Payroll Specialist III

Location(s): Encinitas / San Diego
Practice/Department: Finance
Work Environment: On-site*
Compensation: $43-$48 hourly

Dudek’s journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern California’s water and wastewater agencies. 

Today, we are a 100% employee-owned firm supporting clients nationwide and delivering projects that improve and protect the built and natural environments of communities throughout the United States. Our work has been recognized by leading industry organizations, and we’ve been honored with multiple national Top Workplace Awards. 

Our employee-owners are unified by a singular commitment to supporting projects that address key societal issues, such as the transition to renewable energy, infrastructure hardening and repair, environmental protection, and community resilience. 

Learn more about our award-winning culture, the benefits and perks of being a Dudekian, and the projects you will have the opportunity to shape.  

Who You Are 

As an employee-owner, you embrace accountability, working safely, and collaboration while thinking resourcefully and independently. 

Like all Dudekians, you are curious and solution-oriented, with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit of innovation.  

How You’ll Make an Impact 

Dudek is seeking a meticulous and organized Payroll Specialist to support accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing across multiple states. This role requires hands on payroll expertise, including weighted average overtime, wait time rules, multi state taxation, and end to end payment processing.
You’ll partner closely with Accounting, Benefits, and HR to deliver seamless payroll operations and exceptional service. We’re looking for someone who values accuracy, collaboration, and payroll as a long term career.

*Work Environment: This role will be on-site for the first 90 days after which eligibility for hybrid work will be reevaluated.

Duties and Responsibilities  

• Payroll Processing: Oversee and execute end-to-end payroll processing for 900+ employees accurately and by deadline. Efficiently review and validate payroll data for completeness and accuracy. Ensure timecards are compliant and submitted by the employees prior to payment processing. Process payroll adjustments missed payments, salary changes, bonuses, gift cards, and other payments. Manage complex payroll issues and resolve discrepancies thoroughly and promptly.

• Payroll Compliance: Engage current payroll tax and mandates to all facets of the payroll payment process, impounds, reporting, distribution and filings. Detail processing of voids, reissues, and stop payments to ensure the proper impact on the tax documents. Reconcile, enter, and approve payroll entries, labor detail, and checks to the general ledger in correlation to the monthly accounting schedule.

• Taxation and Reporting: Understand and review the federal and multiple state payroll tax requirements and mandates. Maintain timely reviews, reconciliations, escalations, and payment processing to various tax agencies. Ensure tax records are updated and organized within the payroll digital library and designated portals. Process registration forms, SUI rate updates, POAs and agency notices. Review quarterly and annual filings, for any form of discrepancies. Apply the proper payroll taxation in accordance with IRS regulations for various payment types.

• Audits and Documentation: Prepare for and assist leadership with payroll audits, such as Benefit, Labor Detail, Workers' Comp and 401k annual audits. Ensure requested documentation and records are readily available and managed. Maintain thorough documentation associated with all collaborations with third-party administrators and internal departments. Cooperate with various audits by consolidating data requested timely to meet periodic, quarterly, and annual audit deadlines.

• Communication: Interaction with outside entities, government agencies, third party administrators, and insurance companies is required for research, reporting or processing. Work as the liaison between payroll and other internal departments to ensure employee data remains in-sync between all business functional systems. Research Masterfile or labor discrepancies to avoid reporting issues.

• Continuous Improvement: Perform Dayforce Ceridian payroll module upgrade testing and audits. Stay current with payroll and benefit regulations, industry best practices, technological advancements to recommend and implement process improvements. Adapt to new department and firmwide systems as provided for business operations and engage in routine training. Participate in special projects including implementation of new time and attendance system.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience processing full-cycle, multi-state payroll for 500+ employees, including tax filings, reconciliations, and general ledger integration.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience managing federal and multi-state payroll tax compliance, quarterly and annual filings, audits, and agency communications.
• 3+ years of payroll tax experience
• Strong knowledge of payroll laws, compliance, and operations
• Excellent organizational, communication, and attention‑to‑detail skills
• Ability to manage confidential information.
• Ability to work independently.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by the first day of employment 

Preferred Qualifications 

• 3 years Experience with Dayforce
• Experience with Deltek VantagePoint or similar systems
• Professional services industry experience
• Prevailing Wage Certified Payroll experience
• Experience with systems implementations and special projects
• CPP or FCP certification.

Compensation: $43.00-$48.00 hourly* 

*Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check prior to beginning employment. 

Working Conditions  

• This job operates in a remote or office-based environment and this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc. 

Physical Requirements 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This job requires the following:  

• Working on a computer, sitting, or standing for long periods of time in an office or remote office setting. 

• Attending meetings, both in person and virtually, and speaking on the phone with peers, clients, etc.  
• Specific vision abilities, including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

Connect with us! 

💼LinkedIn 

📸Instagram 

▶️YouTube 

🤝Dudek Talent Community 

Dudek is committed to creating a workplace where all employees, regardless of their background, feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities to succeed. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our business success, and we are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We are committed to fair and equitable processes, based on merit, free from any discrimination. 

Dudek is genuinely committed to equal employment opportunities within our company and on our project teams. Dudek is also committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Dudek’s operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of Dudek, including supervisors and coworkers. Equal employment opportunities will be extended to all persons (including those with disability and veteran status) in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination. Any employee who violates this policy and Dudek’s commitment to equal employment opportunities will be subject to disciplinary action. 

Dudek is a U.S.-based employer. All positions are based in the United States and require U.S. work authorization.