Staff Accountant

Kelso Industries•Phoenix, AZ

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Payroll Operations Accountant, Operations supports payroll processing, labor reporting, and job costing across multiple Operating Companies (OpCos). The role reviews and validates payroll and labor data, supports job costing accuracy, resolves payroll discrepancies, and produces operational labor reports. It partners with Accounting, HR, Operations, field teams, and Corporate Payroll to support accurate payroll, labor cost integrity, and compliance with company and prevailing wage requirements. The position also helps improve payroll processes, reporting, and system functionality. The role is based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a hybrid/on-site-as-needed arrangement. Kelso Industries is a growing, private equity-backed holding company in the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing industry, with operations across multiple states and continued growth through acquisitions and organic growth. The company describes a collaborative environment focused on accuracy, accountability, partnership, innovation, excellence, and safety.

Requirements

2–3 years of construction payroll experience with strong exposure to job costing and labor reporting.
Experience supporting prevailing wage and Davis Bacon compliance and reporting.
Demonstrated understanding of General Ledger postings and payroll accounting processes.
Advanced Excel skills, including formulas, reporting, and data analysis.
Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and follow-through.
Ability to work effectively across departments in a fast-paced operational environment.
Compliance-focused mindset.
Exceptional organizational and time-management skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Clear and professional communication skills.
Ability to work independently while collaborating cross-functionally.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Experience working within multi-entity or construction-related environments.
Exposure to payroll/timekeeping systems and ERP platforms.

Responsibilities

Ensure timecards from assigned Operating Companies are submitted by established deadlines.
Review and audit timecards for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with company policy.
Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies with field supervisors and employees before payroll submission.
Submit verified payroll data to the corporate payroll team before established deadlines.
Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll-related questions and employee support.
Ensure payroll hours and labor costs are accurately posted to the General Ledger and job cost modules.
Research, analyze, and resolve questions related to labor postings and project cost allocations.
Monitor and reconcile labor cost allocations across active projects to ensure proper coding and reporting accuracy.
Collaborate with Accounting, HR, Operations, and Corporate Payroll teams.
Support payroll system implementations, upgrades, and process automation initiatives.
Build, maintain, and distribute recurring and ad hoc labor reports, including productivity, utilization, labor cost, and headcount reporting.
Produce reports for Prevailing Wage and Davis Bacon projects.
Track labor hours and related requirements to support compliance with prevailing wage and PTO regulations.
Maintain confidentiality of employee compensation and payroll information.