Associate Director, Labor & AMS Payroll

Ondaro is with you for what comes next.

At Ondaro, you'll be part of a collaborative, global consulting firm that values precision, innovation, and impact. You'll have the opportunity to influence key financial and operational decisions while helping shape a best-in-class payroll function that supports a diverse international workforce.

We invite you to bring your authentic, courageous, empathetic, and customer-obsessed self to a team that's passionate about delivering excellence for our clients and each other.

Job Summary

The Associate Director, Labor & AMS Payroll is a strategic and operational leader responsible for overseeing payroll, timekeeping, labor distribution, and job costing across a multi-national workforce. This role ensures compliance with regulatory standards, including DCAA and international payroll laws, while driving the successful implementation and administration of systems like ADP Workforce Now.

The Associate Director partners closely with Finance, HR, and Accounting to support accurate financial reporting, GL reconciliation, and employee compensation programs. Additionally, this role manages the Payroll Manager and fosters a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence, and employee trust.

What you'll bring:

• Oversee payroll, timekeeping, and labor distribution for employees across the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Colombia, and Brazil.
• Manage and mentor the Payroll Manager to ensure team performance, accuracy, and compliance.
• Collaborate with Finance, HR, and Accounting to ensure accurate payroll, compensation, and labor cost reporting.
• Maintain compliant and efficient payroll operations, including DCAA and international payroll regulations.
• Manage the labor distribution process, ensuring accurate allocation of employee time and costs to appropriate projects, cost centers, and funding sources.
• Support financial reporting through accurate labor costing, GL reconciliations, and audit preparation.
• Support configuration and data integrity within ADP Workforce Now and related ERP systems.
• Perform regular General Ledger (GL) reconciliations for all payroll-related accounts, ensuring accuracy in labor distribution, tax liabilities, benefit accruals, and payroll journal entries.
• Partner with leadership to provide insights that inform strategic and financial decisions.
• Continuously evaluate and improve payroll processes, systems, and policies for scalability and efficiency.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required; 8+ years of relevant experience strongly preferred.
• Payroll leadership experience, including managing multi-national payrolls.
• Hands-on experience with ADP Workforce Now (required) and familiarity with Tri Net, Jamis Prime, or Sage Intacct (a plus).
• Knowledge of DCAA compliance, labor costing, and federal contracting standards.
• Proven ability to manage payroll operations across multiple countries and time zones.
• Strong grasp of labor distribution, including cost allocation and labor costing.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and attention to detail.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred, Portuguese a plus.
• We are pleased to offer flexibility in your work location, with a strong preference for candidates based in San Diego or the Western U.S Time-Zone. This allows for greater collaboration with regional teams and supports our strategic presence in the area.
• Occasional, pre-scheduled travel (1-2 times per year).

Perks? Oh, yes.

Ondaro's success is based on our most valuable asset - our people. We offer a robust benefits package designed with your needs in mind. We are passionate about investing in our people. As lifelong learners, we support your continued education and career development through paid training, including Service Now certifications. We build in training dollars and hours into our annual plan for each and every employee, so you have the time and resources available to stretch yourself.

We value diversity at our company. Ondaro is an equal opportunity employer. Everyone who applies with the qualifications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics in the location in which the candidate is applying.

To learn more about Ondaro LLC, please visit our website and check out our podcast series. Also be sure to follow us on Linked In.

Ondaro LLC ("Ondaro") collects and uses your personal information, including sensitive personal information, for human resources, employment, benefits administration, health and safety, and business-related purposes and to be in legal compliance/the business purposes listed in the chart HERE. We are committed to properly handling the personal information collected or processed in connection with your employment relationship with us. We will not sell the personal information, including any sensitive personal…