge of the accounting side of payroll, including reconciliations, accruals and internal controls.
• A history of independently owning your function, rather than relying on other departments to handle the heavy lifting.
• Experience driving process improvements, system enhancements or payroll automation initiatives.
• Proficiency with payroll systems such as Viewpoint, ADP, UKG or Workday.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, HR or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Where and How Much:

• Target Compensation: $100,000 to $120,000 base plus a 10% discretionary bonus
• Location: Cedar Rapids, IA. In office
• Benefits: 401(k) with a 4% match, unlimited PTO, medical, dental and vision, life and disability coverage