Payroll Accounting Manager

Heven AeroTech•Sterling, VA

8h•$78,000 - $108,000•Onsite

About The Position

At Heven AeroTech (Heven), we don’t just believe in the power of people—we build our success on it. As a recognized leader in hydrogen-powered drones, we’ve earned recognition for creating a workplace where innovation thrives, collaboration is second nature, and every employee feels valued. Our culture is anchored in trust and a shared commitment to excellence. We believe great teams are built on individuals who are humble, hungry, and smart—those who put team success first, take initiative to continuously improve, and demonstrate strong interpersonal awareness. At Heven, your voice matters, your ideas are heard, and your contributions make a tangible impact as you grow through hands-on experience and collaboration across the team. We're looking for a hands-on Payroll Accounting Manager to own end-to-end payroll operations and build the processes that scale with us. The Payroll Accounting Manager is responsible for the accurate and compliant processing of payroll across multiple legal entities and states. This role sits at the intersection of payroll operations, cost accounting, and government contract compliance, requiring deep familiarity with DCAA audit standards, FAR cost principles, and multi-jurisdictional payroll regulations. The manager will own payroll ledger integrity, labor distribution, and related internal controls while serving as the primary point of contact for payroll-related inquiries from program managers, HR, and government auditors.

Requirements

6+ years of payroll and payroll accounting experience, including 1–2+ years in a lead or supervisory role
Strong understanding of US payroll regulations, multi-state compliance, and payroll tax (international experience a plus)
Proficiency with payroll software; comfort learning new systems quickly
Solid grasp of accounting fundamentals — journal entries, reconciliations, and GL
Meticulous attention to detail with a track record of process ownership in a fast-paced environment
Clear communicator who can translate payroll complexity for employees and cross-functional partners

Nice To Haves

CPA or CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation a plus, not required
Experience supporting payroll through a period of rapid headcount growth or a system migration
Familiarity with DCAA’s Incurred Cost Electronically Submission model and indirect rate structures.
Familiarity with equity compensation and related payroll treatment
Experience at a venture-backed or high-growth tech company

Responsibilities

Own the full payroll cycle (semi-monthly) for a growing workforce in a multi-company, multi-state environment, ensuring accuracy and on-time delivery
Ensure payroll processes comply with DCAA audit standards, including timekeeping controls, labor floor checks, and floor check readiness.
Maintain and enforce a DCAA-compliant timekeeping policy; coordinate with employees and supervisors to resolve timesheet discrepancies.
Maintain payroll accounting records and reconcile payroll accounts to the general ledger each period
Ensure compliance with payroll tax obligations across all active state and local jurisdictions, including withholding, SUI, SDI, and local taxes.
Manage state registrations for new hiring jurisdictions; coordinate with in-house counsel or payroll provider as needed.
Oversee workers’ compensation reporting and reconciliation across all entities and states.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll tax regulations; manage filings, deposits, and year-end W-2/1099 processing
Coordinate with the Controller on payroll-related audit support, including workers’ comp audits, 401(k) audits, and year-end W-2 reconciliation.
Identify and implement process improvements and automation opportunities in payroll systems
Develop and document payroll policies, controls, and SOPs as the company scales
Support month-end and year-end close with payroll-related journal entries and accruals