Payroll Specialist - Construction

United Building Contractors, Inc.; Chico (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

United Building Contractors is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist to manage full-cycle payroll for field and office staff in California, with emphasis on certified payroll and prevailing wage on public works projects.

The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, deadline-driven, and proficient with construction payroll systems, with strong Excel skills and knowledge of California wage-and-hour law. This office-based role requires accuracy and confidentiality.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of full-cycle payroll experience (construction payroll preferred).
• Certified payroll and prevailing wage compliance experience (DIR, Davis-Bacon, DAS forms).
• Working knowledge of California wage-and-hour laws including overtime rules.
• Proficiency with payroll systems and strong Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Process full-cycle weekly payroll for field and office staff with multiple pay rates and classifications.
• Prepare and submit certified payroll reports for public works projects.
• Apply prevailing wage determinations and manage fringe benefits, overtime, and shift differentials.

Skills

Full-cycle payroll

Construction payroll

Certified payroll

Prevailing wage compliance

CA wage law

Payroll systems

Excel

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Tools

Miter

Job description

Job Description

Position Summary

United Building Contractors is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist with a strong construction and public works background to manage full-cycle payroll for our field and office staff. This role is responsible for accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing, with particular emphasis on certified payroll and prevailing wage requirements on public works projects. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, deadline-driven, and experienced with construction payroll systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Process full-cycle weekly payroll for field (union and non-union) and office employees, including multiple pay rates, job costing, and multi-trade classifications.
• Prepare and submit certified payroll reports (federal WH-347 and California DIR eCPR) accurately and on schedule for all public works projects.
• Apply prevailing wage determinations correctly, including base rates, fringe benefits, shift differentials, and overtime per the applicable determination.
• Maintain accurate worker classifications and pay rate groups; reconcile rates against approved documentation.
• Calculate and process overtime in compliance with California daily, double-time, and seventh-day rules.
• Administer garnishments, deductions, benefit contributions, and union/trust fund reporting and remittances.
• Prepare and submit monthly workers’ compensation wage remittance reports to the carrier, ensuring accurate wages and correct class-code allocation.
• Process weekly CalSavers contributions and remittances, and maintain employee enrollment and contribution records in compliance with program requirements.
• Maintain employee payroll records, timecards, and documentation in compliance with federal and California recordkeeping requirements (including Labor Code 226 wage statements).
• Respond to payroll inquiries, employment verifications (per company policy), and agency or audit requests.
• Assist with new-hire onboarding paperwork — including I-9, W-4, direct deposit, and benefit enrollment forms — and accurately enter new employees into the payroll platform with correct pay rates, classifications, and work locations.

Union & Prevailing Wage Compliance

• Union Pay Rules & Dispatch Tracking : Differentiate and code union workers’ pay in accordance with specific union rules, dispatch regulations, and shop time versus field time allocations.
• Rate & Fee Management: Monitor and update prevailing wage determinations and union rate increases promptly as released by unions or the DIR; calculate and process union fees, training fund contributions, and Taft-Hartley trust fund remittances.

Audits, Insurance & Workers' Compensation

• Audit Documentation & Representatio n: Compile payroll data, reports, and backup documentation for Workers’ Compensation, General Liability, DIR, and union payroll audits.
• Auto Insurance Administration: Ensure new drivers are promptly added to the company's auto insurance policy.

Maintain strict confidentiality of all payroll, compensation, and employee data.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of full-cycle payroll experience, with at least 1 years in construction payroll.
• Demonstrated experience with certified payroll and prevailing wage compliance (DIR, Davis-Bacon, DAS forms).
• Working knowledge of California wage-and-hour law, including overtime and meal/rest rules.
• Proficiency with payroll systems and strong spreadsheet (Excel) skills.
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to meet firm weekly deadlines.
• Proven record of handling confidential information with integrity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Miter (construction HCM/payroll platform) strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with union reporting and Taft-Hartley trust fund remittances.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) a plus.
• Experience supporting public works / school district (DSA) projects.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Office-based position in a construction company; standard office equipment and extended computer use.
• Occasional deadline-driven periods requiring focus and time management.
• The essential functions described above represent the general nature of the position and are not an exhaustive list of all duties.

Equal Employment Opportunity

• United Building Contractors is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, age (40 and over), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
• UBC provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
• Employment with UBC is at-will and may be terminated by either party at any time, with or without cause or notice. Employment is contingent upon verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States (Form I-9).

Company Description

With over two decades of experience, United Building Contractors has been a trusted leader in the construction and modernization of educational facilities and public works projects since 2001. We're known for our collaborative, expert approach, successfully tackling complex projects with demanding budgets and schedules. Our goal is to make the process as seamless as possible for our clients, handling every detail from scheduling and design to labor compliance and close coordination with state authorities. We deliver high-quality, on-budget facilities, allowing our clients to leave the work and the worrying to us.