Payroll Supervisor

Connect Search, LLC; Rolling Meadows (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect Search, LLC is seeking an experienced Payroll Supervisor to oversee union payroll operations for a multi-site field workforce. You will lead a small team while actively processing payroll, ensuring compliance with CBAs and prevailing wage requirements.

The role focuses on accurate wage rates, fringe benefits, and government-certified payroll reporting, with regular interaction with field leadership, HR, and accounting to resolve labor-related issues.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll experience, with hands-on union construction payroll experience.
• Strong experience interpreting and applying CBAs.
• Knowledge of certified payroll and prevailing wage compliance.
• Experience with union fringe benefit reporting, pension contributions, dues, and benefit funds.
• Ability to manage multiple payroll and reporting deadlines in a fast-paced construction environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee accurate and timely payroll processing for union construction and field employees across multiple job sites.
• Interpret and administer payroll requirements across CBAs.
• Apply union wage rates, classifications, overtime rules, and fringe benefits correctly.
• Process and reconcile union deductions, dues, pension, health & welfare, and benefit funds.
• Prepare and review certified payroll reports for government and prevailing wage projects.
• Maintain compliance with wage-and-hour regulations at all levels.
• Review field timecards and labor coding for proper classifications.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies related to union agreements and wage rates.
• Collaborate with field supervisors, project managers, HR, accounting, and operations to resolve issues.
• Support audits and prepare payroll summaries and labor distribution reports.
• Supervise and develop a team of two payroll professionals.

Skills

Payroll management

Union payroll

CBA interpretation

Certified payroll

Prevailing wage

Dues & fringe reporting

Excel

HRIS systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

CPP or FPC certification preferred

Job description

A growing, diversified organization within the specialty construction industry is seeking an experienced Payroll Supervisor to oversee payroll operations supporting a unionized field workforce. This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for a payroll professional with strong experience in union construction payroll, collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), certified payroll, prevailing wage requirements, and union fringe benefit reporting. The Payroll Supervisor will lead a small payroll team while remaining actively involved in payroll processing, compliance, reporting, and issue resolution.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee accurate and timely payroll processing for union construction and field employees across multiple job sites.
• Interpret and administer payroll requirements across multiple collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).
• Ensure accurate application of union wage rates, trade classifications, overtime rules, shift differentials, travel pay, per diem, and applicable fringe benefits.
• Process and reconcile union deductions and contributions, including dues, pension, health & welfare, and benefit funds.
• Prepare and review certified payroll reports for government and prevailing wage projects.
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local prevailing wage and wage-and-hour regulations.
• Review field timecards and labor coding to ensure employees are properly classified by job site, project, and trade.
• Research and resolve payroll discrepancies involving union agreements, wage rates, timekeeping, and employee classifications.
• Partner closely with field supervisors, project managers, HR, accounting, and operations to resolve payroll and labor-related issues.
• Support union, payroll, compliance, and internal/external audits.
• Prepare payroll summaries, labor distribution reports, and supporting compliance documentation.
• Supervise and develop a team of two payroll professionals, providing training and guidance on union payroll requirements, CBAs, and certified payroll procedures.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, accuracy, and efficiency.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of payroll and employee information.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payroll experience, with significant hands-on experience supporting union construction payroll required.
• Strong experience interpreting and applying collective bargaining agreements (CBAs).
• Demonstrated knowledge of certified payroll and prevailing wage compliance.
• Experience with union fringe benefit reporting, pension contributions, dues, and benefit funds.
• Strong understanding of wage-and-hour regulations and construction labor compliance.
• Experience supporting multiple unions, trades, wage rates, and labor classifications.
• Previous payroll supervisory, lead, or team oversight experience preferred.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working within payroll and HRIS systems.
• High degree of accuracy, confidentiality, organization, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple payroll and reporting deadlines within a fast-paced construction environment.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively with field leadership, unions, project teams, HR, and accounting.
• High school diploma or GED required; Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Human Resources, or a related discipline preferred. Equivalent professional experience will also be considered.
• CPP or FPC certification is preferred, but not required.

Ideal Background

This opportunity is particularly well suited for someone who has worked in a construction, specialty contractor, general contractor, electrical, mechanical, industrial, or other union-heavy environment and understands the complexity that comes with managing payroll across multiple CBAs, trades, job sites, and prevailing wage requirements.