Payroll Manager

BKF Engineers • San Diego, CA

6d • $90,000 - $125,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Payroll Manager is responsible for overseeing and directing all payroll operations to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across a multi-state workforce. This role provides leadership for the payroll function, ensures compliance with federal, state, local, and union labor regulations, and partners closely with Human Resources, Accounting, and Finance leadership. In addition to managing day-to-day payroll activities, the Payroll Manager is responsible for process improvement, system integrity, internal controls, and supporting audits and organizational growth initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including supervisory or managerial responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-state payroll operations.
• Hands-on experience with UKG payroll systems or a comparable payroll HRIS platform required.
• Experience with Deltek VantagePoint, Deltek Vision or an equivalent project management and financial management software required.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour, and labor regulations.
• Demonstrated experience managing union payroll and prevailing wage requirements.
• Strong Excel and payroll reporting skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage deadlines, and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively at all organizational levels.
• Ability to balance attention to detail with an understanding of the broader business context.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end payroll process for a multi-state employee population, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Review and approve payroll prior to processing, including overtime, premiums, bonuses, deductions, and special pay.
• Ensure proper setup and ongoing maintenance of employee payroll data across states, pay groups, and labor classifications.
• Establish and maintain strong internal controls over payroll processing and reporting.
• Own payroll policies, procedures, and documentation, ensuring consistency and scalability across multiple states.
• Partner with HR, Accounting, and IT on payroll system integrations, upgrades, and enhancements.
• Lead payroll-related process improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and compliance in a multi-state environment.
• Ensure proper maintenance, retention, and security of payroll records.
• Review and approve payroll journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Partner with Accounting on month-end close activities related to payroll and labor costs.
• Support internal and external audits, including benefit plan audits, payroll tax audits, and labor compliance reviews.
• Provide payroll reporting and analysis to Finance and leadership, including multi-state labor cost insights.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local payroll, wage and hour, and labor regulations.
• Manage state-specific payroll requirements such as tax withholding, paid leave programs, wage statements, and final pay rules.
• Oversee union payroll compliance, including prevailing wage requirements and all related filings.
• Manage payroll tax compliance across multiple states, including filings, payments, reconciliations, and resolution of notices.
• Monitor regulatory changes across jurisdictions and proactively assess impacts to payroll practices.
• Manage, mentor, and develop payroll staff, including workload planning, performance feedback, and training.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex or sensitive payroll issues, including multi-state or compliance-related matters.
• Promote a service-oriented payroll function while maintaining strong controls and confidentiality.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries, end-of-year bonuses, profit sharing, and 401k
• BKF pays 100% of the premiums for many of our medical, dental, and vision plans and 50% for your dependents
• 14 days of paid vacation time, 6 paid sick days, 8 paid Holidays
• Flexible schedules
• Education reimbursement, paid annual dues for professional and societal organizations

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees