Payroll Specialist (Human Resources)

Tectonic Engineering Consultants, Geologists & Land Surveyors, DPC; Mountainville (NY); Hybrid; USD 38,572 - 55,104; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentoring and professional development

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Company holidays

401(k) with profit sharing

Medical/dental/vision/life insurance

HDHP with HSA

FSAs for medical/dependent care

Commuter benefits

Disability coverage

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Tectonic Engineering Consultants, Geologists & Land Surveyors, DPC is seeking a detail-oriented, full-time Payroll Specialist to support multi-state payroll operations. The role requires ADP Workforce Now expertise, strict compliance with labor laws, and collaboration across HR and Finance in a professional services environment.

The position offers a hybrid work setup in Mountainville, NY, with competitive benefits and a strong focus on accuracy and timely payroll processing.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of payroll processing in multi-state environments.
• Hands-on ADP Workforce Now experience required.
• Knowledge of FLSA and payroll tax regulations.
• AEC or professional services industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Process and audit timesheets, entering data in ADP Workforce Now.
• Administer full-cycle payroll for multi-state operations, incl. weekly processing, reporting, and audits.
• Maintain payroll records including pay rates, tax withholdings, and deductions.
• Review and process expense reports and reimbursements.
• Process PTO and time-off requests per policy.
• Assist with 401(k) plan administration and compliance reporting.
• Assist with internal and external audits and other payroll tasks.

Skills

Attention to detail

Strong communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Deadline-driven

Confidential information handling

Education

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

Equivalent experience

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Position: Payroll Specialist (Human Resources)

Location: Mountainville, NY

Remote Status: Hybrid

Job Id: 1592-2026

# of Openings: 1

Tectonic is seeking a detail-oriented and experienced full-time Payroll Specialist to support payroll operations across a multi-state, professional services organization. This role is critical to ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing for employees. The ideal candidate brings strong ADP Workforce Now expertise, a solid understanding of payroll compliance, and prior experience in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) or professional services environment.

Essential Functions

• Process and audit employee timesheets, including manual entry into ADP Workforce Now, ensuring compliance with company policies, union agreements (if applicable), and Federal, State, and Local labor laws.
• Administer full-cycle payroll for multi-state operations, including weekly payroll processing, reporting, reconciliations, and audits for accuracy and compliance.
• Maintain and update employee payroll records, including pay rates, tax withholdings, direct deposit details, and benefit deductions.
• Review and process employee expense reports and reimbursements, including manual checks and ACH payments.
• Process employee paid time off (PTO), benefit time, and time-off requests in accordance with company policy.
• Support administration of the Company's 401(k) plan, including employee changes, compliance reporting, and recordkeeping.
• Assist with internal and external audits, including certified payroll or project-related reporting if applicable.
• Perform other payroll, accounting, and administrative duties as needed to support business operations.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree or higher in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 3+ years of payroll processing experience required, including multi-state payroll environments.
• Hands‑on experience with ADP Workforce Now is required.
• Strong knowledge of FLSA, payroll tax regulations, and wage compliance requirements.
• Experience processing payroll for 250+ employees and/or multiple payroll cycles preferred.
• AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) or professional services industry experience strongly preferred, including familiarity with project-based labor tracking, billable hours, or prevailing wage environments.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail, with the ability to meet strict weekly deadlines.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (formulas, data imports, reconciliations, and reporting).
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across HR, Finance, and operations teams.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

Physical Requirements

In order to perform the essential functions of this position, the candidate must be able to constantly assume a stationary position, and must handle and/or feel documents, materials, and/or equipment to perform necessary tasks, sometimes repetitively. The candidate must be able to occasionally maneuver within the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc., and may exert up to 15 lbs. of force occasionally.

Constantly, they must be able to receive and convey detailed or important information with others via the Corporate e‑mail system, telephone system, and in person.

The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Competitive Salary & Benefits Package

Tectonic offers competitive salaries along with a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Opportunities for mentoring, professional development and career advancement
• Tuition reimbursement to advance education
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and personal days
• Company-observed, paid holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan with profit‑sharing opportunities
• Comprehensive group medical insurance, including health, dental, vision, and life coverage
• High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) option paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for medical expenses and dependent care
• Commuter benefits for public transportation costs
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Assistance Program

Pay Range

Pay Range: $28.00 - $40.00 / hour

Tectonic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. Tectonic participates in USCIS E‑Verify to verify employment authorization.