Payroll Specialist I

Payroll Specialist

At UES, we're a team of more than 4,000 engineers, scientists, geologists, inspectors, technicians, and drillers united by a shared purposeto make a meaningful impact in the communities we serve. As a national leader in geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, and materials testing and inspection, we collaborate on transformative projects across transportation, energy, water, healthcare, and more.

Position Overview

The Payroll Specialist is responsible for executing timely and accurate payroll processing across multiple business entities and regions. This role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and internal company policies while managing all aspects of employee compensation including regular pay, overtime, bonuses, commissions, and deductions. Key responsibilities include collecting and verifying payroll data, processing payroll runs, calculating and remitting tax withholdings and benefit contributions, and addressing payroll-related inquiries and discrepancies. The Payroll Specialist also collaborates closely with Human Resources to resolve employee pay issues, maintains detailed and compliant payroll records, and supports year-end reporting and reconciliation efforts such as W-2 issuance and bonus distributions. This role requires a strong understanding of payroll laws, attention to detail, and the ability to handle confidential information with integrity.

Responsibilities

• Ensure timely collection and verification of employee payroll files including deductions and PTO hours for all business entities in assigned regions
• Performs actions necessary to track and determine regular and overtime pay, and factors commission-based income or bonuses into an employee's salary
• Process payroll runs for all entities including direct deposits and wire transfer requests
• Assures that payroll-related transactions are processed in compliance with external and internal policies
• Calculates and processes Federal and State tax and social security withholdings, union dues, and other deductions, insurance, benefits, pension / retirement, 401(k) contributions and company match, and profit sharing
• Screens time-worked inputs for calculating, coding, or other errors
• Prepares responses to notices from government agencies regarding employee tax filings
• Process various ad hoc bonus payment requests
• Collaborate with regional Human Resource teams to resolve employee pay issues
• Maintain payroll files and records in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Maintains knowledge of rules and laws which govern the payroll administration practices
• Support year-end processes, including merit, bonus payments and W2 preparation and reporting
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

High School Diploma or equivalent. Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Administration, or a related field preferred. 2+ years of payroll or accounting support experience. Experience with multi-state payroll and / or union payroll preferred. Familiarity with payroll systems (e.g., ADP, Paylocity, Paycom) and Microsoft Office. Strong attention to detail, confidentiality, and basic mathematical skills. Excellent customer service and communication skills. Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.

Travel Requirements

This position does not require regular travel as part of its primary responsibilities. However, occasional travel may be required, up to 10%, primarily for occasional off-site meetings, training sessions, or company events. Travel, when necessary, will be communicated in advance and aligned with business needs.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

This position primarily operates in a professional office environment, requiring the ability to work at a desk for extended periods while using a computer, phone, and standard office equipment. The position involves sitting for extended periods, performing data entry, and engaging in frequent communication via email, phone, and in-person interactions. The role involves regular communication with team members, clients, and stakeholders, both in person and through virtual platforms. The physical demands of the job may include occasional standing, walking, bending, and lifting of office materials up to 15 pounds.

EEO Statement

UES is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is proud to recruit the most qualified candidates. Please see our full EEO Statement here.