Payroll Manager - Union & Non-Union

Payroll Manager

Location: San Jose, CA
Salary Range: $109,000 – $163,600/year
Work Schedule: Mon-Friday either 6:30am – 3:30pm OR 7:30am – 4:30pm
Benefits: Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and Stock Purchase opportunities, annual performance bonus, generous PTO, and solid health insurance options with strong employer contributions
Full Time | Onsite | Direct Hire

We are actively seeking a Payroll Manager to join a respected union construction company that combines long-term stability with an ownership mindset through its ESOP structure. In this key leadership role, you will own the day‑to‑day payroll function, overseeing multiple union and non‑union payrolls, ensuring absolute accuracy, and safeguarding compliance across local, state, and federal requirements. You will lead and develop a small payroll team, leverage systems such as HCSS, VISTA, or similar construction‑oriented platforms, and work hand‑in‑hand with senior leadership and accounting to reconcile payroll to the general ledger and provide meaningful insights.

This role is a great fit if you are experienced with high‑volume union & non‑union payroll, are a critical thinker and strong problem solver, love mentoring people, and want to be the trusted voice on payroll practices for a growing construction organization.

• Step into a highly visible leadership role within a well‑established union construction company that values integrity, accountability, and ownership.
• Share in the company’s long‑term success through ESOP and stock‑related programs, while enjoying competitive pay, bonus potential, and strong health benefits.
• Lead and mentor a capable payroll team, shaping processes and elevating standards around accuracy, timeliness, and customer service.
• Work closely with senior leadership, finance, and project teams, using payroll data to support business decisions and project profitability.
• Gain exposure to complex, multi‑union, multi‑job payroll environments that will keep your skills sharp and highly marketable.

• Direct the end‑to‑end processing of multiple weekly and biweekly payrolls for exempt, non‑exempt, and union employees, ensuring every cycle is accurate, timely, and compliant.
• Oversee accurate calculation of union and non‑union wages, fringes, tax with holdings, deductions, and benefits in systems such as HCSS, VISTA, or comparable construction payroll platforms.
• Lead, coach, and inspire a small payroll team, providing clear expectations, ongoing training, and real‑time feedback that supports growth and accountability.
• Prepare, review, and reconcile payroll‑related general ledger accounts; collaborate closely with accounting to ensure payroll entries tie cleanly to the financial statements.
• Manage certified payroll and prevailing wage reporting, ensuring accuracy in project and job cost allocations and full compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements.
• Stay ahead of changes in wage and hour laws, union agreements, and payroll tax rules, adjusting processes and educating stakeholders to maintain compliance.
• Serve as a key point of contact for internal and external auditors, examiners, and agency inquiries related to payroll, taxes, and pay practices.
• Respond to payroll questions from employees and leaders with clarity and empathy, resolving discrepancies by using strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Partner with senior leadership to communicate payroll trends, compliance risks, and process improvement ideas that support financial planning and strategic decisions.

• 5+ years of direct hands‑on payroll experience handling a high volume of exempt, non‑exempt, and union work forces, including managing multiple concurrent payrolls (multi‑job or multi‑entity preferred).
• At least 2+ years of direct Certified Payroll and prevailing wage experience within a construction or project‑based environment.
• 5‑10 years of direct people leadership in payroll, with a genuine passion for developing talent, setting clear standards, and leading by example.
• Strong understanding of how payroll flows into the general ledger, including experience reconciling payroll‑related…