Payroll Manager

Coakley & Williams Construction is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to manage payroll operations, certified payroll compliance, benefits reconciliation, and payroll-related project accounting from our Bethesda, Maryland office.

This is a hands-on individual contributor role, the Payroll Manager will own payroll processing and administration while ensuring compliance with Davis-Bacon requirements, prevailing wage laws, certified payroll reporting, construction job costing, and project-based labor accounting.

The ideal candidate has experience in a construction, general contracting, skilled trades, or other project-based environment and can improve coordination between Human Resources, Payroll, Accounting, and project teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the full biweekly payroll process, including review, reconciliation, approvals, reporting, and issue resolution.
• Prepare and submit certified payroll reports while maintaining compliance with Davis-Bacon, prevailing wage, worker classification, and fringe benefit requirements.
• Review and allocate payroll costs across projects, cost codes, departments, and general ledger accounts.
• Reconcile payroll deductions and employer contributions for medical, dental, vision, retirement, HSA, FSA, and other benefit plans.
• Process and verify payroll changes related to new hires, terminations, plan changes, qualifying life events, and employee status updates.
• Partner with Human Resources and Accounting to resolve payroll, benefits, employee data, and job cost discrepancies quickly.
• Administer payroll, HRIS, ERP, timekeeping, expense reimbursement, corporate card, and vehicle allowance processes.
• Support project accounting as needed, including labor cost review, cost code verification, account reconciliations, and project reporting.

Basic Qualifications

• At least five years of hands-on payroll processing and payroll administration experience.
• Direct experience with certified payroll in construction, general contracting, skilled trades, or another project-based organization.
• Working knowledge of Davis-Bacon, prevailing wage, fringe benefit, and construction payroll compliance requirements.
• Experience reconciling employee benefits for new hires, terminated employees, plan changes, deductions, and carrier invoices.
• Experience with construction job costing, project accounting, payroll systems, HRIS, ERP, and timekeeping platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting payroll for a commercial general contractor or construction management firm.
• Experience with multi-state, union, or publicly funded construction payroll.
• Payroll certification, such as Certified Payroll Professional.
• Experience improving HR-to-payroll workflows and internal controls.
• Experience supporting payroll, benefits, or project accounting audits.

Why Join Coakley & Williams Construction?

This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of a critical payroll and compliance function within an established commercial construction company.

You will work closely with Human Resources, Accounting, and project teams to improve payroll accuracy, strengthen certified payroll compliance, close gaps between HR and Payroll, and support reliable project cost reporting.

Wage Transparency

In accordance with the Maryland Wage Transparency Law, the base salary range for this position is: $90,000.00 – $110,000.00

The determination of salary is based on the candidate’s individual professional experience, qualifications, education, skills, and training.

Additional Note

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work required. They are not exhaustive lists of all duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities, physical job demands, or working conditions associated with the job. Successful candidates will seek additional responsibilities and opportunities to grow their skills in support of the company’s goals.

Coakley & Williams Construction is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, physical and mental disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/assignment, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, protected veterans’ status, or any other status prohibited by applicable national, federal, state, or local law. Coakley & Williams promote a drug-free workplace.