Payroll Manager

BKF Engineers; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

End-of-year bonuses

401(k) matching

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Education reimbursement

Flexible schedules

Job summary

A well-known engineering firm located in California is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to oversee and direct all payroll operations across a multi-state workforce. The role includes managing the end-to-end payroll process, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and providing reports to Finance leadership. Candidates should have 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, strong Excel skills, and be proficient with payroll systems such as UKG and Deltek. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including supervisory or managerial responsibility.
• Experience managing multi-state payroll operations.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end payroll process for a multi-state employee population.
• Ensure compliance with payroll, wage and hour, and labor regulations.
• Manage, mentor, and develop payroll staff.

Skills

Multi-state payroll management

Strong Excel skills

Leadership and team management

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

UKG payroll systems

Deltek VantagePoint

Deltek Vision

Job description

The Payroll Manager is responsible for overseeing and directing all payroll operations to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across a multi-state workforce. This role provides leadership for the payroll function, ensures compliance with federal, state, local, and union labor regulations, and partners closely with Human Resources, Accounting, and Finance leadership. In addition to managing day-to-day payroll activities, the Payroll Manager is responsible for process improvement, system integrity, internal controls, and supporting audits and organizational growth initiatives.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Payroll Operations & Oversight

• Oversee the end-to-end payroll process for a multi-state employee population, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Review and approve payroll prior to processing, including overtime, premiums, bonuses, deductions, and special pay.
• Ensure proper setup and ongoing maintenance of employee payroll data across states, pay groups, and labor classifications.
• Establish and maintain strong internal controls over payroll processing and reporting.
• Own payroll policies, procedures, and documentation, ensuring consistency and scalability across multiple states.
• Partner with HR, Accounting, and IT on payroll system integrations, upgrades, and enhancements.
• Lead payroll-related process improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and compliance in a multi-state environment.
• Ensure proper maintenance, retention, and security of payroll records.
• Review and approve payroll journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Partner with Accounting on month-end close activities related to payroll and labor costs.
• Support internal and external audits, including benefit plan audits, payroll tax audits, and labor compliance reviews.
• Provide payroll reporting and analysis to Finance and leadership, including multi-state labor cost insights.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour, and labor regulations.
• Manage state-specific payroll requirements such as tax withholding, paid leave programs, wage statements, and final pay rules.
• Oversee union payroll compliance, including prevailing wage requirements and all related filings.
• Manage payroll tax compliance across multiple states, including filings, payments, reconciliations, and resolution of notices.
• Monitor regulatory changes across jurisdictions and proactively assess impacts to payroll practices.

Leadership & Team Management

• Manage, mentor, and develop payroll staff, including workload planning, performance feedback, and training.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex or sensitive payroll issues, including multi-state or compliance-related matters.
• Promote a service-oriented payroll function while maintaining strong controls and confidentiality.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including supervisory or managerial responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-state payroll operations.
• Hands‑on experience with UKG payroll systems or a comparable payroll HRIS platform required.
• Experience with Deltek VantagePoint, Deltek Vision or an equivalent project management and financial management software required.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour, and labor regulations.
• Demonstrated experience managing union payroll and prevailing wage requirements.
• Strong Excel and payroll reporting skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage deadlines, and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively at all organizational levels.
• Ability to balance attention to detail with an understanding of the broader business context.
• Occasional travel to other BKF offices may be required.

Benefits

• The salary range for this position is anticipated to be $90,000 - $125,000 and may vary depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location. This is an exempt, biweekly‑paid position.
• Competitive salaries, end‑of‑year bonuses, profit sharing, and 401(k).
• BKF pays 100% of the premiums for many of our medical, dental, and vision plans and 50% for your dependents.
• 14 days of paid vacation time, 6 paid sick days, 8 paid holidays.
• Flexible schedules.
• Education reimbursement, paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations.
• BKF offers competitive and award‑winning benefits and perks. To learn more, click here.

BKF Engineers provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

BKF Engineers does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and a specific solicitation for the position or other approved engagement request for the position with BKF Engineers, BKF Engineers reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited submittals are done at the risk of the recruiter.