Payroll Manager

Clark Construction Group - Chicago LLC; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/dental/vision benefits

Paid time off

Retirement/401k with company match

Life insurance

Commuter benefit

Short & long term disability

Job summary

Clark Construction Group is seeking a Payroll Manager to lead multi-state payroll operations, overseeing two streams—the bi-weekly salaried cycle and the weekly craft worker cycle—for 5,000+ employees. You will supervise two Payroll Supervisors and partner with HR, IT and Legal to ensure accurate and timely compensation.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years of payroll experience, 3+ in leadership, with CBAs, Davis-Bacon Act knowledge, and complex tax jurisdiction experience.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, with at least 3 years in leadership.
• Experience in Construction, Engineering, or Manufacturing; deep understanding of hourly craft worker payroll.
• Strong proficiency with enterprise payroll systems and Excel modeling.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business; CPP a plus.

Responsibilities

• Direct end-to-end payroll processing for multi-state operations (bi-weekly salaried and weekly craft workers) for 5,000+ employees.
• Lead two Payroll Managers; mentor and develop staff.
• Ensure compliance with federal/state laws, CBAs, and Davis-Bacon Act requirements.
• Partner with HR, IT, and Legal to integrate timekeeping and payroll systems.
• Oversee tax filings, year-end processing (W-2s) and internal audits.

Skills

Leadership

Payroll expertise

Multi-state payroll

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business

CPP certification

Tools

Workday

SAP

Oracle

Excel modeling

Job description

Location

McLean, VA

Reports To

Payroll Director

Direct Reports

2 Payroll Supervisors

Position Overview

Clark Construction is seeking a high-caliber Payroll Manager to lead our complex, multi-state payroll operations. This role is pivotal in ensuring the accurate and timely compensation of our most valuable asset: our people. You will oversee two distinct payroll streams—a bi-weekly salaried cycle and a high-volume, weekly craft worker cycle. As a key leader within the Finance/HR pillar, you will manage two direct reports (Payroll Supervisors) and drive process improvements that uphold our reputation for operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Oversight: Direct the end-to-end processing of multi-state payroll for 5,000+ employees, balancing the nuances of bi-weekly corporate cycles and weekly craft/hourly cycles.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Provide direct leadership to two Payroll Managers, fostering a culture of professional growth, accountability, and technical precision.
• Compliance & Labor Relations: Ensure strict adherence to federal and state labor laws, tax regulations, and—crucially—union collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and prevailing wage requirements (Davis-Bacon Act).
• Process Optimization: Partner with the Payroll Director to identify and implement "best-in-class" systems and workflows to reduce manual entry and enhance data integrity.
• Reporting & Analytics: Serve as the subject matter expert for payroll tax filings, year-end processing (W-2s), and internal audits.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate with HR, IT, and Legal to ensure seamless integration between timekeeping systems and payroll platforms.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership or people-management capacity.
• Industry Knowledge: Previous experience in Construction, Engineering, or Manufacturing is highly preferred. Must have a deep understanding of hourly craft worker payroll.
• Complexity Management: Proven ability to manage diverse payroll schedules (weekly vs. bi-weekly) and complex tax jurisdictions.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced expertise in enterprise-level HCM/Payroll systems (e.g., Workday, SAP, Oracle) and sophisticated Excel modeling.
• Education/Certification: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business. CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation is a significant plus.

The Ideal Candidate

"You are someone who thrives in the details but never loses sight of the big picture. You understand that for a craft worker, a weekly paycheck is a matter of trust and livelihood. You are a steady hand for your team and a strategic partner to the Director."

Compensation

• Clark offers a total compensation package that includes base salary, bonus potential, and a comprehensive benefits package including health/dental/vision benefits, paid time off, retirement/401k, and Company Contribution plan. Additional benefits include life insurance, commuter benefit, short & long term disability, fitness reimbursement, FSA, tuition reimbursement, back-up daycare, tutoring & family support benefits, EAP/Work-Life assistance, and a holiday contribution program.
• For this role the base salary range is $65,000 - $170,000.
• Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location.
• Base pay is one part of the Total Compensation Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work.

About Clark

Clark Construction Group is one of the largest building and infrastructure companies in the United States. Our portfolio spans every major building market, from public to private, corporate to cultural, education to entertainment, and the infrastructure connecting it all – power, transportation, water, and roadways. Since 1906, we’ve been delighting and delivering value to our clients and project partners, providing diverse opportunities for our team, and strengthening the communities where we live. With offices strategically located across the country, we pride ourselves on being a local builder with national reach. There is a sense of camaraderie that comes with delivering impactful projects as a team. It creates a sense of humility and fosters pride in the work we do. At Clark, we are proud to build what matters, together.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Clark Construction Group, LLC (and its subsidiaries and affiliates) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, physical and mental disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, protected veteran status, or any other status prohibited by applicable national, federal, state or local law. Clark promotes a drug-free workplace. Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA). Clark is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please [e-mail] call [phone] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Authorization to Work Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the US on a full-time basis in order to be considered.