Payroll Specialist

M R Tanner Construction; Gilbert (AZ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

M.R. Tanner Construction is seeking a Payroll Specialist to manage payroll for its construction entities, including field and office staff across Arizona and other states. The role handles multi-entity, multi-state payroll, job-cost labor distribution, and payroll tax compliance.

The position requires strong attention to detail, confidentiality, and experience with certified payroll and prevailing wage reporting. Collaboration with field supervisors and accounting is essential.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of full-cycle payroll experience, preferably in construction or field-based industries.
• Experience with certified payroll and prevailing wage reporting.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to meet hard payroll deadlines.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Able to collaborate effectively with multiple company areas.

Responsibilities

• Process weekly payroll for multiple entities and both field and office staff.
• Review and validate field timecards with superintendents and foremen.
• Ensure labor costs are properly distributed to jobs, phases, and codes.
• Maintain separate payroll setups, tax IDs, and reporting for each entity.
• Manage multi-state payroll for employees outside Arizona, including SUI and local taxes.
• Register and maintain payroll tax accounts in additional states.
• Prepare and submit certified payroll reports (WH-347) and track fringe rates.
• Reconcile payrolls with the general ledger and support month-end close.
• Respond to employee payroll questions and maintain confidentiality.

Skills

Payroll processing

Timecard review

Multi-state payroll

Viewpoint Spectrum

Excel skills

CPP/FPC certification

English/Spanish

Education

Associate/Bachelor’s in Accounting or related

Tools

Viewpoint Spectrum

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of payroll for M.R. Tanner Construction and Temcon Concrete, including field and office employees working in Arizona and in other states. This role manages multi-entity, multi-state payroll in a project-based construction environment, including job-cost labor distribution, certified payroll, and payroll tax compliance, and serves as a trusted resource for employees, field supervisors, and the accounting team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Process weekly payroll for both M.R. Tanner Construction and Temcon Concrete, including hourly field crews and salaried office staff
• Collect, review, and validate field timecards with superintendents and foremen, including overtime and job/phase coding
• Ensure labor costs are accurately distributed to jobs, phases, and cost codes in Viewpoint Spectrum
• Maintain separate payroll setups, tax IDs, and reporting for each operating entity
• Manage multi-state payroll for a limited number of employees working outside Arizona, including state income tax withholding, state unemployment (SUI) registrations, reciprocity rules, and any applicable local taxes
• Register and maintain payroll tax accounts in additional states
• Administer Arizona-specific requirements, including Form A-4 withholding elections and Arizona Earned Paid Sick Time accruals and tracking
• Prepare and submit certified payroll reports (e.g., WH-347) for prevailing wage and Davis-Bacon projects, and track required fringe benefit rates
• Reconcile and remit federal, state, and local payroll taxes; prepare or review quarterly filings (Form 941, state withholding and unemployment returns) and annual Forms W-2 and 940
• Process wage garnishments, child support orders, and other payroll deductions in accordance with issuing-state requirements
• Coordinate benefit and 401k deductions, employer contributions, and related reconciliations
• Support workers’ compensation reporting by tracking payroll by state and class code for audits
• Reconcile payroll registers to the general ledger and support month-end close
• Respond to employee payroll questions and resolve discrepancies promptly and confidentially

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, or related field preferred
• 3+ years of full-cycle payroll experience, preferably in construction or another field-based industry
• Experience with certified payroll and prevailing wage reporting
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to meet hard payroll deadlines
• Ability to handle highly confidential information with discretion
• Able to effectively work with many other people throughout the company

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Viewpoint Spectrum or other construction ERP/payroll systems
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC)
• Experience with job-cost accounting
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)