Payroll Specialist

Enclave; West Fargo (ND); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Enclave in West Fargo, ND is seeking a Payroll & Compliance Specialist to own and administer biweekly payroll and weekly certified payroll reporting. You will partner with HR Operations to document processes, strengthen controls, and drive automation and scalable workflows for long-term growth.

The role requires deep payroll knowledge, attention to detail, and collaboration across Finance, HRIS, and HR teams to reduce risk and improve efficiency.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3+ years of payroll administration experience.
• Working knowledge of federal and state payroll laws and regulations.
• Prevailing wage and public works reporting experience preferred.
• Experience with UKG Pro or similar systems (ADP/Workday/Paylocity).
• FPC or CPP preferred; Enclave sponsors certification.
• Construction/real estate experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Responsibilities

• Administer biweekly payroll for all employees per schedule and policies.
• Validate payroll transactions including hires, terminations, changes, deductions, and benefits.
• Audit payroll Registers, earnings, deductions, taxes, and direct deposits.
• Reconcile discrepancies and research payroll issues to ensure accurate pay.
• Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation per retention rules.
• Coordinate payroll funding and timelines with Finance and Accounting.

Skills

Payroll processing

Regulatory knowledge

Excel

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

UKG Pro

ADP

Workday

Job description

\"Inspired by Spaces, Empowered by People.\" At Enclave, we don't just build structures; we cultivate environments where our partners, team members, and communities flourish. Our very name reflects our essence - creating distinct spaces that inspires growth and success. As a unified real estate investment firm, Enclave brings together exceptional development, construction, and property management expertise to specialize in multifamily, industrial, and commercial developments across the Midwest and Mountain West.

Our Growth Story:

Since our founding in 2011, we've expanded to over 250 team members, completing more than 150 projects and managing assets exceeding $1.75 billion. Our rapid growth is a testament to the innovative and collaborative spirit that drives everything we do. For six consecutive years, Enclave has been recognized as one of the 50 Best Places to Work. This accolade reflects our commitment to fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired to excel.

About the Role

Payroll and Compliance Specialist

The Payroll & Compliance Specialist is responsible for owning and administering the organization’s payroll processes, including biweekly payroll and weekly certified payroll reporting. Beyond payroll execution, this role serves as a key partner in HR Operations by documenting processes, strengthening controls, organizing payroll records and documentation, identifying opportunities for automation and efficiency, and helping create scalable processes that support long-term business growth.

The Payroll & Compliance Specialist is expected to develop a deep understanding of existing payroll workflows and collaborate with the HR Operations team to continuously improve processes, reduce risk, increase efficiency, and ensure critical payroll knowledge is documented and transferable across the organization.

Position Logistics

• Primary Work Location: West Fargo, ND Headquarters
• Work Type: Full Time, Non-Exempt (40 hours/week)

Position Responsibilities

Payroll Administration

• Administer and process biweekly payroll for all employees in accordance with established payroll schedules and company policies
• Review and validate payroll transactions including hires, terminations, compensation changes, promotions, deductions, garnishments, and benefit elections
• Audit payroll registers, earnings, deductions, taxes, and direct deposits prior to payroll finalization
• Reconcile payroll discrepancies and research payroll-related issues to ensure accurate employee pay
• Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with record retention requirements
• Coordinate payroll funding and processing timelines with Finance and Accounting teams

Certified Payroll Administration

• Manage the weekly certified payroll process for prevailing wage and public works projects
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local certified payroll requirements, including Davis-Bacon and prevailing wage regulations where applicable
• Maintain accurate worker classifications, wage rates, fringe benefit calculations, and project allocations
• Prepare, review, certify, and submit certified payroll reports and supporting documentation
• Monitor regulatory changes and recommend updates to certified payroll processes and documentation

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Become a subject matter expert in all payroll and certified payroll workflows
• Evaluate existing payroll processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and user experience
• Partner with the Senior Manager of HR Operations, HRIS Analyst, and HR Specialist on payroll and compliance-related process improvement initiatives
• Develop and maintain process documentation, workflows, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and training materials
• Recommend and support automation opportunities through HRIS, reporting tools, system integrations, and workflow technologies
• Establish and maintain internal controls designed to reduce payroll risk and improve data integrity
• Participate in cross-functional projects related to payroll, HR technology, compliance, and operational excellence
• Create sustainable, repeatable processes that can be performed consistently by trained team members
• Continuously review and improve payroll reporting, recordkeeping, and compliance practices

Compliance & Audit Management

• Perform regular payroll audits to ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, tax regulations, company policies, and internal controls
• Audit payroll data, benefit deductions, earnings codes, PTO balances, and employee master records
• Support internal and external audits by gathering payroll documentation and responding to requests
• Maintain compliance with payroll tax regulations, garnishments, employment laws, and reporting requirements
• Own and manage year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing, reconciliations, and audit support

Reporting & Analytics

• Analyze payroll trends, labor costs, overtime utilization, and workforce metrics
• Provide data and reporting support for HR Operations, Accounting, Finance, and leadership teams
• Ensure payroll and HR data integrity through routine audits and validation activities

HR Operations Support

• Support HR compliance programs, documentation management, and operational workflows
• Assist with HRIS maintenance, data audits, and process improvement initiatives
• Partner with HR team members on onboarding, offboarding, audits, and employee lifecycle processes
• Identify opportunities to streamline payroll and HR processes through automation and technology
• Participate in cross-functional projects that support operational excellence and business objectives

General Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned
• Maintain organization and documentation of all training materials and records
• Demonstrate punctual and regular attendance
• Support a culture of accountability, consistency, and operational excellence

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• 3+ years of experience in payroll administration required; equivalent combination of payroll experience and certification will be considered in place of a degree
• Working knowledge of federal and state payroll laws and regulations, including wage and hour and payroll tax requirements, required
• Experience with prevailing wage, Davis-Bacon, and public works reporting preferred
• Experience with UKG Pro and UKG payroll processing preferred; experience with a comparable payroll or HRIS platform (ADP, Workday, Paylocity, or similar) will be considered
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) preferred; Enclave will sponsor certification for candidates who do not yet hold one
• Experience in construction, real estate, or a multi-entity environment preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel required

We're Seeking Individuals Who Have:

• Professional presence with the ability to represent HR with credibility, maturity, and discretion
• Clear, confident communication skills that build trust across all levels of the organization
• Strong service orientation with a focus on delivering a consistent, positive employee experience
• High attention to detail and accuracy when working with employee data, documentation, and processes
• Operational mindset with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage workflows and priorities
• Sound judgment and adaptability when handling sensitive information and shifting business needs