Payroll Manager

At AKS, we are growing and building for the future. We bring together multidisciplined experts across the land development, energy, and infrastructure markets to take on bigger challenges and deliver solutions that make a real difference. Our teams combine creativity, technical excellence, and a collaborative, hands-on approach to solve complex problems and deliver results our clients and communities can count on. We take pride in our work and our ability to provide opportunities for our teams, support each other’s growth, and look ahead to what’s next. When you join AKS, you will find opportunities to take ownership of meaningful projects, learn, lead, and make an impact from day one.

We’re hiring! We’re looking for a Payroll Manager to join our Finance team. If you’re a detail-oriented payroll professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys improving processes while supporting employees across a growing organization, this is an excellent opportunity to work alongside a talented and collaborative team. You’ll play a key role in ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll operations while partnering with teams across the organization. 

What You’ll Do

• Payroll Processing: Process accurate and timely bi-weekly payroll for 600+ employees across multiple office locations and states, including remote and field employees throughout the country. 
• Payroll Administration: Manage payroll transactions including salaries, benefits, deductions, garnishments, taxes, and other payroll adjustments. 
• Compliance: Ensure multi-state payroll compliance by monitoring and applying federal, state, and local labor and tax regulations. Identify payroll tax nexus in new states and ensure proper SUTA registrations and tax withholding configurations. 
• Payroll Reporting & Accounting: Generate and enter payroll-related journal entries from ADP into BST (ERP). Reconcile payroll records in ADP with general ledger records and ensure payroll reporting accuracy. 
• Audit & Compliance Support: Review payroll records and reports to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements. Prepare documentation and support annual payroll, insurance, and benefit plan audits. 
• Prevailing Wage Administration: Ensure compliance with prevailing wage requirements and related reporting obligations. 
• Timekeeping Management: Partner with the Payroll Assistant to review and submit employee timesheets weekly while providing training and guidance to employees and managers as needed. 
• Employee Support: Manage employee payroll inquiries and provide timely, accurate, and customer-focused support. 
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, systems, and procedures to increase efficiency and accuracy. 
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Finance, Accounting, HR, and other internal teams to troubleshoot payroll issues and implement solutions. 
• Vendor Management: Serve as the primary liaison between the Finance/Accounting team and the ADP payroll vendor. 
• Additional Responsibilities: Perform other duties and special projects as assigned. 

Who You Are

• 5+ years of payroll processing experience, preferably supporting 600+ employees across multiple locations and states. 
• Strong understanding of payroll functions including payroll preparation, balancing, reconciliations, taxes, deductions, and internal controls. 
• Experience managing end-to-end payroll processes from preparation through reporting and reconciliation. 
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy. 
• Ability to analyze information, identify discrepancies, troubleshoot issues, and implement effective solutions. 
• Strong customer service mindset with the ability to support employees, managers, and internal partners. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive employee and payroll information. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced Excel skills. 

Nice to Have

• Professional services, engineering, construction, or AEC industry experience is strongly preferred. 
• Experience with project-based timekeeping or accounting systems such as BST 11, Deltek Vision/Vantagepoint, Sage 300, or similar platforms. 
• Experience with payroll systems such as ADP, UltiPro/UKG, Kronos, or similar platforms. 
• Experience supporting payroll system implementations or process improvement initiatives. 
• Experience using data tools such as Power BI. 
• Experience with prevailing wage payroll requirements. 

Why AKS?

At AKS, we believe your work should support your life, not the other way around. Here's what you can count on when you join our team: 

• Meaningful Growth: Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance, we offer hands-on training, mentorship, and clear paths for professional development so you can grow with purpose. 
• Real Collaboration: Join a team that brings diverse perspectives together to solve complex challenges with creativity, curiosity, and a shared commitment to quality. 
• Respect for Your Time: We value work-life balance and offer generous PTO and a supportive environment that helps you manage both personal and professional responsibilities. 
• Benefits That Care: You’ll have access to health coverage that supports your total well-being, plus a 401(k) match, paid holidays, and more resources to help you thrive. 
• Weekly Team Lunches: Take a break and recharge with your teammates, we believe food brings people together. 
• Culture That Connects: We invest in experiences that build strong teams and strong communities. 
• A Place People Love to Work: We’ve been named one of the Top Workplaces year after year. 

Join us and be part of a team that values your contributions, celebrates initiative, and is committed to doing things the right way for our employees, clients, and communities.