Location: McLean, VA
Reports To: Payroll Director
Direct Reports: 2 Payroll Supervisors
Position Overview
Clark Construction is seeking a high-caliber Payroll Manager to lead our complex, multi-state payroll operations. This role is pivotal in ensuring the accurate and timely compensation of our most valuable asset: our people. You will oversee two distinct payroll streams—a bi-weekly salaried cycle and a high-volume, weekly craft worker cycle.
As a key leader within the Finance/HR pillar, you will manage two direct reports (Payroll Supervisors) and drive process improvements that uphold our reputation for operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Oversight: Direct the end-to-end processing of multi-state payroll for 5,000+ employees, balancing the nuances of bi-weekly corporate cycles and weekly craft/hourly cycles.
- Leadership & Mentorship: Provide direct leadership to two Payroll Managers, fostering a culture of professional growth, accountability, and technical precision.
- Compliance & Labor Relations: Ensure strict adherence to federal and state labor laws, tax regulations, and—crucially—union collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and prevailing wage requirements (Davis-Bacon Act).
- Process Optimization: Partner with the Payroll Director to identify and implement "best-in-class" systems and workflows to reduce manual entry and enhance data integrity.
- Reporting & Analytics: Serve as the subject matter expert for payroll tax filings, year-end processing (W-2s), and internal audits.
- Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate with HR, IT, and Legal to ensure seamless integration between timekeeping systems and payroll platforms.
Required Qualifications
- Experience: 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership or people-management capacity.
- Industry Knowledge: Previous experience in Construction, Engineering, or Manufacturing is highly preferred. Must have a deep understanding of hourly craft worker payroll.
- Complexity Management: Proven ability to manage diverse payroll schedules (weekly vs. bi-weekly) and complex tax jurisdictions.
- Technical Proficiency: Advanced expertise in enterprise-level HCM/Payroll systems (e.g., Workday, SAP, Oracle) and sophisticated Excel modeling.
- Education/Certification: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business. CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation is a significant plus.
The Ideal Candidate
"You are someone who thrives in the details but never loses sight of the big picture. You understand that for a craft worker, a weekly paycheck is a matter of trust and livelihood. You are a steady hand for your team and a strategic partner to the Director."
Clark offers a total compensation package that includes base salary, bonus potential, and a comprehensive benefits package including health/dental/vision benefits, paid time off, retirement/401k, and Company Contribution plan. Additional benefits include life insurance, commuter benefit, short & long term disability, fitness reimbursement, FSA, tuition reimbursement, back-up daycare, tutoring & family support benefits, EAP/Work-Life assistance, and a holiday contribution program. For this role the base salary range is $65,000 - $170,000. Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. Base pay is one part of the Total Compensation Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work.
Skills Required
- 7+ years progressive payroll experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership or people-management capacity
- Deep understanding of hourly craft worker payroll and weekly payroll cycles
- Experience managing multi-state payroll and complex tax jurisdictions
- Experience with union collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and Davis-Bacon prevailing wage compliance
- Advanced expertise in enterprise-level HCM/Payroll systems (Workday, SAP, Oracle) and sophisticated Excel modeling
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business
- Experience managing payroll for a large workforce (5,000+ employees)
- Previous experience in Construction, Engineering, or Manufacturing
- CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation
Clark Construction Group Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Clark Construction Group and has not been reviewed or approved by Clark Construction Group.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes multiple plan options (PPO, HDHP, HMO) plus dental and vision, alongside mental-health counseling and an employee assistance program. Feedback suggests these offerings form a comprehensive, competitive core of the package.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with company match and a separate company contribution plan are provided, though vesting for some retirement elements may take time. Feedback suggests this structure is a meaningful pillar of total rewards.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave, backup childcare and eldercare, and broader family-support resources are available for eligible employees. These programs complement core benefits and are highlighted as notable strengths.
Clark Construction Group Insights
What We Do
Clark Construction Group is one of the largest building and infrastructure companies in the United States. Since 1906, the company has delivered assets across various markets, including public, private, corporate, cultural, education, and entertainment projects. Their extensive portfolio includes critical infrastructure projects such as power, transportation, water, and roadways, emphasizing a commitment to building what matters and strengthening communities nationwide.
