Payroll Specialist – Travel Program Administrator

Clayco; Missouri; On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

401k

Generous PTO and paid holidays

Employee assistance program

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

Clayco, a leading real estate development and construction firm, is seeking a Payroll Specialist – Travel Program Administrator in Missouri. You will administer travel-related payroll, per diem, and benefits, ensuring compliance with company policy and regulations, while partnering with Payroll, Operations, Recruiting, and Project Teams.

You will review travel assignments, process travel pay, prepare journal entries, audit reports, and support audits.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of payroll or payroll administration experience.
• Experience administering employee travel, per diem, relocation, or mobility programs.
• Construction industry and multi-state payroll experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Administer the company's travel retention program, ensuring consistent application of policies and eligibility requirements.
• Determine employee eligibility and process travel-related payroll, including travel pay, per diem, and other travel benefits.
• Monitor employee assignments to ensure travel benefits and tax locations are updated accurately and timely.
• Partner with Operations, Recruiting, project teams, and managers regarding employee travel assignments and program administration.
• Review and audit travel-related payroll for accuracy, compliance, and proper application of company policies and applicable regulations.
• Respond to employee questions regarding travel pay, benefits, housing, and program policies.
• Prepare journal entries, reconcile travel program expenses, and ensure accurate general ledger recording.
• Analyze payroll reports, identify discrepancies, and recommend process improvements and automation opportunities.
• Maintain travel program documentation, employee records, and standard operating procedures.
• Support internal and external audits by providing required documentation and explanations.
• Maintain confidentiality of payroll and employee information.
• Perform other payroll duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Payroll processing

Travel payroll

Per diem processing

Tax compliance

Audit support

Education

Accounting/Finance degree

Tools

ADP Payroll

Job description

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $8.1 billion in revenue for 2025, Clayco specializes in the \"art and science of building,\" providing fast track, efficient solutions for mission critical, industrial, life sciences, power & energy, aviation, commercial, institutional, residential and sports & entertainment related building projects.

The Role We Want You For

The Payroll Specialist – Travel Program Administrator administers the company's travel program, ensuring employees receive accurate travel-related pay and benefits in compliance with company policy, federal and state regulations, and applicable collective bargaining agreements. This role partners with Payroll, Operations, Recruiting, and Project Teams to support employees assigned to travel projects while maintaining accurate payroll, tax, and financial records.

The Specifics of the Role

• Administer the company's travel retention program, ensuring consistent application of policies and eligibility requirements.
• Determine employee eligibility and process travel-related payroll, including travel pay, per diem, and other travel benefits.
• Monitor employee assignments to ensure travel benefits and tax locations are updated accurately and timely.
• Partner with Operations, Recruiting, project teams, and managers regarding employee travel assignments and program administration.
• Review and audit travel-related payroll for accuracy, compliance, and proper application of company policies and applicable regulations.
• Respond to employee questions regarding travel pay, benefits, housing, and program policies.
• Prepare journal entries, reconcile travel program expenses, and ensure accurate general ledger recording.
• Analyze payroll reports, identify discrepancies, and recommend process improvements and automation opportunities.
• Maintain travel program documentation, employee records, and standard operating procedures.
• Support internal and external audits by providing required documentation and explanations.
• Maintain confidentiality of payroll and employee information.
• Perform other payroll duties and special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Associate's or bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• 3+ years of payroll or payroll administration experience preferred.
• Experience administering employee travel, per diem, relocation, or mobility programs preferred.
• Construction industry and multi-state payroll experience preferred.

Some Things You Should Know

• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

Why Clayco?

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2025 ENR Top 400 – Top Data Center Contractor (Top 3).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.