Payroll and HR Operations Specialist

Enclave Career•West Fargo, ND

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Enclave is hiring a full-time, non-exempt Payroll and HR Operations Specialist to administer employee payroll and certified payroll reporting while supporting HR Operations. The role owns biweekly payroll and weekly certified payroll for prevailing-wage and public-works projects, ensuring accurate processing, appropriate documentation, and compliance with applicable requirements. It also works to strengthen controls, document workflows, identify automation and efficiency opportunities, and establish scalable, repeatable processes that support business growth. The position is on-site in West Fargo, North Dakota, or Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, with a Monday–Friday schedule of 8 a.m.–5 p.m. The specialist collaborates with HR Operations, Finance, Accounting, and other teams on payroll, compliance, HR technology, reporting, and operational improvement. The role also supports HRIS maintenance, employee lifecycle processes, audits, and HR compliance workflows.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
At least 3 years of payroll administration experience required; an equivalent combination of payroll experience and certification may be considered in place of a degree.
Working knowledge of federal and state payroll laws and regulations, including wage-and-hour and payroll tax requirements.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
Professional presence and the ability to represent HR with credibility, maturity, and discretion.
Clear, confident communication skills and the ability to build trust across organizational levels.
Strong service orientation and focus on a consistent, positive employee experience.
High attention to detail and accuracy with employee data, documentation, and processes.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage workflows and priorities.
Sound judgment and adaptability when handling sensitive information and changing business needs.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; the role is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Experience with prevailing-wage, Davis-Bacon, and public-works reporting.
Experience with UKG Pro and UKG payroll processing; experience with a comparable payroll or HRIS platform such as ADP, Workday, or Paylocity is also considered.
Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP); Enclave will sponsor certification for candidates who do not yet hold one.
Experience in construction, real estate, or a multi-entity environment.

Responsibilities

Administer and process biweekly payroll for all employees according to payroll schedules and company policies.
Review and validate payroll transactions, including hires, terminations, compensation changes, promotions, deductions, garnishments, and benefit elections.
Audit payroll registers, earnings, deductions, taxes, and direct deposits before finalizing payroll; investigate and resolve discrepancies.
Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with record-retention requirements.
Coordinate payroll funding and processing timelines with Finance and Accounting.
Manage weekly certified payroll for prevailing-wage and public-works projects.
Maintain accurate worker classifications, wage rates, fringe-benefit calculations, and project allocations; prepare, review, certify, and submit certified payroll reports and supporting documentation.
Monitor regulatory changes and recommend updates to certified payroll processes and documentation.
Develop subject-matter expertise in payroll and certified payroll workflows; evaluate processes and identify improvements to efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and user experience.
Partner with HR Operations colleagues on payroll and compliance process-improvement initiatives.
Develop and maintain process documentation, workflows, standard operating procedures, and training materials.
Recommend and support automation through HRIS, reporting tools, system integrations, and workflow technologies.
Establish and maintain internal controls to reduce payroll risk and improve data integrity; participate in cross-functional payroll, HR technology, compliance, and operational excellence projects.
Create sustainable, repeatable processes that trained team members can perform consistently, and continually improve payroll reporting, recordkeeping, and compliance practices.
Conduct regular payroll audits covering wage-and-hour laws, tax regulations, company policies, internal controls, benefit deductions, earnings codes, PTO balances, and employee master records.
Support internal and external audits by gathering payroll documentation and responding to requests.
Maintain compliance with payroll tax regulations, garnishments, employment laws, and reporting requirements.
Manage year-end payroll activities, including W-2 processing, reconciliations, and audit support.
Analyze payroll trends, labor costs, overtime utilization, and workforce metrics; provide reporting support to HR Operations, Accounting, Finance, and leadership.
Maintain payroll and HR data integrity through routine audits and validation.
Support HR compliance programs, documentation management, HRIS maintenance, data audits, and operational workflows.
Partner with HR colleagues on onboarding, offboarding, audits, and employee lifecycle processes; identify opportunities to streamline payroll and HR work through automation and technology.
Perform other duties as assigned; maintain training materials and records; demonstrate punctual and regular attendance; and support a culture of accountability, consistency, and operational excellence.