Payroll Specialist

Aston Carter•Fairfax, VA

3d•$85,000 - $105,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Payroll Specialist will join an accounting team in a secure government-contracting environment and manage monthly payroll processing for full-time and part-time employees. The role oversees labor distributions and timekeeping compliance with government regulations, including DCAA guidelines. It requires hands-on experience with Deltek Costpoint and Paycor, knowledge of multi-state payroll taxation and applicable regulations, and discretion when handling sensitive or classified information. The position is permanent and fully onsite in Fairfax, Virginia. The anticipated pay range is $85,000 to $105,000 per year. Individual compensation depends on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other job-related factors. Zeta contributes an amount equivalent to 25% of annual salary to an Individual Benefits Account (IBA), which can be used for health benefit costs, childcare reimbursement, and paid time off. Unused IBA balances at year-end are paid out in the following January paycheck as income. Full-time employees receive 320 hours of paid time off annually, inclusive of vacation, holidays, and sick leave; there is no mandatory leave or holiday policy. Zeta also contributes an amount equivalent to 25% of annual salary to full-time employees’ retirement accounts, with no waiting period and immediate 100% vesting. Additional listed benefits include employer-paid basic life insurance, short- and long-term disability, identity theft insurance, secure travel, and health advocate services; cancer indemnity insurance is 50% employer-paid. Other offerings include accident protection, legal services, supplemental long-term disability, supplemental voluntary life, child life insurance, and tuition and certification reimbursement. Full-time employees may receive 100% reimbursement for relevant bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. tuition and books, and relevant certification costs are paid in full. Starting in January 2027, Zeta plans to fully cover medical premiums for employees earning under $150,000 in salary. The job description also states that annual HSA contributions will increase to $1,250 for single filers and $2,000 for married/family filers.

Requirements

3 to 5 years of professional payroll processing and timekeeping experience; defense contracting experience is preferred.
3 to 5 years of corporate or government payroll experience.
Active TS/SCI security clearance and ability to obtain a CI Polygraph while employed.
Direct, hands-on experience with Deltek Costpoint Time & Expense and Labor modules.
Direct, hands-on experience with Paycor payroll software.
Solid understanding of DCAA labor compliance standards.
Strong knowledge of FLSA regulations.
Experience with multi-state payroll taxation.
Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency, including VLOOKUPs and Pivot Tables, for data reconciliation.
Demonstrated experience with timekeeping and Time & Expense processes.
Discretion when handling sensitive or classified personnel data.
Exceptional attention to detail, analytical skills, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to maintain strict compliance in a secure government-contracting environment.

Nice To Haves

Payroll and timekeeping experience in the defense contracting industry.

Responsibilities

Review employee timesheets twice a month for accuracy and compliance with DCAA guidelines and company policies.
Track, calculate, and process labor adjustments to maintain accurate labor distributions.
Onboard employees, process terminations, and update employee records in Paycor.
Administer monthly payroll for full-time and part-time employees and ensure payments are timely and accurate.
Perform monthly reconciliations of payroll runs.
Calculate monthly Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) and housing payments for PCS employees in the UK and Australia.
Prepare labor distribution reports and payroll tax documentation to support internal and external audits.
Work with internal stakeholders to resolve payroll and timekeeping issues.
Use Excel, including VLOOKUPs and Pivot Tables, to reconcile and verify payroll and labor data.
Participate in special projects as needed, providing payroll and timekeeping expertise.

Benefits

Individual Benefits Account contribution equivalent to 25% of annual salary for eligible health benefit costs, childcare reimbursement, and paid time off; unused year-end balance is paid out in the following January paycheck as income.
320 hours of paid time off annually for full-time employees, inclusive of vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
Retirement account contribution equivalent to 25% of annual salary for full-time employees, with no waiting period and immediate 100% vesting.
Basic life insurance, 100% employer-paid.
Basic short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% employer-paid.
Identity theft insurance, 100% employer-paid.
Secure travel coverage, 100% employer-paid.
Health Advocate service, 100% employer-paid.
Cancer indemnity insurance, 50% employer-paid.
Accident protection.
Legal services.
Supplemental long-term disability.
Supplemental voluntary life insurance.
Child life insurance.
100% tuition and books reimbursement for relevant bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degrees for full-time employees.
Full payment of certification costs for certifications relevant to the employee’s work.
Beginning January 2027, medical premiums fully covered for employees earning under $150,000 in salary.
HSA annual contribution increase planned for January 2027: $1,250 for single filers and $2,000 for married/family filers.