Payroll Specialist

Who We Are:

West Yost is a water resource management and engineering firm focused exclusively on water. Since our founding in 1990, we have partnered with public agencies including cities, counties, utilities, and water districts to plan, design, and deliver water, wastewater, and stormwater solutions that support safe, reliable, and resilient communities.

Our team of more than 265 professionals brings together expertise in groundwater, water supply, treatment, infrastructure, recycled water, stormwater, construction management, and operations technology. We support projects from early planning and permitting through design and construction and complement our engineering services with program management and public outreach to help clients move work forward and engage their communities.

We are proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work®, and to be recognized among Fortune’s® Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services from 2023 to 2025, as well as a top-ranked firm in the AEC Advisors Diversity Index. At West Yost, we are committed to being the water firm of choice for our clients and our team, advancing water resources for future generations through strong partnerships, practical solutions, and a shared commitment to quality.

(West Yost uses geographic salary differentials that would apply for candidates in other regions).

The Payroll Lead is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the payroll process, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and timely execution of payroll operations. This role performs the day-to-day payroll functions, prepares payroll documentation, and works closely with HR, Finance, and external vendors to manage payroll systems and reporting. This position performs and manages prevailing wage reporting, assists with payroll audits, and year-end payroll activities.

• Payroll Review & Processing

• Review and approve employee data changes in payroll system.
• Enter and/or review employee updates entered in Deltek (Accounting System).
• Process bi-weekly and weekly payrolls for review, as needed.
• Perform the first-level review of bi-weekly and weekly payrolls.
• Prepare payroll recap reports highlighting payroll changes and anomalies.
• Collaborate with payroll team for corrections and coordinate final reviews as needed.
• Assist with maintaining internal control processes for payroll team for payroll generation and other payroll team assignments.
• Respond to employee payroll questions and requests.

• Tax and Compliance

• Process employee tax withholding updates within the payroll system.
• Assist with quarterly payroll tax filings prepared by the payroll provider.
• Assist with state payroll reporting and correspondence.
• Maintain employee payroll records and supporting documentation.
• Ensure payroll records are complete and audit-ready.

• Prevailing Wage Oversight

• Maintain Prevailing Wage (PW) rate schedules for WY Inspectors.
• Process weekly uploads for WY Inspectors to the DIR (Department of Industrial Relations).
• Track prevailing wage requirements for subcontractors on active projects.
• Review certified payroll reports for completeness prior to management review.

• Accounting Interface

• Assist and/or review payroll journal entries in Deltek.
• Maintain payroll reconciliations and supporting documentation.
• Assist with payroll-related reporting requests.

• Reporting & Audits

• Assist with preparation of quarterly census reports.
• Assist with the annual Workers’ Compensation audit.
• Assist with payroll year-end processing and reconciliation.
• Coordinate with HR to schedule any additional year-end payroll runs.
• Maintain payroll files and documentation for audits.

• A minimum of 3 years of related experience

• Experience in Certified Payroll and CA Prevailing Wage processes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Flexibility and ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and collaborate with teammates in a fast-paced environment
• Self-motivated, well-organized and detail-oriented
• Ability to handle confidential information
• Proficiency with payroll software

* This position may require travel to other offices and/or client offices.

You will experience many opportunities to grow and develop professionally with your colleagues through collaborative in-person work experience, knowledge sharing, and mentorship opportunities. We also offer hybrid and flexible work schedules to our employees to help promote and encourage a healthy work/life balance. All of our team members have access to local and company-wide events, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workgroup, Culture Workgroup, Wellness Workgroup, book clubs, charitable giving and community service,…