Staff Accountant

Kelso Industries; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Kelso Industries in Phoenix, AZ, is seeking a Payroll Operations Accountant to support payroll processing, labor reporting, and job costing across multiple OpCos. You will partner with Accounting, HR, Operations, and Corporate Payroll to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely payroll delivery.

Responsibilities include reviewing timecards, resolving discrepancies, posting to GL and job cost modules, and building recurring labor reports for productivity, headcount, and prevailing wage compliance.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years of construction payroll experience.
• Prevailing wage and Davis Bacon exposure.
• Understanding GL postings and payroll accounting.
• Advanced Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Ensure timecards are submitted by deadlines.
• Audit timecards for accuracy and policy compliance.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies with field staff.
• Submit verified payroll data to corporate team.
• Act as primary payroll contact for employee support.
• Post payroll hours and labor costs to GL and job costing modules.
• Produce labor reports and project cost allocations.
• Support payroll system implementations and automation.

Skills

Construction payroll

Excel advanced

Labor reporting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

ERP platforms

Payroll/timekeeping systems

Job description

Together We Build – Partnership, Innovation, Excellence, and Safety

At Kelso Industries, 4,000+ employees across 40+ companies work together to deliver exceptional HVAC, mechanical, plumbing, refrigeration, and electrical solutions nationwide. Join us to grow your career, make an impact, and be part of a team where innovation, excellence, and safety come first.

Payroll Operations Accountant

Location: Phoenix, AZ (Hybrid/On-Site as Needed)

About Kelso Industries

Kelso Industries is a rapidly growing, private equity-backed holding company focused on the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) industry. With operations across multiple states and continued expansion through acquisitions and organic growth, Kelso partners with leading commercial and industrial contractors to build scalable, operationally excellent businesses.

We are seeking a detail-oriented and operationally focused Payroll Operations Accountant to support payroll processing, labor reporting, and job costing activities across multiple Operating Companies (OpCos). This role will partner closely with Accounting, HR, Operations, and Corporate Payroll teams to ensure payroll accuracy, labor cost integrity, and compliance with company and prevailing wage requirements.

Position Summary

The Payroll Operations Accountant, Operations will be responsible for reviewing and validating payroll and labor data, supporting job costing accuracy, resolving payroll discrepancies, and producing operational labor reporting across assigned OpCos. This individual will serve as a key liaison between field operations and corporate payroll while helping improve payroll processes, reporting, and system functionality.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure timecards from assigned Operating Companies (OpCos) are submitted by established deadlines
• Review and audit timecards for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with company policy
• Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies in coordination with field supervisors and employees prior to payroll submission
• Submit verified payroll data to the corporate payroll team before established deadlines
• Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll-related questions and employee support
• Ensure payroll hours and labor costs are accurately posted to the General Ledger (GL) and job cost modules
• Research, analyze, and resolve questions related to labor postings and project cost allocations
• Monitor and reconcile labor cost allocations across active projects to ensure proper coding and reporting accuracy
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Accounting, HR, Operations, and Corporate Payroll teams
• Support payroll system implementations, upgrades, and process automation initiatives
• Build, maintain, and distribute recurring and ad hoc labor reports including productivity, utilization, labor cost, and headcount reporting
• Produce reports for Prevailing Wage and Davis Bacon projects
• Track labor hours and related requirements to ensure compliance with prevailing wage and PTO regulations
• Maintain confidentiality of employee compensation and payroll information at all times

Qualifications

Required

• 2–3 years of construction payroll experience with strong exposure to job costing and labor reporting
• Experience supporting prevailing wage and Davis Bacon compliance/reporting
• Demonstrated understanding of General Ledger postings and payroll accounting processes
• Advanced Excel skills including formulas, reporting, and data analysis
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and follow-through
• Ability to work effectively across departments in a fast-paced operational environment

Preferred

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• Experience working within multi-entity or construction-related environments
• Exposure to payroll/timekeeping systems and ERP platforms

Core Competencies

• Compliance-focused mindset
• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Clear and professional communication skills
• Ability to work independently while collaborating cross-functionally

Why Kelso Industries

Kelso Industries offers the opportunity to work within a growing, multi-OpCo organization, supporting meaningful infrastructure and industrial projects nationwide. We value accuracy, accountability, and partnership—and provide a collaborative environment where payroll compliance expertise is essential and respected.

Kelso Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Why Join Kelso Industries?

Join us and be part of a team dedicated to creating efficient, sustainable, and high-performance environments that make a lasting impact across the industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors.

Here You Will Experience

Growth Opportunities: Develop new skills, take on exciting challenges, and advance your career in meaningful ways.

Company Culture: You’ll thrive in an environment that supports your growth, values your contributions, and makes work fulfilling and enjoyable.

Impact: Your work directly contributes to meaningful outcomes, allowing you to see the difference you make and feel a sense of purpose every day.

Competitive Compensation & Benefits: You’ll be rewarded fairly for your contributions while enjoying perks that enhance your financial security, health, and overall well-being.

Kelso Industries celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate in any aspect of employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local employment discrimination laws where Kelso does business