Payroll & Accounting Specialist

The Payroll & Accounting Specialist manages end-to-end payroll processing and supports key accounting functions to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant financial operations. This role combines hands-on biweekly payroll administration with accounts payable, accounts receivable, and month-end close activities, while contributing to process improvements and maintaining strict confidentiality. It offers the opportunity to grow with an expanding organization and play a central role in its financial and operational success.

The Payroll & Accounting Specialist manages end-to-end payroll processing and supports key accounting functions to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant financial operations. This role combines hands-on biweekly payroll administration with accounts payable, accounts receivable, and month-end close activities, while contributing to process improvements and maintaining strict confidentiality. It offers the opportunity to grow with an expanding organization and play a central role in its financial and operational success.

• Manage and process accurate, timely biweekly payroll for employees across multiple contracts and departments.
• Review and reconcile employee timesheets, labor charges, leave balances, overtime, and payroll adjustments to ensure accuracy.
• Verify payroll information for new hires, terminations, compensation changes, bonuses, deductions, and other employee transactions.
• Identify, research, and resolve payroll discrepancies before payroll is finalized.
• Ensure accurate allocation of labor costs to appropriate contracts, projects, and indirect charge categories.
• Coordinate with HR to ensure employee information, benefit deductions, and payroll changes are accurately reflected in payroll records.
• Maintain complete and accurate payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with company policies and applicable regulations.
• Support payroll-related audits, reconciliations, and year-end reporting activities.
• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, checklists, and internal controls to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Serve as a key point of coordination for day-to-day accounting and financial administrative activities.
• Support monthly accounting close activities by preparing, reviewing, and reconciling financial information and supporting documentation.
• Assist with accounts receivable activities, including invoice preparation, supporting documentation, payment tracking, and reconciliation.
• Coordinate with contracts and program management teams to validate labor and other costs supporting customer invoices.
• Support accounts payable activities, including vendor invoice review, expense processing, and payment coordination.
• Review and reconcile employee expense reports, travel reimbursements, and corporate credit card transactions.
• Research and resolve accounting discrepancies in coordination with internal stakeholders and external accounting partners.
• Maintain accurate financial records, trackers, and supporting documentation.
• Assist with financial reporting, audits, and other accounting-related activities as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and consistency of payroll and financial administrative processes.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, checklists, and quality-control measures for payroll and accounting workflows.
• Support compliance with applicable payroll regulations, federal government contracting requirements, and company policies.
• Ensure sensitive payroll, employee, and financial information is handled with the highest level of confidentiality.
• Collaborate across departments to streamline workflows, improve communication, and resolve operational issues.

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in payroll administration, accounting support, or a closely related field, including substantial hands-on payroll processing.
• Demonstrated experience independently managing payroll processes with a high degree of accuracy.
• Strong understanding of payroll regulations, wage and hour requirements, payroll deductions, and labor reporting.
• Experience reviewing timesheets, reconciling payroll records, and resolving payroll discrepancies.
• Proficiency with payroll, timekeeping, and accounting software.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to analyze, reconcile, and validate data.
• Exceptional…