Payroll Specialist

Who We Are

Quality Work. Quality Results.

Bay West is a leader in environmental consulting and remediation services. For more than 50 years, we have delivered innovative environmental, industrial, and emergency response solutions while maintaining an unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and client service.

At Bay West, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on environmental challenges while growing your career in a collaborative and supportive environment.

The Opportunity

Bay West is seeking a detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to manage full-cycle payroll operations across multiple states. This position plays a critical role in ensuring payroll accuracy, compliance, and efficiency for our growing workforce.

The Payroll Specialist will work closely with Team Leaders, Human Resources, Finance, and Project Managers to support payroll administration and drive continuous process improvement. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and enjoys delivering exceptional services.

This position is in St. Paul, Minnesota and you must be able to come into the office 3 days a week.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer full-cycle payroll processing for weekly and biweekly payrolls for exempt and non-exempt employees across multiple states.
• Partner with Team Leaders to ensure employee time is accurately reported and approved within established payroll deadlines.
• Research and resolve employee payroll inquiries and discrepancies.
• Review payroll data to ensure compliance with applicable prevailing wage regulations.
• Prepare and submit Certified Payroll reports for project-related activities as required.
• Collaborate with Finance and Accounting to complete payroll reconciliations, accrual postings, audits, and reporting activities.
• Conduct regular payroll audits to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Prepare payroll tax and compliance reports, including reporting for labor, tax, and unemployment agencies.
• Coordinate payroll activities associated with hires, transfers, promotions, job changes, leaves of absence, and terminations.
• Assist with payroll and timekeeping training for managers and employees.
• Support ongoing process improvement initiatives and other payroll-related projects.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of payroll experience or experience in a related field.
• Knowledge of payroll laws, payroll accounting principles, and payroll best practices.
• Experience working with ERP systems.
• Must have experience using ADP.
• High attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to identify opportunities for process improvement and operational efficiency.
• Experience processing multi-state, project-based payroll, including labor allocation, certified payroll reporting, and prevailing wage compliance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Deltek Costpoint, SAP, Oracle, or similar ERP systems.
• Knowledge of Human Resources processes and procedures.
• Experience with federal and state prevailing wage compliance.
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification, or progress toward certification.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods.
• Occasional light-to-moderate lifting may be required.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.