Payroll & Timekeeping Specialist (REQ 357)

General Dynamics Applied Physical Sciences Corp; Stonington (CT); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Physical Sciences Corp. in Pawcatuck, CT is seeking a Payroll & Timekeeping Specialist to join our finance team.

You will own end-to-end biweekly payroll for salaried and hourly staff, manage timekeeping, labor distribution, and compliance with DCAA and state regulations. In this role, you’ll reconcile payroll data, handle leave programs, and support audits while maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of progressive payroll processing experience in a government contracting environment.
• Working knowledge of DCAA compliance, FLSA regulations and multi-state payroll taxation.
• Proficiency with Deltek Costpoint and Oracle PeopleSoft systems.

Responsibilities

• Review and reconcile timesheets, payroll inputs, and approvals for compliance before processing.
• Maintain payroll data for hires, terminations, changes, bonuses, deductions, and tax elections.
• Process full-cycle biweekly payroll for salaried and hourly staff and review labor distribution data.
• Research and resolve discrepancies between timekeeping, payroll, and GL records.
• Administer leave programs (FMLA, STD, LTD, sick, PTO), monitor eligibility, and audit payments.
• Ensure correct federal/state/local tax withholding across jurisdictions.
• Reconcile payroll registers to bank activity, GL, and labor reports; prepare journal entries.
• Support audits and maintain payroll-related documentation; handle confidential information.

Skills

Payroll processing

DCAA compliance

Multi-state payroll

Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot)

Security clearance readiness

Government contractor payroll

Timekeeping accuracy

Labor distribution

Education

BA or BS degree in finance, business or related field

Tools

Deltek Costpoint Time & Expense

Oracle PeopleSoft

Job description

Overview:

Applied Physical Sciences (APS) is seeking an experienced full-time Payroll & Timekeeping Specialist to become an important part of a growing finance team in its Pawcatuck, CT office. The position reports to the Director of Finance & Accounting and is responsible for end-to-end payroll operations, timekeeping compliance, and labor cost reporting. APS works on exciting, technically challenging, research & development programs where multidisciplinary teams work closely to address difficult national security needs. At APS, you will work in a small company environment where technical and administrative excellence are rewarded, and an entrepreneurial spirit is encouraged. This position will allow applicants to make meaningful contributions to the APS mission.

Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Review, validate, and reconcile employee timesheets, approvals, and payroll inputs to ensure compliance with company policies and contract requirements before processing.
• Coordinate with Human Resources to maintain payroll data for new hires, terminations, compensation changes including retroactive adjustments, bonuses, deductions, direct deposits, tax elections, and other employee changes.
• Process full cycle payroll (biweekly) for salaried and hourly employees, ensuring accuracy and timeliness including:
  • Process and validate payroll information in Deltek Costpoint and review employee timesheet and labor distribution data transferred into payroll.
  • Research and resolve discrepancies between timekeeping, payroll, labor distribution, and general ledger records.
  • Generate and review Costpoint payroll and labor reports and maintain payroll-related employee information.
  • Administer payroll activities for employees on Leave of Absence (FMLA, STD, LTD, Military, Paid Family and Medical Leave, Workers' Compensation, and other leave programs), including monitoring pay eligibility, updating payroll records, auditing payments, and maintaining compliance with company policies and state regulations.
  • Ensure accurate federal, state, and local payroll tax withholding for employees working in multiple jurisdictions.
• Reconcile payroll registers to bank activity, general ledger accounts, labor distribution, and related payroll reports; prepare payroll journal entries as needed.
• Reconcile payroll-related balance sheet accounts and investigate outstanding or unusual items.
• Assist with timesheet correction process and process payroll corrections.
• Maintain leave balances and accrual updates and ensure compliance with company policies.
• Answer employee payroll-related questions about wages and deductions
• Support audits (DCAA, internal) and maintain document compliance

Required Skills and Attributes

• BA or BS degree in finance, business or related field, or equivalent experience;
• Working understanding of payroll and timekeeping requirements applicable to government contractors and company policies;
• Knowledge of DCAA compliance, FLSA regulations and multi-state payroll taxation.
• Minimum of 5 years of directly related progressive experience in payroll processing in a Government contracting environment;
• Proficient in the Microsoft Office Applications, particularly Microsoft Excel skills, including VLOOKUPs and Pivot Tables;
• Working knowledge of Deltek Costpoint Time & Expense and Labor Modules; and Oracle Peoplesoft is a plus;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills are essential;
• Capable of handling several assignments concurrently while still meeting deadlines;
• Must demonstrate strong attention to detail and the ability to handle sensitive employee and payroll information confidentially;
• Must be willing to participate in any emergent role in a small company environment;
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance if required by project needs

Preferred Skills and Attributes

• Knowledge of Deltek Costpoint Time & Expense and Labor Modules; and Oracle Peoplesoft

APS, a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Dynamics Corporation, offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and comfortable working conditions.

Candidates must possess or be able to obtain a DoD security clearance. Please note, obtaining a security clearance is a condition of employment which typically requires US citizenship and a thorough background investigation.

EOE: Vet/Disability