Payroll Specialist

Howell Construction; Denver, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site fitness center

Dog-friendly office

Job summary

Howell Construction in Denver, CO is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to join our team. The role focuses on construction payroll, benefits administration, tax reporting, and W-2/ACA filings, with opportunities to grow into additional responsibilities.

You will manage weekly payroll for 120-150 employees, oversee time entry, employee data changes, and labor cost templates, while collaborating across departments to ensure accuracy and compliance in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in construction payroll and payroll processing.
• Intermediate Excel skills and data accuracy emphasis.
• Familiarity with benefits, taxes, and payroll reporting.

Responsibilities

• Processes weekly payroll for 120-150 employees.
• Manages time entry and related issues.
• Updates salary, benefits, and direct deposit changes.
• Maintains labor templates for project costing.
• Uploads payroll deposits and issues checks as needed.
• Ensures timely payment of payroll taxes and benefits.
• Tracks union benefits and prepares monthly reports.
• Prepares quarterly and annual payroll tax reports.

Skills

Excel

Viewpoint Vista

Construction payroll

Payroll administration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to join our team. The ideal candidate brings strong construction payroll experience, a collaborative mindset, and the potential to grow into additional responsibilities over time. This is a key, long-term position within our organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Processes weekly payroll for 120-150 employees
• Manages the time entry process and troubleshoots related issues
• Updates employee salary, benefit, and direct deposit changes
• Maintains labor templates for project costing
• Uploads payroll deposits to the bank and issues manual checks as needed
• Ensures accurate, timely payment of all payroll-related taxes and benefits
• Tracks union employee benefits and prepares monthly union reports and remittances
• Reconciles employee healthcare benefit premiums and assists with the annual open enrollment process
• Prepares, reconciles, and files quarterly and annual payroll tax reports with the appropriate authorities
• Issues annual W-2s and ACA reports
• Assists with directing incoming calls and greeting visitors
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent work experience will be considered
• Construction payroll experience preferred
• Intermediate proficiency in Excel
• Viewpoint Vista software experience preferred

Candidates Should Exhibit the Following Characteristics:

• Initiative, professionalism, and emotional maturity, with a positive and adaptable mindset
• Strong organizational skills, reliability, and attention to detail
• Effective communication and collaboration with colleagues toward shared goals
• A service-oriented approach to supporting employees and operations
• Flexibility and willingness to cross-train, develop new skills, and take on a variety of responsibilities as business needs evolve

Who is Howell Construction?

Since 1935, Howell Construction has helped shape the Colorado Front Range through disciplined, high-performance building rooted in trust, transparency, and follow-through. As a locally rooted commercial general contractor, we deliver complex and operationally sensitive projects across healthcare, civic & government, education, science & technology, and commercial markets with the steady leadership and accountability clients count on.

At Howell, we believe great performance starts with preparation, honest communication, and people who genuinely care about the outcome. Our teams lead with humility, collaborate without ego, and stay closely connected to every project from preconstruction through closeout. We combine the technical expertise and systems of a larger builder with the responsiveness, flexibility, and hands‑on leadership of a relationship-driven Colorado company.

We are proud of the culture we’ve built – one grounded in servant leadership, integrity, discipline, and a commitment to doing the right thing. At Howell, we don’t just build projects. We build trust, long‑term partnerships, and outcomes our clients and teams can stand behind.

We stand by our core values:

• Always Great Performance
• Do the Right Thing
• Love What We Do

Company Benefits

At Howell, we consider our employees family, which is why our turnover rate is practically non‑existent. We genuinely care about the work we do, the people we work with, and the community in which we live and work. In addition to competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, Howell is committed to enhancing employees’ work/life balance through personal and professional development opportunities, team bonding activities, a dog-friendly office environment, company outings, holiday celebrations, community service opportunities, and an on‑site fitness center.

Next Steps