Senior Payroll & Accounting Specialist

Description

Senior Payroll and Accounting Specialist

Location: Meridian, Idaho

At J-U-B ENGINEERS, Inc., our purpose is simple but powerful: Helping Each Other Create Better Communities. With over 20 offices across seven states, J-U-B is committed to creating an environment where employees feel supported, challenged, and connected to meaningful work. 

We are looking for a collaborative and solutions-oriented Senior Payroll Administrator / Accounting Specialist. If you enjoy problem-solving, thrive in a team environment, and take pride in delivering accurate, high-quality work that helps drive business success, we’d love to meet you!

The Senior Payroll Administrator is responsible for the accurate, timely, and compliant administration of all payroll functions for approximately 600 employees across multiple business units and states. This position serves as the company’s payroll subject matter expert, with primary responsibility for payroll processing, payroll compliance, prevailing wage and certified payroll reporting, employee taxation, payroll accounting, and payroll-related reconciliations. The role partners closely with Human Resources, Finance, employees, and external providers to resolve complex payroll matters, strengthen controls, and improve payroll processes. This position also provides focused accounting support and reports to the Controller.

Key Responsibilities

Senior Payroll Administration

• Independently process and review weekly and biweekly payrolls, including regular earnings, overtime, bonuses, commissions, deductions, garnishments, reimbursements, and benefit-related adjustments.
• Maintain accurate payroll records, employee earnings, deductions, tax elections, direct deposit information, garnishments, benefits, and other payroll data.
• Administer multi-state payroll in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local wage, hour, tax, and recordkeeping requirements.
• Serve as the company’s primary resource for payroll laws, wage and hour requirements, payroll taxation, and payroll-related regulatory requirements.
• Manage prevailing wage and certified payroll requirements, including reporting, documentation, employee classifications, and follow-up on discrepancies.
• Research and resolve complex payroll discrepancies, tax notices, system issues, retroactive changes, and employee inquiries in a timely manner.
• Administer payroll and tax requirements affecting foreign national and immigration-status employees in coordination with appropriate internal and external resources.
• Review quarterly and year-end payroll tax documents in Paylocity, including W-2 reporting, and coordinate corrections as needed.
• Coordinate payroll-related audits and provide accurate supporting documentation to internal and external auditors.
• Maintain payroll procedures, controls, process documentation, and calendar deadlines; identify and implement opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, and the employee experience.
• Provide payroll guidance and training to managers, employees, Human Resources, and Finance partners as appropriate.

Payroll Reconciliation and Controls

1. Reconcile each payroll cycle to payroll registers, funding reports, bank activity, general ledger entries, benefit deductions, tax liabilities, and other payroll-related accounts before and after payroll submission.
2. Prepare and reconcile payroll journal entries and supporting schedules, including wages, employer taxes, benefits, deductions, accruals, and payroll clearing accounts.
3. Reconcile employer contributions to carrier invoices and general ledger balances, coordinating corrections with Human Resources, Finance, and vendors.
4. Reconcile quarterly and annual payroll tax filings to payroll records and the general ledger, including Forms 941 and W-2/W-3 totals, and support amendments or corrections when required.
5. Maintain clear reconciliation documentation and audit trails that support internal controls, financial reporting, and audit requirements.
6. Compile payroll focused analysis to identify trends, explain variances, and provide useful information for business purposes. 
7. Stay current on IRS, Department of Labor, and retirement plan regulatory requirements to maintain on going compliance.

Related Accounting Support

• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities related to payroll, benefits, payroll taxes, accrued compensation, and other workforce expenses.
• Prepare and post payroll-related journal entries and supporting schedules, including wages, employer taxes, benefits, deductions, accruals, and payroll clearing activity.
• Perform account reconciliations and analysis for payroll-related general ledger and balance sheet accounts; investigate and resolve variances promptly.
• Assist with audit support and ad hoc reporting by preparing accurate schedules, documentation, and explanations of payroll costs and workforce expenses.
• Support external tax filings and audits under the direction of the Controller and CFO.
• Complete payroll-focused financial analysis to identify trends, explain variances, and provide useful information for business decisions.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Human Resources, preferred or equivalent experience; 
• 5+ years of multi-state payroll experience, including independent processing, quarterly and annual payroll tax, wage and hour reporting and compliance.
• 5+ years of advanced accounting experience including general ledger reconciliations, journal entries, and tax filings. 
• Experience with prevailing wage and certified payroll reporting strongly preferred.
• Experience administering payroll for foreign national or immigration-status employees preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Experience with payroll and accounting systems; Paylocity and Deltek Vantagepoint experience preferred.

Core Competencies

• Advanced payroll knowledge and sound judgment when interpreting payroll requirements.
• Exceptional accuracy, organization, confidentiality, and attention to detail.
• Strong reconciliation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage recurring deadlines and competing priorities in a high-volume environment.
• Clear, professional communication and a service-oriented approach to employee questions.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and strengthen processes and internal controls.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary: $75,000 – $105,000 annually, depending on experience 
• Professional development and career growth opportunities 
• Coaching and Mentorship programs
• Performance bonuses for qualified employees 
• Generous vacation and sick leave programs (increases with tenure)
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance 
• 401(k) with company match and profit sharing 
• Education Reimbursement
• Paid Holidays
• Health club subsidy
• A collaborative, team-centered work environment 
• Employee ownership opportunities after qualified years of service

The application window will be open through December 28, 2026. Applications will be reviewed frequently, and interviews may be scheduled throughout the posting period.

See our website for more benefit details: https://www.jub.com/our-benefits/

To apply for this position and learn more about J-U-B, please visit www.jub.com